Levelling Up funding unlocks Newcastle leisure centre project for Willmott Dixon Go-ahead given on first project for Newcastle City Council following Levelling Up funding. Willmott Dixon’s team in the North East has been appointed to develop a £26m state-ofthe-art leisure facility for Newcastle City Council in West Denton. The company has been procured through Pagabo’s Major Works Framework to build Outer West Leisure Centre after the project received almost £20m from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund. It will replace the former West Denton Pool and existing All Saints Sports Centre, which have served the local community for over half a century, with a facility that includes a 25-metre eight lane swimming pool, a learner pool, splash pad, new library, fitness studios, a café and a modern gym. Outer West Leisure Centre is expected to attract over 500,000 visits per year and generate 27 new full-time jobs while providing training opportunities for local people. The project will deliver a social return on investment equivalent to 22% of the project value for local people in Newcastle. A key aim will be to develop local skills and education in addition to planned visits from local schools and the creation of 100 apprenticeship hours. Willmott Dixon will also run two Building Lives Academy programmes for young people, aged 16-25, no longer in the education system and currently not working or being trained for work. Councillor Lesley Storey, the Council’s Cabinet Member for a Vibrant City, with responsibility for leisure, said: “Outer West will offer residents excellent health, community and leisure facilities and become a showcase building for the city with its eight-lane pool, sports hall, and library among other things. “We have actively encouraged local people to

have their say on what they would like to see in the leisure centre, and we now have a proposed building that will cater for people of all interests, ages, and backgrounds. I’d like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation and look forward to the building opening.” Nick Corrigan, director for Willmott Dixon in the North said: “This is our first project in partnership with Newcastle City Council and we are proud to be playing our part in delivering a project that will create a vibrant and innovative community hub that expands local leisure facilities. “We are focused on leaving a lasting legacy beyond bricks and mortar and that’s why we will be supporting the Outer West economy by using local businesses and creating local employment opportunities wherever possible.” Willmott Dixon’s local teams are at the forefront of generating local prosperity and enabling the Government’s Levelling Up aspirations. Locally, it has also delivered several projects that have driven economic growth, including renovation of the iconic Globe Theatre in Stockton-on-Tees, and the Feethams House office development in Darlington which will be a base for HM Treasury.

Karen Carter, Head of Delivery at Pagabo, said: “We’re delighted to have supported Newcastle City Council with the appointment of Willmott Dixon to deliver this project. The works were procured through a further competition process using Lot 2 (£15m - £30m) of our Major Works Framework. This route provided the council with both the compliance and competition they required. We ensure social value is embedded into the procurement process on every project we enable through our frameworks, and so it’s fantastic to see such a strong social return forecasted for this investment.”

Bowmer + Kirkland is one of the UK’s leading construction companies, providing a wide range of high-quality construction services to clients across the country. Founded in the 1960s, the company has a long and successful history in the construction industry and has worked on a variety of projects, from commercial buildings and residential homes to educational facilities and public infrastructure. Bowmer + Kirkland is committed to providing the highest standards of workmanship and customer service. The company has achieved a number of accreditations over the years, including being a member of the Construction Industry Training Board and the Considerate Constructors Scheme. This demonstrates the company’s commitment to quality and safety, ensuring that every project they undertake is completed to the highest standard. The company’s ethos is to “Build with Integrity” – meaning that they are committed to providing exceptional customer service and delivering projects on time and to the agreed budget. To ensure this, they employ a team of highly skilled and experienced professionals who bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to each project. Bowmer + Kirkland also prides itself on its commitment to sustainability and the environment. The company is committed to reducing its environmental impact and has achieved a number of green accreditations, including the Environmental Management System ISO 14001 and the Carbon Trust Standard. With over 50 years of experience in the construction industry, Bowmer + Kirkland is a company that can be trusted to deliver exceptional results. Whether you’re looking for a reliable partner to help with a large-scale project or require some help with a smaller renovation or repair job, Bowmer + Kirkland has the skills and resources to help you. In recent news Bowmer + Kirkland have been awarded places on two further national frameworks, enabling them to bid for more public sector projects.

Bowmer + Kirkland

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Construction Services Framework covers projects up to £30 million and will include new build, refurbishment and minor works for the MoJ, HM Courts and Tribunals Services, HM Prison and Probation Service, the Legal Aid Agency and the Home Office. The Crown Commercial Services Offsite Framework will provide a four-year stream of work with a value of £10 billion. It aims to support the public sector to innovate, drive efficiency and continue to work towards Net Zero Carbon targets. The focus will be on health, housing, education, justice and defence.

Their success means that their construction division is now a supplier on 15 Frameworks. Main Board Director responsible for Frameworks, Chris Arno, said:

Once again our success is down to the hard work of many people. We have proved our worth as a successful framework contractor through our work with the Department for Education. Bowmer + Kirkland is now well established as a public sector contractor alongside our extensive experience for private clients.

The Stonehenge of the North

Historic England and English Heritage have secured the future of two massive henge monuments and their surrounding landscape, part of a Neolithic complex in North Yorkshire described as “the Stonehenge of the North”. The henges will join Stonehenge, Iron Bridge, Dover Castle, Kenwood and numerous Roman sites on Hadrian’s Wall within the National Heritage Collection. From today, we will be welcoming the public to the henges and sharing the site’s stories with visitors. The Thornborough Henges complex, near Ripon, is an extremely important site, consisting of three giant, circular earthworks (known as ‘henges’) each more than 200m in diameter. Dating from 3500 to 2500 BC, the henges are of outstanding national significance. The earthworks are thought to have been part of a ‘ritual landscape’,

comparable with Salisbury Plain in southwest England, and are probably the most important single ancient site between Stonehenge and the Orkney Islands in Scotland. Now, the central and southern henges have been gifted by sustainable building materials and construction solutions business, Tarmac, into the legal ownership of Historic England, the government’s heritage advisor, as part of the National Heritage Collection and are managed by English Heritage. Lightwater Holdings, a local construction materials provider, house builder and leisure group, has also gifted parts of the wider monument to Historic England. The henges are now under the care of English Heritage and are free to visit. As part of our interpretation programme, we will share with visitors Thornborough Henges’ stories and explain its significance.

Although the henges have remained remarkably well preserved over thousands of years, the central and southern henges were added to Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register in 2009 due to historic erosion caused by livestock and rabbits. Historic England has been working with landowners Tarmac for a number of years to secure the future of Thornborough Henges, so that they can be enjoyed now and protected for future generations. The donation of the henges to the nation is the best option to secure the monuments’ long-term future and will lead to it being removed from the Heritage at Risk register.

Duncan Wilson, Historic England’s Chief Executive, said: “Thornborough Henges and their surrounding landscape form part of the most important concentration of Neolithic monuments in the North of England. They are a link to our ancient ancestors, through thousands of years, inspiring a sense of wonder and mystery. We are thrilled to have acquired this highly significant site for the nation, ensuring that these magnificent monuments are safe and will be preserved for generations to come.” Kate Mavor, English Heritage’s Chief Executive, said: “Thornborough Henges is one of the most important ancient sites in Britain and yet almost completely unknown – we are looking forward to sharing its significance, its stories and its secrets with the public.” Rishi Sunak MP, whose Richmond (Yorks) parliamentary constituency includes the henges site, said: “The Thornborough Henges site has enormous potential to help tell the story of ancient Britain and I very much welcome this announcement about its future – its safeguarding and preservation for the nation. “Comparatively few people are aware of its significance – both locally and nationally. I hope many more will come to appreciate this little-known gem of our history and while doing so provide a welcome boost to the local visitor economy.”

Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said: “The Thornborough Henges complex gives us a fascinating insight into our ancestors and their lives thousands of years ago. It is wonderful news that this site will be protected as part of the National Heritage Collection and preserved so that generations to come can continue to be enthralled by, and help to unravel, the mystery of our shared past.” Stuart Wykes, Director of Land and Natural Resources at Tarmac, said: “Tarmac has had a longstanding commitment to secure the long-term future of the monuments and we’re delighted to gift this incredibly important historical site to Historic England. With its help, the heritage of the central and southern henges at Thornborough will be protected and preserved for years to come. “We hope the public enjoy the breath-taking ancient site once it is accessible for them to enjoy.” James Staveley, Chairman of Lightwater Holdings, said: “The company is delighted to have played its part in helping to preserve the Henges for future generations. Historic England’s ownership of this incredibly important monument brings with it the necessary expertise and resources to ensure its long-term protection and management for the benefit of the public. We look forward to working with Historic England and English Heritage to help improve the public’s access and enjoyment of the site.”

ABOUT THORNBOROURGH HENGES Thornborough Henges sit in an ancient, ritual prehistoric landscape, marked by different monuments, running from Ferrybridge to Catterick– a kind of fore-runner to the A1. They are massive man-made Neolithic and early Bronze Age earth works, built on Thornborough Moor, near to the River Ure and are unparalleled in their size, alignment and degree of preservation. Just like Stonehenge and the standing stones at Avebury, a huge amount of people power was channelled into their construction – testament to their significance to the society that created them. The Thornborough Henges complex consists of three giant, circular earthworks, roughly aligned north-south. The central and southern henges have been actively farmed and so are not as well preserved as the northern Henge. The central henge is still large and impressive with high banks. Tarmac is currently working with English Heritage and Historic England to repair the banks over the next 18 months.

Today all three henges are clearly visible as massive circular banks, ranging in height up to four metres high, with encircling ditches of various depths – but thousands of years ago, they would have stood on a low promontory overlooking wetlands. Evidence suggests they may have been covered in a mineral called gypsum and would have glowed white for miles around. Archaeological effects and prehistoric finds in this area suggest the henges were probably built as ceremonial or ritual centres; the communal act of building may have had an important social role. They may also have served as trading centres and meeting places. Excavations around the henges have also revealed a possible timber post avenue, an oval burial monument and several round barrows.

