Construction & Civil Engineering Issue 168 October 2019 by Finelight Media Group

www.ccemagazine.com ISSUE 168 OCTOBER

Excellence as standard Thanks to a focus on recruiting the right staff, and a dedication to delivering the highest quality projects, Abbeymill Homes is seeing new levels of success See page 42

Kerb appeal Composed of 88 per cent recycled polymer, a new product offers a safer alternative to concrete kerbs F Recite me Sir Robert McAlpineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website is now at the forefront of online inclusivity for the construction industry F

www.ccemagazine.com ISSUE 168 OCTOBER

Excellence as standard Chairman Andrew Schofield

editor

Thanks to a focus on recruiting the right staff, and a dedication to delivering the highest quality projects, Abbeymill Homes is seeing new levels of success See page 42

Editor Libbie Hammond libbie@schofieldpublishing.co.uk Assistant Editor Will Daynes

& Kerb appeal & Recite me

Composed of 88 per cent recycled polymer, a new product offers a safer alternative to concrete kerbs Sir Robert McAlpine’s website is now at the forefront of online inclusivity for the construction industry

Art Editor Fleur Daniels Staff Writer Vladi Nikolov Advertising Design Fiona Jolliffe Operations Director Philip Monument

Taking steps

Operations Manager Natalie Griffiths Editorial Researchers Adam Blanch Mark Cowles Jeff Goldenberg Tarjinder Kaur D’Silva Managing Director Joe Woolsgrove Sales Mark Cawston Dave King Theresa McDonald Gary Silk Sam Surrell Web Sales web@schofieldpublishing.co.uk Exclusive Features Darren Jolliffe Production/Office Manager Tracy Chynoweth

Social Media Abigail Blake

t remains a challenging time for the UK construction industry, and while Brexit still remains a massive uncertainty, the sector is already dealing with skills shortages that are unlikely to improve if and when we leave the EU. In our article on page 4, Johnathan Bulmer quotes

figures from Arcadis that predicted a ‘soft’ Brexit could see our industry Schofield Publishing Cringleford Business Centre, 10 Intwood Road, Cringleford, Norwich, NR4 6AU, U.K. Tel: +44 (0)1603 274130 www.ccemagazine.com

lose out on 136,000 workers, and a ‘hard’ Brexit 215,000 workers – this is going to be a blow to an industry that is already struggling to fill its positions. Johnathan thinks internships are a possible solution to the issue and his argument is persuasive. The sector does need to find a way to transfer knowledge from the experienced staff to a new generation - what steps are your company taking to ensure that the future will be built as

Construction & Civil Engineering Magazine

strong as we need it?

@CCE_magazine

Until the next issue.

Please note: The opinions expressed by contributors and advertisers within this publication do not necessarily coincide with those of the editor and publisher. Every reasonable effort is made to ensure that the information published is accurate, and correct at time of writing, but no legal responsibility for loss occasioned by the use of such information can be accepted by the publisher. All rights reserved. The contents of the magazine are strictly copyright, the property of Schofield Publishing, and may not be copied, stored in a retrieval system, or reproduced without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Libbie Hammond Editor 1

regular features

Skills The construction industry is struggling to find the right staff with the qualifications and skills that it needs

Ground engineering The impact of weather on construction workers, and how rain and sun can wreak havoc on staff and materials

13/16

News Updates and information from the construction and civil engineering market

Windows and doors According to Richard Banks, the fenestration industry is setting new trends in style for windows and doors

waste Why a holistic view of site development could be the way forward, reducing waste and thinking about energy efficiency

20 The Offsite Construction Show November will see the arrival of The Offsite Construction Show at Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ExCel, showcasing the progress in the sector

20 2

contents

Saferoad VRS Supplier and installer of vehicle restraint systems and sound noise barriers, Saferoad VRS has ambitious future plans

Ibstock Brick Since it was last featured in CCE, Ibstock Brick has experienced steady growth, and picked up some significant industry awards

Stanton Bonna Manufacturer of precast concrete drainage solutions, Stanton Bonna is working on major projects, as well as investing for the future

Abbeymill Homes The variety of materials and techniques Abbeymill Homes uses when building its properties gives the company an advantage

32 42

tj hall TJ Hall stands out from the competition because of its willingness to be flexible and undertake projects across a broad spectrum

Pontrilas Group Pontrilas Group provides the highest quality timber and timber products, backed up with exemplary customer service

ardent hire solutions The success of Ardent Hire Solutions is due to excellent service, first-class equipment and a passionate team

penlaw A leading specialist in drywall and associated products, Penlaw prides itself on relationship building and fruitful partnerships

62 company profiles

TRITON CONSTRUCTION Limited Handling projects ranging between £250k and £10m, Triton Construction is known as a proactive, problem-solving business

Norcros Group Innovative products from four Norcros Group companies are being exhibited at this year’s Offsite Construction Show on stand E5 Frank H. Dale Owing to exceptional customer service and efficiency, Frank H. Dale is positioned in the top flight of the UK’s steel fabricators Land & Water Specialising in civil and environmental operations, Land & Water maintains and manages coastal, canal, and river networks