Gilbert-Ash takes centre stage o project at Brighton College Award-winning UK construction, refurbishment and fit out company, Gilbert-Ash, has been appointed main contractor on a £22million project to develop a building for the performing arts at Brighton College. Gilbert-Ash moved on site last year with the scope of works including the demolition of existing buildings and the construction of a 400-seat multifunctional theatre, dance and drama studio. It also includes classrooms for English and Drama and a social space for gatherings. Due to complete in February 2024, it’s the company’s third major project in the East Sussex resort and comes just months after Gilbert-Ash handed over the impressive business school at the University of Brighton. Gilbert-Ash Managing Director, Ray Hutchinson, said the company has a track record of delivering standout projects for the performing arts such as the Stirling Prize winning Everyman Theatre in Liverpool. He said: “Gilbert-Ash is very proud to be undertaking such a prestigious project at Brighton College. This is a school steeped in history and academic excellence having recently been awarded the title of School of the Decade by the Sunday Times. “Under the leadership of Headmaster, Richard Cairns, the school has embarked on an ambitious 10-year masterplan of new buildings with the new performing arts building being the final act in that substantial plan.

“The project has been named Project 175 to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the College. Gilbert -Ash is looking forward to working closely with our client, the design team and our trusted supply chain to bring to life the remarkable plans for this new building.” Due to the historical significance of the college, the new development will take place within a Conservation Area and adjacent to listed buildings.

on £22million

With the college now home to over 1200 pupils and 400 staff, the campus expanded through the years although some areas are now unsuitable for its programmes. The completion of Project 175 will help the college deliver its vision for drama over the next 10 years. Gilbert-Ash attributes its continued success to its ‘As One’ approach and its unique working culture and family environment as an employeeowned company.

It continues to complete a broad portfolio of successful construction projects across sectors including arts and culture, workplace, hotels and leisure, education, science and technology, retail, residential and student accommodation.

New climate change hub launched for forestry sector As a nation, the UK takes great pride in its natural environment and its trees are an important part of that. From ancient forests to urban parks, trees provide a wide range of benefits to our health and well-being, from oxygen production to noise and air pollution reduction. But in order to keep these benefits flowing, it is essential to ensure that our trees are regularly cared for. Tree care is a complex and demanding activity and requires specialist knowledge and skill. It involves everything from inspecting, assessing and pruning trees to removing dead or diseased trees, planting new ones and protecting them from pests and diseases. Tree care is also a rewarding activity, as it helps to keep our environment healthy and allows us to enjoy the beauty and benefits of trees. The Arboricultural Association UK is the leading organisation representing tree care professionals in the UK. It provides information and advice on all aspects of tree care, from safety and health considerations to best practice and current legislation. The Association also offers a range of services to its members, including training, advice and support. Whether you are a tree care professional or an amateur enthusiast, the Arboricultural Association UK can provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to ensure your trees are cared for properly. With the right advice and support, you can ensure that your trees are healthy and can continue to provide us with the many benefits they offer. The Climate Change Hub - which centralises the latest resources, information and guidance on climate change adaptation to support landowners, woodland managers and forestry practitioners in addressing climate change threats – was launched by Defra, Forest Research, Scottish Forestry and Welsh Government on Monday 20 February.

The projected rate of climate change is unprecedented, from warmer summers to more frequent extreme conditions such as drought periods and heavy rainfall events. Action is needed now to improve the resilience of forests and woodlands, and to protect the benefits that they provide, including carbon sequestration. The Climate Change Hub, managed by Forest Research, centralises and distils the latest information and UKFS (United Kingdom Forestry Standard) guidance on climate change adaptation to encourage uptake of adaptive practice by forest and woodland owners and managers. It provides concise information about risks from the changing climate, how to identify suitable adaptation measures and examples of how other managers are implementing adaptive practice. There is no single recommended approach to climate change adaptation, as each woodland has different objectives and conditions. To enable managers to make informed decisions for their own woodlands, the Climate Change Hub also includes detailed guidance through the decision-making process, step-by-step, including information about the online tools available to support risk management and species choice. Forestry Minister Trudy Harrison said: “Trees and tree management are crucial parts of our plan to reach Net Zero by 2050, and resources such as the Climate Change Hub support the forest industry to make better, more informed and ultimately more sustainable decisions when it comes to tree planting and woodland management.” Forestry Commission Chief Executive Richard Stanford said: “Climate change will affect our trees, wood and forests. We need to ensure that our management practices to ensure all the benefits they provide are maximised. Trees are a critical part of our endeavours to tackle climate change; trees are the most efficient and costeffective method of capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The Climate Change Hub will allow all of us to see this critical information in one place for the first time, enabling land managers and foresters to make the best decisions for our planet on tree and forest management.”

Scottish Forestry’s Chief Executive Dave Signorini said: “I’m excited to launch the new Climate Change Hub - a one-stop shop for resources on protecting woodland and forests from the risks of climate change. Trees have a significant role in climate change adaptation and resilience, providing habitats for wildlife, reducing flooding, and absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and we want to help people understand how best to achieve that. “The new Climate Change Hub will help empower the forestry sector here in Scotland to sustainably manage woodland and forests to deliver benefits for our environment, economy and communities.”

Wales’ Minister for Climate Change, Julie James, said: “This project will provide up-to-date research and guidance that will help the forestry sector and woodland planners plant and manage woodland in a flexible way. “It’s another key project that will help us in Wales meet our Net Zero commitments and I look forward to seeing how it progresses.” Woodland owners are encouraged to plant and manage more diverse and resilient woodlands of varying ages and species in the face of climate change. To counter future extreme weather risks from severe storms to drought,

forests and woodlands should have a broad range of trees at different ages, from seedlings to trees to vary the size of our trees. Larger, more mature trees are more susceptible to severe winds than younger trees, so promoting the growth of trees of varying ages helps to strengthen their collective resilience. The Climate Change Hub supports the government’s wider Net Zero strategy and follows commitments set out within the recently published Environmental Improvement Plan to improve our mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

Crest Nicholson becomes first UK housebuilder to have net-zero target validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) Award-winning housebuilder Crest Nicholson has announced that the science-based targets set by the business in 2022 have now been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). It is the first UK housebuilder to have its science-based net-zero target approved by the SBTi, reflecting its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the value chain. The SBTi validation confirms that the targets set by Crest Nicholson are based on the latest climate science, supporting the ambition to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C in line with the Paris Agreement. Crest Nicholson’s target to reach net-zero GHG emissions across the value chain by 2045 is supported by a series of commitments across its scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. Net-zero target Reach net-zero GHG emissions across the value chain by 2045 from a 2019 base year. Near term targets Reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 60% by 2030 from a 2019 base year* Reduce scope 3 GHG emissions 55% per square meter completed floor area by 2030 from a 2019 base year. Long term targets Reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 90% by 2045 from a 2019 base year* Reduce scope 3 GHG emissions 97% per square meter completed floor area by 2045 from a 2019 base year.

Achieving net-zero emissions across the value chain will be a significant challenge, requiring effective collaboration and coordinated action across the supply chain and wider industry. Crest Nicholson is already making progress in reducing GHG emissions. Steps taken to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions include driving the efficient use of plant and equipment on site, trialling lower carbon technologies including hybrid generators and an electric telehandler, using alternative low carbon fuels and increasing the procurement of renewable electricity. To reduce emissions relating to scope 3, Crest Nicholson continuously reviews the design, technologies and materials used within its homes. It is also a member of the Future Homes Hub’s Embodied and Whole Life Carbon Workgroup, which is developing guidance, tools and an implementation plan to support an industry-wide reduction in whole life carbon. Mark Kershaw, Group Head of Sustainability at Crest Nicholson: “The validation of our targets by the Science Based Targets initiative ensures that our ambitions are aligned with the latest climate science and will contribute towards tackling the climate crisis. At Crest Nicholson, we continue to challenge ourselves to reduce emissions across our operations. We look forward to collaborating with our suppliers, partners and the wider industry to accelerate the adoption of more sustainable practices and take the required steps together towards achieving net-zero.”

Peter Truscott, Chief Executive at Crest Nicholson: “We are proud to be the first UK housebuilder to have our science-based net-zero target approved by the Science Based Targets initiative. Our industry has a pivotal role to play in responding to climate change and we look forward to continuing to drive the decarbonisation of our operations and wider value chain.” *The target boundary includes biogenic landrelated emissions and removals from bioenergy feedstocks. About the Science Based Targets initiative The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a global body enabling businesses to set ambitious emissions reductions targets in line with the latest climate science. It is focused on accelerating companies across the world to halve emissions before 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions before 2050. The initiative is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and one of the We Mean Business Coalition commitments. The SBTi defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting, offers resources and guidance to reduce barriers to adoption, and independently assesses and approves companies’ targets. www.sciencebasedtargets.org @ sciencetargets

Murton Park masterplan takes another step forward A flagship housing development in North Tyneside has moved closer with the submission of a planning application for up to 2,700 new homes. The proposals submitted by Persimmon would see a new metro station, two-form entry primary school and retail centre delivered alongside a mix of new houses. An initial phase of 508 homes will be delivered with an accompanying spine road, road bridge, associated highways infrastructure and landscaping, with outline planning persimmon sought for the remaining 2,192 homes. Allocated for housing within the Local Plan, Murton Park also represents a key site within the North Tyneside Plan that aims to create jobs, provide good quality homes and support investment in education and community facilities. Set amongst a newly designed 143 acre country park, Murton Park will provide a mix of housing types, tenures and sizes for local families, first-time buyers and downsizers. All homes on the development will meet the new future homes standard and nationally defined space standards with EV charging points at all properties.

A new comprehensive cycle and footpath network will help encourage active travel while a new spine road and metro station will enable greater connectivity to both the coast and Newcastle city centre. Richard Cook, Land Director for Persimmon North East said: “We’re delighted to be working with North Tyneside Council on the exciting plans for Murton Park. “This site was selected as an integral part of the North Tyneside Plan and will serve as a flagship for

sustainability in both design and location. “Following consultation with residents over recent months, members of the public can now submit any comments via the Council’s planning portal. “We look forward to working with the Council, local residents and stakeholders to progress these exciting plans that will support the Council’s ambition to make North Tyneside an even greater place to live, work and raise a family.”

It’s official: Costa Coffee once again seals the top spot as ‘The Nation’s Favourite’ Coffee Shop

In a survey of more than 5,000 UK consumers*, World Coffee Portal asked the Great British public to name their favourite coffee shop. For the 13th consecutive year, Costa Coffee has proven its dedication to ‘making great quality coffee an enjoyable part of everyday life’, continuing its top spot as ‘The Nation’s Favourite’. With the pandemic and now the rising cost of living reshaping the way UK consumers enjoy coffee out-of-home, Costa Coffee has once again proven itself as an indispensable part of lifestyles up and down the UK. Whether commuting, enjoying leisure time, or simply catching a moment of calm among the high street bustle, Costa Coffee

has once again proven itself as an indispensable part of lifestyles up and down the UK. Whether commuting, enjoying leisure time, or simply catching a moment of calm among the high street bustle, Costa Coffee deftly navigates myriad occasions to provide the same quality, convenience, experience and value across its coffee shops, Express machines, travel hub locations, drive-thru stores – and even at home. Commenting on the accolade, Jeffrey Young, CEO & Founder, Allegra Group said: “I’m delighted to announce Costa Coffee as The Nation’s Favourite coffee shop. Costa is a homegrown brand with a strong Italian heritage and

has become a true mainstay of the British coffee landscape in a nation that is continuing to embrace coffee culture. Congratulations again to Costa Coffee on their recognition by the Great British public.” Drawing on more than 50 year’s coffee expertise, Costa Coffee steadfastly celebrates its handcrafted coffee heritage, whilst innovating to provide consumers with new food and drink offerings, across

multiple channels. With a new brand platform called Made A Little Better, Costa Coffee’s purpose of inspiring the world to love great coffee shows no signs of slowing down here in the UK. This year looks to offer more food and drink choices, including the launch of new a plant-based milk exclusive to Costa Coffee, more personalisation via the Costa Club app and a growing range of at-home and FMCG products.

Nick Orrin, Interim UK&I Managing Director, said: “The number 13 may be unlucky for some, but we are thrilled to have been voted the Nation’s Favourite coffee shop for the thirteenth consecutive year. This would not be possible without the hard work and passion of our talented baristas and the ongoing support of our franchisees, partners, and suppliers. Over the last twelve months we have continued to invest in our UK business, including our store propositions, installing the first Costa Express’s Hot and Iced Drinks self-serve machines as well as launching innovative new food and drink menus. Whether you are enjoying your favourite Costa coffee on the go, at home or looking for that afternoon pick me up, we hope to be the ones that make your day ‘a little better’.”

Premier Oak Buildings In 2021 I was working for one of the most successful oak timber framing companies in the South West but after over ten years of hard work and learning the trade I wanted to see if I could go it alone. I am Dexter Buxton and I have been helping people build their dream homes ever since I left school. This is my story. I launched Premier Oak Buildings because I love to build with oak – it is challenging and complex but really brings buildings to life collaborating with clients, architects, and engineers in the process of design and problemsolving all adds to the sense of achievement. Going solo wasn’t an easy decision to make. After all, I was 26 years old, earning a very decent salary and doing something I loved with the potential to go on and do even better things with my career. But it wasn’t quite enough, I didn’t want to answer to someone else, I wanted to do things my way. I secured premises on the outskirts of a small village in Somerset and invested a considerable amount of money in tools and machinery. I contacted my previous connections and implemented the marketing strategy that I had been working on for several months. Things were going well, a few small jobs started to trickle in, and the website was developing nicely, but it wasn’t all sweetness and light. Bills were coming in thick and fast, corporate insurance, vehicle insurance, website fees, the list goes on… and on! Suddenly I found

money was going out quicker than I could bring it in. The website wasn’t generating much interest and my previous contacts had gone cold. Interval! Let me take a break in the story and tell you what we do at Premier Oak Buildings. We build green oak frames for all types of buildings including new homes, extensions, porches, barns, garages and car ports, and any other oak structure you can think of. Why do we do this? The ancient craft of oak timber framing goes back hundreds of years to when we first built homes from timber. In simple terms, an oak frame is a structure that is built to support the roof and floors of a building on which an external envelope can be hung. Traditional joints are used to connect the frame and wooden pegs are used to secure these joints. The building is designed in such a way as to allow for movement in the oak as it shrinks and twists, adding character to what some refer to as a “living structure”. Movement is key. The skill in designing and building a green oak frame is in the understanding of how and why oak moves in

the way that it does. It is all about origin. As a tree grows, it transports water and minerals from the roots, up through the trunk to the branches and into its leaves, a process known as osmosis. It is like a bunch of straws, drawing water up from the ground. But - when the tree is felled, beams are cut from the length of the trunk and as the beam dries out, it shrinks in the same way as a bunch of straws would dry out. They don’t get any shorter, but narrower. An average green oak beam will shrink by about 5% of its width, but only 0.15% of its length. Knowing this allows an architect or designer to create a building ensuring that the joints that hold the building together are under compression and not tension pulling them apart. Another skill in creating a beautiful green oak frame is the craftsmanship involved in the manufacturing of the oak frame. Oak beams are not straight or square (like an architects’ drawings) but twisted and bent in their natural state. With no square edges or perfectly flat faces to work from, the framer must create a set of datum lines, (these are straight lines, chalked onto the edge of the timber and used as a point of reference) for the framer to work from to then mark up or scribe the frame to ensure that all faces and joints line up.

Back to the story. As 2022 was ending, it was time for a new strategy. I spoke with several business owners and business coaches who advised me to keep going, and that the first year is always the hardest. I redeveloped the website with the help of Dexterous Designs and made new contacts via LinkedIn. I spent hours searching through profiles trying to find the right connections and toiled over blogs to publish in an effort to push us up the competitive search engine ladder. There were times when it was worrying. I was only 10 months in and thought this is never going to work, too much debt and not enough work. search engine ladder. There were times when it was worrying. I was only 10 months in and thought this is never going to work, too much debt and not enough work. But then things started to turn. An old friend I trained in the art of oak timber framing contacted me for help on a frame he was working on. We started to talk and soon discovered that although he had work coming in, he didn’t have the time or the premisses to carry out the work. This meant I was able to work with him on several projects and keep the wolves from the door. Our website started to gain interest and all the messages and connection requests I had previously sent out were now starting to respond. We were able to form a great partnership with Hewins Oak, who have gone on to become our main supplier of oak, always on hand with their expert advice, backed up with superb service. As a result, we were able to go into 2023 with a full diary and are busier than we have ever been! My advice to anyone starting a new business would be to make sure you do your research, know your market and target audience, and plan for everything. It will be a tough journey but if it’s something you really want then to keep working at it and don’t stress over the things you have no control of. Work hard and keep going – results will come when you persevere!

If you are interested in green oak timber framing and want more information, then please visit our website www.premieroakbuildings.com.

Vistry Group - Countryside Partnerships and Paradigm to deliver 89 affordable homes in High Wycombe Countryside Partnerships, the leading mixed tenure developer, and affordable housing provider Paradigm Homes are set to deliver 89 new affordable homes across two sites in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. The first site, Glynswood, will provide 50 affordable homes, whilst the second, Booker, will provide 39 affordable homes. The sites will be delivered as 100% affordable housing and have a combined GDV of £32.1m. Work on both sites is expected to start imminently, with construction due to end by May 2024. The two High Wycombe sites follow the recent announcement in January that Countryside Partnerships and Paradigm Homes will also be building 208 new homes in Hertfordshire. Commenting, Nick Laugharne, Managing Director of Countryside Partnerships Home Counties West, said:“We’re delighted to be working again in partnership with Paradigm to deliver these two allocated sites in Buckinghamshire. Glynswood and Booker will make a real contribution to the affordable homes provision in the area, offering local people a range of genuinely affordable home ownership and rented opportunities.” Martyn Jones, Paradigm’s Executive Director for Development & Sales, said:“I’m so pleased that we’ve just completed two more acquisitions with Countryside Partnerships, this time both sites being around High Wycombe. We’re really looking forward to providing even more affordable homes than the original planning permissions required

at both sites, which should help a greater number of people as we all work through the cost-of-living crisis.” Mark Winn, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Homelessness and Regulatory Services, said:”This collaboration between Paradigm Housing and Countryside Partnerships will deliver a significant number of new affordable homes in High Wycombe. The Glynswood and Clay Lane developments will offer a variety of affordable rental options for families in need and low-cost shared ownership opportunities for those ready to take their first step onto the property ladder. These new developments underscore our unwavering commitment to tackling housing challenges and enhancing the well-being of our community in the area.”

Eric Wright Construction, working in partnership with Eric Wright Partnerships and Lancashire County Council, has officially completed a new highly sustainable care facility at Bowgreave Rise in Garstang, in Wyre. Designed by PRP architects, the three-storey, care home comprises of 45-bed bedrooms contained in five living areas for people with dementia or physical frailties for elderly residents providing the facilities needed. This new building replaces the current Bowgreave Rise Home for the elderly, which will now be demolished and replaced by a new extra care building.

Eric Wright Construction supports the community with the delivery of a £7m care home in Preston

The new, modern buildings incorporate a range of sustainable measures, such as high-tech insulation, on-site renewable energy and superefficient heating to reduce carbon emissions. Externally new tree planting has been carried out and, to bring the outside in, the new care home has been designed with features such as balconies, accessible garden walks and level access lawn areas to enable all year use for residents. Commenting on the completion of the building work, Darren Clayton, Eric Wright Partnerships project coordinator, said: “Creating an

people and people with disabilities as they change over time has been central to the delivery of this project and we have worked collaboratively with the Council and the people who work and live here to make sure we achieved this common goal. We’re immensely proud of this new facility and hope it will give families the comfort of knowing their loved ones are in a safe environment where they truly feel at home.” It is hoped the brand new, modern care home, which has a CQC rating of ‘Good,’ will be a blueprint for similar ones across Lancashire.

County Councillor Graham Gooch, cabinet member for adult social care, said: “This brand new, much improved care home at Bowgreave Rise will be essential as we are now taking care of a higher number of people living with dementia who need residential care. “The former facility at Bowgreave Rise has done a good job for a long time and staff at the service have worked so hard to deliver high standards of modern care, achieving a CQC rating of ‘Good’ at the last inspection, which carries over to the new facility. “However, the old building is not up to modern standards and appears a bit tired, and for this reason, we have built a new, more spacious care home so people have precisely the right care they need, and at the right setting.”

Walls construction

Walls Construction is making rapid progress for our Confidential Client, delivering a large-scale Data Centre Campus in Dublin, positioned at the heart of Ireland’s largest data centre cluster. Currently under construction are two buildings generating a Total IT Load of 60MW, with the Campus providing a total of 100 MW+ of capacity upon completion. Following completion of the superstructure and frame, the internal fit-out works are proceeding at a pace on building 1. On building 2, the superstructure is ahead of programme, and the external envelope is now nearing completion, facilitating the commencement of the internal fit-out works, which will accelerate over the coming period. Externally the site infrastructure is advancing well around both buildings.

Focus over the coming period will be the Construction of the ancillary support buildings, which include the process water pumphouse, the sprinkler pump house, and the installation of final services to allow the commencement of road finishes. In early February, Walls Construction erected the first of six cranes on the Shanganagh Housing Development for our client, The Land Development Agency. Construction is well underway on this landmark development which, when complete, will provide 597 new homes. The project is being delivered in partnership with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLRCC) and will be devoted 100% to affordable and social homes. We look forward to completing this major residential project which has been designed to the highest environmental specification.

Bridgestone construction are a well-established construction company based in the North West UK. Undertaking projects across this ever-changing industry, including new build, refurbishment and renovation. From conception to completion we are ‘building confidence’. With thousands of dwellings under our belt and our largest order book to date in the pipeline. We are quickly establishing ourselves as one of the best development and construction companies in the North West. We are a fully integrated and dedicated team, that is truly accessible throughout. Our team provides a wealth of expertise in all aspects of construction project delivery.

Projects in highlight Dock 5, Ordsall, Manchester Comprising of 389 apartments this is one of the North West largest developments for private rental schemes. With cinema rooms, a resident lounge and state of the art gym. Located just 10 minutes from Media City UK. Making this the perfect location and space for commuters wanting the vibrant lifestyle. With a stunning piazza giving this development a chic community feel.

Bridgestone Construction

X1 Plaza, Manchester This exciting development at X1 Eastbank Manchester is just minutes from the City centre. Comprising of 194 1,2, and 3-bedroom apartments, 4 luxury penthouses and 7 family townhouses.

With an exclusive on-site gym for residents use and 102 private and secure car parking spaces.

The Withens Stockbridge Village, Liverpool

The Withens Stockbridge Village, Liverpool This 64-plot care home and 26 plot supported living bungalows in Liverpool. Bringing modern affordable living to the elderly and vulnerable in the area. The main building will have a state-of-the-art bistro and landscaped gardens and communal gardens.

Felix O’Hare Felix O’Hare Construction is a family-run business located in Northern Ireland that has been providing construction services for over 25 years. The company has an impeccable reputation for delivering quality projects on time and within budget.

The company is passionate about their work and the environment, and are dedicated to reducing their environmental impact wherever possible. They use sustainable materials and energy-efficient equipment, and are committed to minimising waste and pollution.

Felix O’Hare Construction specialises in commercial, industrial and residential construction, offering a full range of services including design, construction, and project management. They can also provide a wide range of specialist services such as steel fabrication, concrete structures, and groundwork.

In addition to their construction services, Felix O’Hare Construction also offers a range of engineering services, including structural and civil engineering, and surveying. They are experienced in the design and construction of bridges, roads, and buildings.

The company has a wealth of experience and expertise, and is well known for its attention to detail and quality of work. Felix O’Hare Construction is committed to working closely with their clients to ensure that all projects are completed to the highest standards.

Felix O’Hare Construction is proud to have been providing construction services in Northern Ireland for over 25 years. Their commitment to quality and their passion for the environment makes them a great choice for anyone looking for a reliable and experienced construction company.

Projects in Highlight – Monaghan Peace Campus, Monaghan Town The four-storey development, to take place at the former local authority machinery yard site at The Plantation in Monaghan Town, will incorporate community space, a youth facility, a new town library and a cultural heritage area. Construction of a new four storey community building with external public amenity space over car parking, alteration of existing access onto Plantation Road to facilitate new traffic layout and all associated site works. New parking and circulation areas will be put in place as part of the works.

Crumlin Road Gaol The project is the refurbishment of ‘A’ wing at Crumlin Road Gaol for Belfast Distillery Company Ltd. The Gaol is a Grade A Listed Building internally and externally. The works comprise of demolitions and internal refurbishment including M&E to allow wing to function as a Whiskey Distillery complete with Visitors Centre, Whiskey Museum, Cafe and Tour Facility. New parking and circulation areas will be put in place as part of the works.

Edwards Homes Edwards Homes UK is one of the leading construction companies in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1983, the company has been providing top-notch construction services to clients throughout the UK for over three decades. From small-scale residential projects to largescale commercial developments,

Edwards Homes UK has a wide range of construction projects that they are involved in. The company focuses on delivering high-quality construction projects in a safe, efficient and cost-effective manner. From site clearance and groundworks to the final stages of the construction process, Edwards Homes UK’s team of experienced professionals are dedicated to providing the best customer service in the industry. Edwards Homes UK has a long-standing reputation for delivering projects on time and on budget. They have completed

a number of successful projects across the UK, from residential developments to commercial buildings and high-end retail outlets. The company has also worked on a number of prestigious developments, including the London 2012 Olympic Park, the Tower of London and the Shard. The company is committed to providing the highest standard of construction services to its clients and takes great pride in the quality of its work. This is why Edwards Homes UK is the go-to construction company for many of the country’s leading developers and architects.

Edwards Homes UK is also committed to sustainability. They have implemented a number of measures to reduce their carbon footprint and are actively working to minimise the environmental impact of their construction projects. The company has also achieved a number of awards for their commitment to sustainability, including the 2018 Sustainable Construction Award from the British Construction Industry. Edwards Homes UK is a trusted and reliable construction company. From smallscale residential projects to large-scale commercial developments, their team of experienced professionals are dedicated to delivering the highest standard of construction services to their clients. With a long-standing reputation for delivering projects on time and on budget, Edwards Homes UK is the go-to construction company for many of the country’s leading developers and architects.

Tusker Construction

Tusker Construction is a leading construction firm that has been providing their services since its inception in 2014. They specialise in providing quality customised construction services and solutions to the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. The company has a wide array of services ranging from general contracting, to home remodeling, to custom homebuilding and more.

Tusker Construction is well known for their commitment to quality, innovation and customer service. Their staff of experienced professionals is dedicated to providing the best possible solution for each project. They use the latest technology and construction techniques to ensure that every project is completed to the highest standards.

In addition to their construction services, Tusker Construction also offers a variety of other related services including design, engineering, project management and more. They work closely with their clients to ensure that all of their projects are completed according to their specifications and are on time and within budget. Tusker Construction has built a reputation for being reliable and honest in all their dealings with clients. They understand that each project is unique and strive to provide the best possible results. They will work with their clients to ensure that all of their needs are met and that the project is completed to their satisfaction.

Barnwood Construction

Through three distinctive divisions, Construction, Shopfitting & Interiors and General Works, Barnwood’s resourcefulness, drive for quality and in-house expertise adds up to a very different company. With roots dating back to 1962 our focus has always been on what matters most to our clients. We work collaboratively and creatively to ensure outcomes are sustainable, cost effective and pragmatic. The friendly, straightforward, and honest approach established by our founding directors remains the bedrock of our company ethos. Our core values reflect our commitment to deliver social value across our business operations. This is underpinned through our company ethos ‘The Barnwood Way’. Barnwood are experienced in achieving buildings that meet BREEAM Accreditation and Code of Sustainable Homes ratings.

Barnwood are certified to ISO 14001:2015 demonstrating our commitment to reducing the environmental impact of our activities. We have also teamed up with Ecovadis one of the most trusted business sustainability ratings schemes. EcoVadis allows us to collaborate on sustainability with our clients, be visible on a universal scorecard and helps benchmark us within the industry. Most importantly it will help Barnwood continually improve our carbon reduction, sustainability and CSR performance. Barnwood are certified to ISO 45001 demonstrating our commitment and continual improvement to provide a healthy and safe working environment for our employees and everyone else who visits Barnwood sites. Barnwood have a dedicated internal HSQE

department to ensure our HSQE continual improvement. Barnwood are proud to have been awarded the ROSPA Gold Medal for 6 consecutive years. Projects in Highlight – Unique Fit Out for Prestigious Clothing Brand in Newly Refurbished Power Station Barnwood are very pleased with the successful completion of our first project with the prestigious clothing brand, Hackett, at the newly refurbished Battersea Power Station Shopping Centre. The project team included project managers Deploy Retail Services, Quadrant Architectural Design & MMA M&E Design Consultants. Works included the creation of a new retail showroom and salesfloor space over 2 different levels which required a bespoke staircase and platform hoist. Hackett have a unique look and feel to their showrooms including elaborate wall covering designs and bespoke finishes to their walls and fixtures & fittings. This gives customers a wonderful shopping experience which Barnwood had great pleasure in being involved in.

Pizza Express – Cheltenham Brewery Quarter Barnwood are proud to have completed their eighth Pizza Express restaurant within the space of just over 12 months. From the strip-out of an existing unit to a fully functional retail fitout, delivered to a tight budget and aggressive programme deadlines to enable Pizza Express to open prior to Christmas 2022. Barnwood supplied the full joinery fit out including – main pizzaiola cooking and prep counter, main bar, feature wall panelling, oak feature hanging bulkheads, concierge station and new concept Deliveroo counters. The refurbishment benefited from new entrance doors, a Deliveroo external hatch, external staff service doors, and a new raised external eating area. A detailed signage/graphics package was used to meet Pizza Express’s new brand theme. Internal works were completed to a high standard with new feature ceilings, vinyl and tiled floors, feature wall tiling to the bar front, extract hood and customer toilets. The walls were blended with antique brass mirrors and brick slip detailing.

G F Holding We were formed in 1908 by George Frederick Holding, and to this date the Holding family is still firmly involved with the business. We are very proud of our heritage and that our business has been built on the solid foundation of family driven values. George Frederick and his brother started the business providing plastering and decorating in people’s homes. They would be seen around Whalley Range, Manchester, complete with handcart, knocking on people’s doors asking if they wanted their front-rooms painting. As their reputation spread, they started painting churches. This was challenging work, having to work at some height to paint the ceilings. This further enhanced their reputation, and G F Holding became the go-to company to decorate within challenging environments. By 1935 G F Holding had developed to a team of four foremen, each with their own team of plasterers and painters; and they had expanded their expertise to working within cinemas and theatres, including the decorating of Stockport Plaza. The company’s experience developed again during World War II when they painted ships as they travelled down the Manchester Ship Canal. A team of painters joined the ships in Manchester, and had to complete the painting by the time the ships reached Liverpool. During this time, the company also blacked-out a number of train stations and other public areas. In 1944 George Frederick died and his son, Frank Leslie aged 26, took over G F Holding. The company continued to grow from strength to strength; and during the 1960s the company moved into contracting, opening Elmswell Road Workshop in 1969. In 1972 G F Holding Decorators and G F Holding Contractors were formed as separate businesses. During the 1970s and 1980s the companies continued to expand through a string of notable contracts including the fitting out of the first of many Abbey branches (now Santander), and our first £1million contract at the Mezzanine Cinema Odeon Leicester Square. In 1981 Geoff Holding met Mike Maddocks – a young designer based in Didsbury, Manchester. Over a beer Mike explained that he needed a pub

refurbishing. In those days such a project would have taken between 8-12 weeks. Geoff convinced Mike that G F Holding was the team for this project, and we would deliver this refurbishment within four weeks. And so, The Old Greyhorse Pub was the company’s first foray into refurbishing bars and restaurants, having only taken G F Holding three weeks and five days to refurbish and hand-over. G F Holding is still known today for such fast-paced turnaround of projects. Having restored Manchester’s Palace Theatre in 1981, G F Holding won the contract to restore the Manchester Opera House in 1984. At that time the Grade II listed Opera House was a bingo hall, and the contract was to return it to a theatre. The G F Holding team worked tirelessly to restore the theatre, just in time for the reopening celebration – the Royal Gala Preview Performance of Barnum

with Michael Crawford in the presence of HRH The Princess Royal and Mark Philips. The G F Holding Directors were guests at the opening night, and it was great to be able to admire and enjoy the results of their work. In 1988 Frank died, and Geoffrey Egerton Holding took over the company. Under Geoffrey’s reign, G F Holding secured its first contract with Mecca refurbishing a bingo hall. This contract acted as a springboard into refurbishing bingo halls, which led into refurbishing casinos. The company started working with several different companies, delivering bingo and casino projects, and over time all of these companies were brought under The Rank Group, with whom we still work today. The projects were all over the country, and to help the senior team move from one site visit to another quickly, Geoffrey invested in a four-seater plane, which was met with differing degrees of enthusiasm by the senior team! With so many years of history, the team has of course changed. However, the ethos, spirit and passion of George Frederick Holding has remained embedded within our business and all the members of our team – if we continue to deliver a quality finish and quality service for our clients, they will continue to work with us.

Projects in Highlight – Kit Kat Club Kit Kat Club, Embankment, London We delivered the complete remodelling of the former Playhouse Theatre on the Embankment to form a theatre in the round now known as the Kit Kat Club; which is now showing an immersive production of Cabaret. The theatre, which originally opened in 1882, is a Grade II listed building. We ensured that we delivered a sympathetic renovation of the theatre. We installed a new ventilation system, which addresses concerns in relation to COVID-19. As the building is in central London, we worked closely with Westminster Council in terms of access and deliveries. The programme was extremely challenging with the opening night announced and tickets going on sale to the public prior to receiving listed building consent, which meant we could not commence on site. 24 hour working was required at times to maintain the programme. The project has been recognised by the Civic Trust, who will award it on 31st March 2023, either a Pro Tem Award or a Highly Commended. The Civic Trust Pro Tem Awards recognise temporary structures and installations making an outstanding contribution to the quality and appearance of the built environment.

Puttstars, Harrow We delivered the fit-out of a new Puttstars in St George’s Shopping Centre, Harrow. The 1,786m2 site, includes three different state of the art and fully interactive 9-hole mini golf courses; as well as a stylish bar, diner and an amusement arcade. Mid-way through the 16 week programme, we identified acoustic material within the original suspended ceiling, which needed to be removed to allow for the ventilation to be installed. We had the material surveyed and tested to ensure that it was not hazardous, and then removed the material. This, along with three COVID19 outbreaks over a four week period, caused challenges to the programme. However, with careful planning and a focus on delivering the project on time, we met the 16 week programme. As the site was within a shopping centre, access and deliveries were challenging. We had a small site set-up area within the loading bay, and so had to carefully plan deliveries and waste removal to ensure that materials were not sat on site for prolonged periods of time. The site was on the second floor of a very busy and fully occupied shopping centre. To minimise the disruption to members of the public and those who worked at the shopping centre, we liaised very closely with the centre manager and other tenants.

First Foundations at Mountbatten Park Wyatt Homes’ first foundations at the upcoming Mountbatten Park development in North Baddesley, Hampshire, have been laid and the team visited the development recently to mark this exciting milestone. This new development is part of the Ashfield Partnership. We will deliver a total of 300 new homes and workspace, open spaces, and an allotment. Creating new, sustainable housing that complements existing Hampshire communities is one of the most important considerations of the project. This means building new homes that

locally, not just now but for many years to come. At Mountbatten Park, the principles of placemaking look beyond the built environment to the hinterland of the development in order to address its wider vision in terms of food and farming, net biodiversity gain, and social outcomes. Our section of the development will comprise a collection of 93 two to five bedroom family homes, each carefully considered with the highest quality, style, and architecture in mind. North Baddesley is a tranquil retreat with easy

area. Baddesley Common, on the outskirts of the New Forest, is a stone’s throw away, offering 50 acres of woodland, pasture, grassland, and parkland that is rich in local wildlife and great for walking. North Baddesley is ideal for commuters due to its proximity to the M3 and the cities of Southampton and Winchester. Romsey Train Station serves as a link between Salisbury and Cardiff in the west and Southampton, Portsmouth, and Brighton in the south. A regular service to Eastleigh is also available, with connections to London Waterloo. The new homes at Mountbatten Park have been designed to take favourable position of the peaceful, semi-rural setting while also providing excellent access to nearby towns and cities.

Allison Homes donates materials to specialist college in Peterborough

We are pleased to have donated 25 plasterboard pallets to a college based near our Abbey Park development in Thorney, Peterborough, to help create a brand new sensory area. Calman Colaiste College is an independent specialist college providing further education for young adults with autism, learning disabilities and complex needs, including behaviours of concern. It offers a range of bespoke programmes for learners at its Thorney based location. The donated plasterboard pallets from Allison Homes will be used in a new sensory area on the grounds of the college. The students will be using the boards to create a boundary for the area, as well as crafting chairs, benches and planters.

Rebecca Willett, Creative Arts Tutor at Calman Colaiste College, said “We are very grateful for the donation of the pallets. We plan to use them within the redevelopment of our sensory garden for the learners to enjoy. Our learners will also be using them as material to use and make new things as part of our ongoing enterprise skill project.” Andy Richards, Construction Director at Allison Homes Central Region, said “We were delighted to be able to assist Calman Colaiste College with their exciting sensory area project and its great to see the materials donated put to such good use. “At Allison Homes, we’re all about giving back to the communities we build in wherever possible, and contributing to further education in this way was a no brainer for us. We look forward to doing more work with the community going forward.”

JPJ Installations Limited was formed in 1997 initially as an installation company, JPJ gained approved dealer status from Kawneer 2 years later. March 27th 2017, sees JPJ Installations celebrate 20 years of trading. Set up at a home location by John Clarke, Paul Belton and John Belton. They initially set up as an installation company working out of a small unit / office. In 1999 JPJ installations then achieved Kawneer “approved dealer” status, that licenced them to fabricate and install all Kawneer products. The company has grown steadily over this period and are now Kawneer’s largest UK authorised dealer thanks to the strength of its approach. The growth that we have enjoyed since our formation in 1997 is underlined by the fact that the company workforce has risen to 90 employees. This allows us to take on the increased number and the larger projects that have been coming our way. Our success has been primarily built on a philosophy of hard work, honesty, flexibility and a desire to meet our client’s needs in an efficient manner. These ethics have been in place since the creation of the company by John, Paul and John. As our team and facilities have improved, JPJ Installations has also underpinned it’s progression as a business by gaining various accreditations such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, whilst it is also accredited to CHAS, Constructionline Gold standard and SMAS. Having been careful to develop its infrastructure and its team to support its growth, JPJ can now look forward to the future with confidence as it looks to continue the momentum it has built up over the past 20 years. JPJ are one of the country’s leading and most respected Kawneer suppliers and installers. From our purpose built factory we are able to supply the full range of Kawneer products. Commercial Projects.

JPJ Installations Limited

Circle K joins the FAI as Official Fuel and Convenience Partner, Partner to the Men’s and Women’s National Teams and the first ever title partner of FAI Club Mark, the association’s grassroots award to improve clubs and help grow football in communities throughout Ireland.

men’s team about to embark on a European qualifying campaign and the women’s team preparing for their first ever World Cup appearance this summer. Circle K’s nationwide reach means it can play a role in helping fans across the country get behind both teams.

Circle K has announced it will fuel Irish grassroots and elite football in a new agreement that will see the brand become the Official Fuel and Convenience Partner to the FAI, partner to the Men’s and Women’s National Teams and title sponsor of FAI Club Mark.

As part of the deal, Circle K will sponsor the FAI Club Mark, an awards programme for best practice in the governance, management and administration of grassroots football clubs nationwide. The aim of the FAI Club Mark is to provide clubs with a road map to good governance, reward clubs for achieving and maintaining high standards, recognise clubs for their commitment and achievements and help grow football in

The partnership announcement comes at an exciting time for Irish football, with the

Circle K

communities across the country. With a presence in every community in the Republic of Ireland, the partnership will enable Circle K to provide further support to communities, by supporting grassroots football and its many players, coaches, administrators and volunteers. Lending their support at the announcement of the partnership at Circle K Hartstown, was men’s senior national team manager Stephen Kenny, as well as men’s senior player John Egan and women’s senior player Abbie Larkin. Also in attendance were young players from Hartstown Huntstown FC, which was awarded the FAI Club Mark in 2021.

Speaking at the announcement, Gordon Lawlor, Managing Director of Circle K Ireland said: “With a network of over 400 service stations in Ireland, Circle K is at the heart of communities in Ireland supporting our customers with essential products and services. We also understand and acknowledge the important role local football clubs play in communities across Ireland and are proud to partner with the FAI to support grassroots football and our national teams. Customers should keep an eye on our social media channels over the coming months for details of how the public can get involved with our new partnership and lend their support to grassroots football nationwide.”

Jonathan Hill, Chief Executive Officer of the FAI added: “We are really pleased to welcome Circle K on board as our Official Fuel and Convenience Partner for the coming four years. This partnership will support the Association and our national teams as we enter an exciting period on the pitch with the European qualifiers and the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Circle K has an exceptionally strong presence in Irish communities and our shared ambition for Circle K’s sponsorship of the FAI Club Mark programme is to provide support to football clubs throughout the country to ensure good governance and recognise those operating at the highest standards within the game.”

Barratt Developments, the country’s largest housebuilder, has received the maximum 5 star rating in the new Home Builders Federation (HBF) annual New Homes Customer Satisfaction Survey. This is the fourteenth year in a row that Barratt has achieved the top 5 star rating – no other housebuilder comes close to matching that record. The number of stars a housebuilder receives is based on customer responses to the question “would you recommend your builder to a friend”? For Barratt to have been awarded 5 stars means that over 90% of its customers would recommend their homes to a friend. The HBF New Homes Survey is one of the largest surveys of its type in the country, with around 50,000 people taking part in it who have recently bought a new build home. The simple 1-5 star rating system was developed to give customers an easy to view ranking of which housebuilders have the most satisfied customers. Barratt is committed to building high quality, energy efficient homes and making sure its customers are happy when they buy their new home. It is this focus on customer satisfaction and building homes that people love living in, which delivers such consistently high recommendation scores. Stewart Baseley, Executive Chairman of the Home Builders Federation (HBF) said: “Providing a customer experience that results in 90% of consumers recommending you is a fantastic achievement for Barratt. Homebuilders remain focused on improving the experience of customers. The creation of an independent New Homes Ombudsman and robust Consumer Code will support this drive, leading to increased quality and service standards across the board.” The new 5 star rating comes on top of Barratt having the best site manager in the country, after Kirk Raine recently won the top Supreme award at the NHBC Pride in the Job Quality Awards. The competition is known as the ‘Oscars’ of the housebuilding industry, with over 11,000 site managers being entered into it, but only one winning a Supreme award for large housebuilders.

Barratt Develo customers for

opments awarded 5 stars by its r a record 14 years in a row

Steven Boyes, Chief Operating Officer at Barratt Developments, said: “We put the customer at the heart of everything we do, and building high quality homes is fundamental to that. To have been rated as a 5 star housebuilder by over 90% of our customers for 14 years in a row is something we work really hard to achieve. The best recommendation is one from a friend, so it’s great to know that so many of our customers recommend our homes.”

Marston’s Marston’s has around 12,000 employees and a diverse estate of over 1,500 pubs and bars that allows us to offer something for every guest, in each of the communities within which we operate. For the first time in our long history, we are a focused pub operator, with a culture that places guests at the heart of everything we do. Our purpose is to bring people together for happy, memorable, meaningful experiences. Where better to do this than in the comfort of our pubs and bars. We provide the perfect setting for every guest, every community and every occasion, whether that’s meeting friends, catching up with family, celebrating an anniversary or simply popping in for a pint or a bite. It’s our great food, refreshing drinks and welcoming environment that keeps our guests coming back time and time again. At the very heart of everything are our friendly, real and empowered people who take pride in ensuring that every single guest receives the warmest of welcomes and is made to feel at home, valued and special. As a focused pub operator, we have simplified our structures and adopted a one team approach across our business, working better and smarter, to deliver our vision of pubs to be proud of. We have developed a clear guest-focused pub strategy with a roadmap to deliver our core pub goals, our corporate goals and our financial strategy which will ultimately deliver shareholder value. We will measure ‘Better than the rest’ by being the best pub locally when comparing our social scores and by consistently outperforming the market. Once we have achieved this we will work tirelessly to stay there. Our financial target of ‘Back to a billion’ will drive shareholder value by growing earnings to above £1billion and reducing borrowings to below £1billion within 5 years.portfolio of international, national and regional beer brands.

Formed from a Joint Venture between Carlsberg UK and Marston’s PLC, who are both shareholders, the Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) brings together two historic brewers with over 300 years of shared heritage and values, and a leading portfolio of international, national and regional beer brands.

More investment coming for hig year ahead

The hugely-popular PATCH community road resurfacing programme is set to get a boost as part of almost £15m of investment in roads across the city in the coming years.

ghways in the

Swansea Council’s Cabinet has approved a programme of work that will see road repairs, footpath upgrades and street light improvements across all communities in the city. The package of measures, including almost £6m in the next 12 months with similar sums to follow in the two years after, will see roads repaired and work to prevent roads in good condition from deteriorating. This year around £1.1m will be invested in the PATCH scheme with a further £1.1m being spent on carriageway resurfacing as well as footway renewals and repairs. There will be £250,000 for street light refurbishment and £400,000 for drainage and preventing flooding during heavy rain. In addition to that there will be a further £2m set aside for highways and footway resurfacing projects and £800,000 to repair the Morfa Culvert. Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, said the highways fund was a significant investment in improving city roads and footpaths in city communities. The budget agreed by Cabinet is expected to be boosted by further funding for roads resurfacing and PATCH later in the year and Cllr Stevens added: “Our PATCH road repair programme has been ongoing for a number of years and has been very successful in targeting repairs that are larger than a pothole. “Everyone in the city should see a benefit where they live because we plan it so our highway maintenance teams visit every ward and target the worst sections of road identified during our regular inspections.” Further funding will be directed towards tackling the backlog of repairs which are monitored during regular highway inspections and includes potholes repairs and pavement improvements.

Cllr Stevens said: “In the first two months of 2023 we completed road resurfacing projects in Townhill Road, Mayhill, Gellionnen Road and Cecil Road in Gowerton on top of PATCH repairs in areas like Sketty, Bishopston, Mayals and Uplands. He added: “This is a significant investment in our city’s highway infrastructure and the improvements we are doing help prevent road conditions from deteriorating. We are responsible for a large and varied range of highway assets including over 1,100km of road, street lights, car parks and traffic control signals.”

Jessup – Build Develop is a privately owned company based in Cannock Staffordshire developing new build, refurbishment and regeneration schemes for affordable and private housing as well as commercial and industrial projects on sites in the Midlands region. Recognising achievable development opportunities on Brownfield or regenerated situations forms the basis of the development philosophy of the company. Our regional specialisation and policy of buying locally means that we have gained a wide knowledge and understanding of regional authority planning strategy and policies, local land conditions and community and business requirements.

Our long-term strategy is to work with local authorities and housing providers, to unlock key regeneration sites to provide a mix of property types to the benefit of Midland communities. “At Jessup we continue to adapt our business model to meet current market demands, we have a lean operation that ensures we are competitive whilst maintaining a margin. We have Adopted new skills and technology to ensure we are giving our customers the very best service possible. We will continue to improve our business with greater customer focus and quality. We are proud of the schemes we deliver with our partners, they provide great

Jessup Brothers Limited

places to live and work and our policy of buying locally ensures we engage with the communities in which we work.” Clive Jessup, Chief Executive Jessup – Build Develop has over 27 years of construction experience in the Midlands. Focusing mainly on affordable housing, Jessup has developed a strong team skilled in sourcing the best materials and labour at the right price to deliver high quality homes at affordable cost. Jessup can manage the whole development process for Councils and RSLs looking to refresh their affordable homes programme, from sourcing the land to delivering the fin-

ished homes, roadways and surroundings. Jessup provides these services for many organisations such as BMHT (Birmingham City Council), Walsall Housing Group, Stafford and Rural Homes, Solihull Community Housing and several others. As an Homes England preferred supplier, Jessup can also help to source funding for eligible schemes. We were also awarded membership of the Homes England Delivery Partner Panel 3 framework in 2016, which enables us to contribute to achieving government housing targets. At Jessup we are passionate about delivering well-designed and well-built homes for people at affordable prices.

We recognise that a home is the largest financial commitment made by individuals and families. Acting as both developer and builder we can help to reduce costs to produce homes at best value. By continually improving our business methods we make the build process more efficient, whilst maintaining the highest quality via our independently audited ISO90012015 Quality Management System. This enables us to streamline the way we work and deliver homes quicker and at lower cost. At the same time applying the same stringent quality standards to architectural design, to satisfy family lifetime needs and the general enhancement of the built environment. With property prices increasing, we see affordable homes becoming the “norm”. Families find it increasingly difficult to secure the necessary deposits in order to buy their own home. We believe this requires innovation in design, construction and delivery to build homes that deliver quality, value and longevity. Jessup have over 3 decades of experience in delivering affordable homes and earned preferred partner status with the Homes England, the Government Agency responsible for delivering housing. In 2017 Jessup was also awarded a place on the HE Delivery Partner Panel 3 (DPP3) Framework, which is set up to accelerate the pace of house building in the UK. This puts Jessup at the forefront of delivering affordable homes for the communities of the Midlands. The government’s Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes Programme has been running since 2016 (previously known as the “Affordable Homes Programme” from 2011 to 2015) and is aimed at increasing the supply of new affordable homes. All our affordable housing developments are designed to enhance community life by creating pleasant and practical places to live. To further improve some of these community developments we have created local neighbourhood centres with a mix of houses, apartments and retail facilities to provide

a focal point to create an identifiable heart of the community. These local centres interact with existing individual facilities such as libraries, schools or medical practises to improve lifestyles for all age groups. Jessup staff work hard during the construction phase to engage with local people and explain the benefits of the scheme. As a consequence, by the time construction is complete the development has become a welcome addition to the area. Jessup have embraced Modern Methods of Construction since it was re-invented using modern materials and innovative manufacturing processes. There are many types of modern construction methods from off-site manufactured components to panelised solutions to completely pre-fabricated homes. Each can provide benefits in terms of cost, speed of construction, reduced waste, enhanced energy efficiency and improved staff health and safety. As technology improves, new innovations (e.g. 3D printed homes) are appearing which may transform the way homes are built in the future. There are some common aspects to both modern and traditional methods of construction: Both need to go through the planning process, both need ground remediation to ensure the sites are fit for construction (no contamination, low flood risk, no subsidence, etc), both need to meet or exceed current Building Regulations, and support standard warranties, insurance and mortgages.

We regularly use off-site manufactured components and sub-assemblies (factory made floor and roof cassettes, door sets, roof spandrel panels, GRP canopies and chimneys, pre-cast piling, pre-cast foundations, etc). On many schemes we have used off-site manufactured timber frame or steel frame structures. These provide units which are delivered to site and weather-tight within just a few days. They can be finished with brick facing and tiled roofs to blend into surrounding properties, and deliver excellent efficiency, low-carbon impact and high levels of quality. Our timber frame solutions are provided by LoCalHomes (http://www.localhomes.co.uk/) a not-for-profit social en terprise who support the local community

and look after the environment. There remains a strong demand for traditionally built homes, which can match or exceed the benefits of modern method constructed homes, and provide sought after designs and durability that have been around for hundred of years. Jessup has a strong reputation for being a leader in the Midlands of traditionally built homes and also has the skills and experience to deliver the growing trend in Modern Methods of Construction. Our development at Darkhouse Lane Coseley consists of 142 timber frame homes, provided by LoCal Homes for Accord Housing Group

Thirteen & Kirklees The partnership will help create vibrant new homes and places for the residents of Kirklees. The local authority has identified five proposed sites in its ownership to be developed as part of its housing development programme and the partnership will provide a range of house types and tenures that will meet the needs of the whole community. The delivery partnership will bring together the local knowledge needed as well as established and like-minded partners who share the same values around quality and excellent customer service. It will also help create new jobs and some fantastic apprentice opportunities and the team will be working closely with communities to ensure they benefit from the schemes. Sharon Thomas, Thirteen’s director of business growth, said: “This is fantastic news and so many colleagues from both Thirteen and Incommunities have worked in partnership to make this bid a success. “It’s a great opportunity to be working as a partnership to expand our operating area into West Yorkshire, especially alongside Incommunities, who already have a strong presence across the region. “The plans for the five schemes put forward demonstrate our commitment to making sure the homes we deliver meet the aspiration of residents. Our homes will be zero carbon ready, plus we will create spaces with great accessibility that people can enjoy and feel safe in, and we will respond to the housing needs of the diverse community in this part of the world. In a nutshell, it will mean we’ll deliver high quality, green homes and much more for the people of Kirklees. “We can’t wait to get started!” Rupert Pometsey, director of development and growth, at Incommunities, said:

“We are proud to have been successful on this joint development bid with Thirteen for housing sites in Kirklees. “Incommunities is committed to working with partners to improve housing choice and this collaboration ensures both housing associations can utilise their shared drive to provide great places where people want to live and work.” Councillor Cathy Scott, cabinet member for housing at Kirklees Metropolitan Council, added: “Partnership working is at the heart of our vision for housing growth in Kirklees. I am excited to be working with organisations that share our values and ambitions around seeing higher quality, greener, more community focussed homes and neighbourhoods. The varied range of housing types and occupancy options will ensure that these developments offer homes that meet the needs of our diverse Kirklees communities. This is another positive step towards making Kirklees a great place to live, work and visit.

Construction starts on new hous development to transform disuse

sing ed land in Leeds

Top ten homebuilder, Keepmoat, has commenced construction of its new housing development, Synergy, at Rathmell Road and Kendal Drive in Halton Moor, which is to be built on unused brownfield land in Leeds. The project will deliver 109 new homes to the area and will consist of two-, three- and four- bedroom properties, of which a percentage will be available for affordable housing provision though Leeds Federated Housing Association. The Keepmoat Yorkshire West team hosted a sod cutting ceremony at the site to mark the commencement of construction, with many guests in attendance, including Councillor Debra Coupar, deputy leader of Leeds City Council and executive member for resources, and Councillor Helen Hayden, the council’s executive member for infrastructure and climate. The development is the last site to be built as part of the Leeds City Council Brownfield Land Programme, which is designed to support the city’s growth and will provide over 1,000 new homes across 13 housing developments in East Leeds. This programme will not only deliver much needed new homes but will also improve the communities and neighbourhoods within the local area. The homebuilder has also made commitments to the local community, with plans to work with local schools and employment groups to recruit young people through apprenticeship schemes, with two local apprentices already recruited to start their homebuilding careers at the Synergy site. Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for infrastructure and climate, said: “The start of construction on this scheme is an important milestone for the council’s Brownfield Land Programme and underlines the impressive results that have been achieved through working in partnership to plan and deliver hundreds of high-quality and affordable homes for communities in east Leeds during recent years. “We are committed to working with developers and stakeholders on brownfield schemes that help meet local housing needs while also driving sustainable regeneration

in a way that benefits all residents and plays a part in unlocking the city’s full economic potential. “I was particularly pleased, therefore, to attend the Synergy development’s sod-cutting ceremony and hear more about the apprenticeship opportunities being provided on site for young people. I look forward to watching as the new homes – and other community-oriented features such as the scheme’s open public spaces – begin to take shape over the coming months.” Michael Orgill, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat said: “We are delighted to have started construction at our Synergy development in Leeds and can’t wait to deliver these new homes for potential homebuyers in the area. As this is the last development to be built as part of the Leeds Brownfield Land Programme, we are incredibly proud of what we have already achieved in East Leeds for residents here. “The new housing is designed to benefit people in the community and promote integration with design features such as open public spaces. By constructing this new development on brownfield land, we hope to make a positive impact in the community, alongside other work with local schools and youth groups. We’re also proud to have already hired two new apprentices to work on the site and gain valuable experience in a real-world work environment.” The project is being delivered in partnership with Keepmoat and Leeds Federated Housing Association. The first of the new homes are expected to be complete by April 2023 with overall completion estimated for June 2025.

The next phase of Ni.PARK dev

velopment

Construction work has started on three 10,000 sq ft units at Ni.PARK in Newport, which will form the second phase of Telford & Wrekin Council’s innovative 25-acre agricultural technology park. Contractor Morris Property, which completed phase one of the development in October 2021, were commissioned to undertake the eight-month build following a competitive tender. Phase two will deliver three larger units, suitable for companies with a focus on supporting the fast-growing agri-tech sector. The milestone was marked with a sod cutting ceremony attended the council’s Senior Surveyor Catherine Hawksworth and Morris Property’s Construction Manager Steve Flavell and Site Manager Dave Fletcher. Ni.PARK is a key element in the Newport Innovation and Enterprise Package which delivered the supporting infrastructure package funded jointly funded by Telford & Wrekin Council, the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership and Homes England. The first phase of development delivered a range of smaller industrial units funded by Telford and Wrekin Council.

Councillor Lee Carter (Lab), Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Neghbourhood Services, Regeneration and the High Street, said: “Ni.PARK is a growing community for agritech businesses, as well as those supporting the agriculture sector with their products and services and the take-up of units has been excellent. “Ni.PARK is an extremely well regarded site which is attracting high profile businesses from across the region and around the world who see it as a place to maximise their potential in a prime location. “We are looking forward to seeing Phase 2 get underway and further new larger units being built which strengthen the site’s reputation as an agri-tech business centre of excellence.” Steve Flavell, Construction Manager at Morris Property added: “We are excited to be able to start work on Phase 2 of Ni.PARK, which is the next step in establishing Newport as a centre for high efficiency agriculture.”

Richard Bailey, Development Manager at Homes England, said: “It is great to see how the Telford Land Deal is enabling this important next phase at Ni.PARK which brings new investment into the area and create additional job opportunities. “Homes England is delighted to be working in partnership with Telford & Wrekin Council, the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership and Morris Property.”

Sonia Roberts, chair of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, said the development played a key part in the LEP’s strategy of creating a high-skilled, high-paid economy across the Marches. Sonia said: “The Marches is a national leader in the agri-tech sector and playing a crucial role in developing the country’s food security and safeguarding production for years to come. “We have countless companies in the region who are at the forefront of developing the agri technologies of the future and it is vital that we create the infrastructure to nurture them so that the Marches economy as a whole benefits from their inspiring work. “The success of Ni.PARK will help us continue to deliver on our mission to be at the cutting edge of innovation in the sector and we are delighted to see Phase 2 of the scheme getting underway.”

Clancy has been awarded a multi-million pound contract with Gigaclear to deliver a fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) network upgrade to approximately 7,000 properties across Surrey, marking the civils specialist’s first major contract award in the sector.

Technicians are being trained through Clancy’s in-house skills platform Clancy Academy as the business expands its work in telecoms. In particular, the programme will draw on Clancy’s expertise in no-dig technology to boost productivity.

Clancy will manage the installation of fibre from Gigaclear’s telecoms exchange to customers’ premises, delivering new connections to households across the county. To accelerate the roll-out, the programme will seek to utilise existing duct networks where possible.

The family-owned business has plans to form a specialised training centre at its site in Dartford to develop the telecoms skills needed for the ambitious fibre roll-out – which would make the business one of just a handful in the UK with this in-house training capability to lead the way in industry standards.

The scope of the contract will see Clancy testing these routes and carrying out targeted excavation where necessary to upgrade or extend them, before installing the new fibre cable. Telecommunications providers are working to deliver government ambitions to connect 80 per cent of the UK to the fibre network by 2026 as high-speed internet is increasingly seen as a critical utility to support local economies.

Ronan Clancy, executive director at Clancy, said the new contract reflected the growing prioritisation of telecoms as an essential service and would complement the business’ longstanding partnerships in water and energy utilities: “Clancy’s more than 60 years of expertise in utilities and civils, together with our direct employment and training model, mean we’re well placed to support the large-scale

Clancy appointed by Gigaclear on the fibre broadband roll-out

expansion of fibre across the UK. “Connectivity has a significant role to play in reducing regional inequalities, delivering value for our growing families at home and at work. As demand for broadband capacity – now considered a vital utility – continues to grow, we’re exploring new opportunities to support this fast-growing market, alongside our work in water and energy.” Roger Culley, operations director at Clancy, commented: “Our work with Gigaclear will see our operatives deploy their civil engineering skills and experience in critical utilities within the fast-paced fibre market. We look forward to working closely with Gigaclear on the delivery of its fibre network upgrade, bringing

the benefits of our ongoing investment in skills to boost efficiency as we get more and more households onto high-speed internet.” Gigaclear senior project manager Jonathan Divito added: “We’ve been designing, building and operating gigabit fibre networks for more than 10 years during which time Gigaclear has firmly establishing itself as the largest rural, full fibre alternative network in the UK. It’s critical that rural communities aren’t left behind as the demand for ultrafast broadband grows. We have extensive plans to continue our FTTP network rollout to rural residents across Surrey and with Clancy’s extensive civils experience, we are excited to be working with them on their first major venture into the telecoms sector.”

Dave Cottle Civil Engineering was established in 1985 to provide quality civil engineering services to local housing developers. The company has since grown into a thriving, highly accredited organisation. We employ a strong team of over fifty experienced personnel and maintain an impressive client portfolio of nationally recognised house builders and commercial organisations. We specialise in the provision of high quality and reliable infrastructure works, and the development of desirable executive homes. Founded over thirty years ago by Dave Cottle, the company continues to operate as a family-owned business. With a head office situated in Wrexham, we are well placed to support developments across North Wales and throughout the North West of England. Our management team is dedicated to operating with excellence at all times to ensure the full satisfaction of our clients and other contractors working within the supply chain. This philosophy permeates through our entire business. Personnel of all levels are regularly trained and everyone is committed to quality regardless of the size or complexity of a project. By combining outstanding workmanship, a commitment to working safely and the ability to consistently achieve project deliverables, Dave Cottle Civil Engineering Ltd stands out as a leading force in the construction industry. By combining a highly experienced leadership team, an extensively trained workforce and a fleet of specialist equipment, we offer a comprehensive range of groundwork and infrastructure services. We deliver innovative solutions that add value to the development of projects in both the private and public sectors. We take the time to understand our clients’ exact requirements to ensure projects are completed in a timely manner and within budget. Our site managers oversee all aspects of our work to ensure every project is completed efficiently and to the highest possible standards.

Dave Cottle Civil Engineering

We are fully licensed to connect new developments to the public highway and enable the installation of all required utilities. We are Welsh Water approved for all sewer connections. As an award-winning developer of residential properties, we are recognised for constructing high quality, energy efficient homes in prime locations throughout North East Wales and Cheshire. When designing our exclusive homes, we consider the living requirements of the modern home owner. Our collections of mews, semi-detached and detached properties provide the perfect home for couples, families and first time buyers. We ensure our homes blend with their environment and we add to the aesthetics by landscaping the gardens and creating attractive walkways. By adhering to our exacting standards and industry best practices, we provide buyers with peace of mind about the quality of the design and build of their high specification property. Our aim is to provide our customers with their dream home of which they can be proud to enjoy for many years to come. At Dave Cottle Civil Engineering Ltd, we are dedicated to acting responsibly and with due diligence to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of our workforce. Health & Safety is at the forefront of all planning works and is a fundamental part of our business. We pride ourselves on our safe methods of working and keeping our workplace as safe as feasibly possible. Our commitment to working safely in an environment free of incidents and injuries is promoted by our management team and is adhered to by our entire organisation. We all have a responsibility to mitigate any threats to the environment in which we live and operate. As part of our core values, we believe it vital to follow best industry practices in the care of the natural environment. We adhere to these principles throughout the planning and delivery of all projects.

Building on 75 years of success – the next steps Leading Scottish construction company McTaggart Construction has appointed Janice Russell as their new Managing Director.

retaining family ownership.

The move is part of a management restructure of the long-established family business which sees current MD Gary Climson take up a new post as non-executive chairman.

Over the last five years the company has increased from around 200 to 500 direct and indirect staff employed (permanent employees of McTaggart and sub-contractors) and an annual turnover up from £42m in 2017 to £90m in 2022.

McTaggart Construction are one of the leading providers of affordable housing, building high quality homes across Scotland. It recently had a management buy-in whilst

The restructure sees Gary, who has worked with the Dalry based group for nearly 30 years, preside over a new company board of directors, including Rosslyn Anderson –

and Rosslyn. Mr Climson said: “The restructure follows extensive consultation with our staff and business partners on how best to grow the business whilst retaining the McTaggart family values. “Our new clearer management structure will allow us to build on that solid base and take full advantage of future market opportunities and I’m delighted that Janice will be taking over as Managing Director. She’s a fantastic asset to the Company and her strong leadership and knowledge of the business will drive us forward. “Together Ally and I bring 55 years of experience at McTaggart’s to the Board and Rosslyn brings that all important family perspective. She carries the weight of a remarkable heritage, entrepreneurial spirit and endeavour.” Mrs Russell, who has been with the company for 12 years, said: “I’m incredibly proud to be given this opportunity to lead McTaggart Construction. This is a fantastic family business immersed in the communities we serve. “We have a strong order book and significant client loyalty because our staff deliver exceptionally high customer focus. That success story has been built over 75 years on the values staff share with our clients and communities. It’s those values that will continue to shape our future as we grow our client orientated business – delivering professionalism, quality and remaining true to our ethical, community and environmental values. “The restructure provides clearer lines of responsibility and a focus on areas the business can become stronger to best serve their clients and sustain a successful future.” who is part of the McTaggart family – and current board director Ally Anderson. Janice, a chartered surveyor and project manager (MRICS) with over 30 years’ experience within property and construction, specialising in housing, will also be on the Board. She will oversee a new Executive Management Team of Finance Director Lynne Wilson, Commercial Director Paul Roan, Construction Director John Allan and Pre-Development Director A J MacFarlane. She will be joined by board directors Ally

The remarkable success story began when brothers George and Willis McTaggart formed the business in 1946. From humble beginnings they embarked on a number of entrepreneurial ventures with G&W McTaggart Ltd delivering general building, haulage and various community services. In 1950 they built their first house – a semi-detached property on Templand Crescent in Dalry – the location of the current head office. In 1973, its name changed to McTaggart

Construction to reflect the focus of the business. In 1987 Laurel Homes was set up to specialise in private homes and four years later group annual turnover was over £1m for the first time. In the early 1990s Willis retired and passed control to his siblings. In the intervening years his son Ross McTaggart led the business through a significant period of growth, acquiring ABN services, and forming McTaggart Scaffolding, McTaggart Civils and Tod Timber Engineering until his own retirement as Chairman, after over 50 years of service, in 2017. Gary has been integral to the continued success of McTaggart Construction. During his tenure as managing director, the business has continued to go from strength to strength and is a highly regarded construction partner of choice. In the last 10 years the company has delivered over £600m of projects. In his new role of non-executive chairman, Gary will continue to use his considerable knowledge and experience to further the success of the business. Over the last 75 years they have delivered thousands of high quality affordable homes, primarily across the Central Belt but also at sites in Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee and Ayrshire. Recent award winning developments include Laurieston and Dalmarnock in Glasgow, and the restoration of the category A listed Dunlop House in Ayrshire.

Robertson Construction has com to transform three heritage rail Manchester city centre into a ta ment centre for artists

mmenced work lway arches in alent develop-

Situated between HOME’s main arts centre building and Whitworth Street West, the new space will be a resource for artists of all ages, disciplines and stages in their careers. The £3.7m HOME Arches project, which will be operated by HOME, will help nurture, attract and retain creative talent in Manchester by providing high quality, low cost rehearsal and training space. It will add to the sense of place in the First Street district and further strengthen it as a destination. The project is being funded through £2.3m of Government Levelling Up funding, a £0.9m contribution from the Council and around £0.5m from HOME (which includes some post-construction costs.) The scheme is one of two parts of the Culture In The City project which Manchester City Council secured almost £20m of Government Levelling Up funding for in autumn 2021. The other part, a £17.5m scheme, is seeing the Upper Campfield and Lower Campfield Market buildings – both Grade II-listed lovingly transformed into a new tech, media and creative industries hub. Council Leader Cllr Bev Craig said: “These arches are part of our heritage which have sat unloved and underused for many years. This scheme is bringing them back to life with a very modern purpose – complementing the thriving cultural economy in our city. “Culture has a huge role to play in the success of our city and its people – creatively, for health and wellbeing and economically. This project will enhance this part of the city centre, create new jobs and further strengthen Manchester’s cultural ecosystem.” Dave Moutrey, Director and CEO of HOME, said: “We are delighted to announce HOME Arches, realising our long-held ambition to provide meaningful, additional creative space for artists to make art. “HOME Arches will allow us to grow the work that we do with artists in the North West, across theatre, film, visual art and digital

works and we can’t wait to get started. “The brief and business model for this project has been guided by our Artist Panel, who have generously given their thoughts and ideas to co-create a much-needed space for artists, and I want to thank them for their support and involvement.” Dirk Pittaway, regional managing director, Robertson Construction North West, said: “We are delighted to be working with Manchester City Council and North West Construction Hub in the delivery of the arches project. The regeneration of these heritage arches into a centre for artists illustrates the commitment from the Council to repurpose spaces into facilities which create benefits for the wider community. We look forward to making our contribution through the art of transformation.” HOME Arches is due for completion in May 2024.

Taziker Wins Internationally Re and Safety Accolade From RoS Taziker has fought off stiff international competition to scoop a prestigious RoSPA Gold Award for the third year, demonstrating its commitment to health and safety excellence. The RoSPA Health and Safety Awards is the largest occupational health and safety awards programme in the UK. Now into its 67th year, the Awards have almost 2,000 entries every year, covering nearly 50 countries and a reach of over seven million employees. The programme recognises organisations’ commitment to continuous improvement in the prevention of accidents and ill health at work, looking at entrants’ overarching health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement. While most awards are non-competitive – recognising individual organisations’ achievements – competitive awards are presented in 20 industry sectors and for specialist areas of health and safety management. Rob Usher, Group HSQE Director, Taziker, said: “RoSPA’s recognition of our work is a great honour and a source of great pride for us. Taziker has always placed a high priority on the safety and well-being of its people, customers, and the wider community. In addition to demonstrating our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of health and safety, this award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team. We are grateful to RoSPA for this award and pledge to continue striving for excellence in this crucial field.” Julia Small, RoSPA’s Achievements Director, said: “Accidents at work and work-related ill health don’t just have huge financial implications or cause major disruption – they significantly impact an individual’s quality of life. That’s why good safety performance deserves to be recognised and rewarded.

ecognised Health SPA

“We are thrilled that Taziker has won a RoSPA Award and would like to congratulate them on showing an unwavering commitment to keeping their employees, clients and customers safe from accidental harm and injury.” Sponsored by Croner-i, the RoSPA Awards scheme is the longest-running of its kind in the UK, and receives entries from organisations across the globe, making it one of the most sought-after achievement awards for the health and safety industry.