Oakray Oakray has an impeccable record of delivering mechanical, electrical and security solutions to domestic and commercial clients h w martin (traffic management) Safety, customer experience and delivery are the three tenets of H W Martin (Traffic Management)’s proposition msl engineering ltd Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2019, MSL Engineering Ltd has made a name for itself in the Irish construction sector

Skills

Plugging the gap

Johnathan Bulmer discusses addressing the skills gap in the construction sector, and whether internships are the answer

he UK construction industry is growing,

generating almost ÂŁ90 billion annually and employing over 2.93 million people. Considering this accounts for approximately

ten per cent of the working British population, it makes me question why there is still a skills shortage in this industry. One of the main issues is that many construction workers are now retiring, and to make up for

this shortfall, we need an influx of new employees. The problem is, that one fifth of all vacancies within the construction industry are hard to fill because employees canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find staff with the right qualifications or skills.

So perhaps therein lies the issue. We’re not providing individuals – who may have tons of enthusiasm, but no previous experience – with the opportunity to start a career in construction. What we should be

doing is focusing on our youth of today. We should be training them so that they can build up the experience to embark on a career in construction. I believe the best way to do this is through internships.

Internships provide the intern with a period of time to train on the job, during which potential employers can determine whether or not they meet the high standards expected from the industry. Interns will also

Skills

gain an insight into what dayto-day working life involves, and experience different areas across the industry. Those who possess good communication, great time management and organisation skills will succeed in construction. A desire to learn will help interns reap many benefits, including gaining invaluable industry knowledge, building contacts, improving their confidence and providing them with the possibility of a full-time job.

Career option The benefits for employers are clear too: in the short-term, an extra pair of hands to help out with work and in the long-term, the potential to gain a full-time employee who can really add value to the company. Unfortunately, this isn’t a route that we as an industry, have been taking. Only one per cent of employers have ever

considered hiring an apprentice or an inexperienced member of staff, and for those who did, it was highly unlikely that there was a guaranteed job available at the end of the project. So should we really be surprised to hear that CITB data has shown that young people don’t view the construction industry as a career option? Now is the time to change this. We need to train interns in the construction industry, to ensure they develop the essential skills required, and build a desire to continue a career with us. Only that will help to stop us from running into the same issues in the future. Not only that, but changes are becoming more apparent in the construction industry that requires everyone to undergo training. Up until recently, we didn’t really ‘do’ digital – technology just didn’t affect us like it did other industries. This

is now changing however, with a technological boom on the cards. One way technology is affecting us is with the introduction of drones, changing the way we operate by eliminating human error and improving health and safety. Augmented Reality is another aspect expected to take the construction industry by storm. Also referred to as AR, this technology superimposes a computer-generated image on a user’s view of the world. Not only do we predict that this will highlight potential hazards or issues of a project before they arise, but it will also allow for a more collaborative research. Planners and architects will be able to work with clients and contractors more easily, as everyone will be able to see the bigger picture together. The other technological aspect thought to affect us is Building Information Modelling (BIM). This

will replace traditional blueprints with interactive 3D models, bringing together all project information into one place. With this considered to be more sophisticated over time, it’s likely that this will eventually transform into 5D modelling.

The right balance Because this is all new, current employers in the construction industry will need to learn how to work with this technology. Why not train interns at the same time? After all, they will be the ones who shape the construction industry in the future. Whilst it’s all well and good discussing the merits of interns, I believe it’s time to stop discussing, and start taking action. We will be competing with many different industries for interns: architecture, hospitality and healthcare to name a few. And right now, interns can find better job prospects long-term

in accounting, consulting and IT. That’s something the construction industry needs to address. Another fact we can’t deny is that Brexit will have a profound impact on the construction industry. Whilst we don’t have any solid facts, it’s predicted that a ‘soft’ Brexit could see our industry lose out on 136,000 workers, and a ‘hard’ Brexit 215,000 workers. We really need to start closing that bridge. Ideally when finding new recruits, a combination of academic and real-world learning will produce the best results. It’s extremely common for professional and personal development to be best achieved through this balance of theory, and actually doing it. Getting it right enables a qualified candidate to step straight into an employed position and start working at a professional level. Interns are therefore paramount in shaping the future of the

construction industry: by working alongside experienced employees now, they will help to drive us forward in the long-term.

Johnathan Bulmer is Managing Director at Cleveland Containers. Cleveland Containers is a family-owned business with more than 15 years’ experience in the field. It offers one of the largest nationwide stocks of new and used shipping containers, available throughout the UK. For more information, please see:

www.clevelandcontainers.co.uk/

Ground engineering

The weather

forecast W

Michael Mayock takes a look at how the weather impacts the construction industry

orking outdoors has many perks, including an improved mood and boosted energy, as well as working in the fresh air being known to help boost the immune system. However, in the construction industry, working outside comes with its fair share of health and safety and project management issues, causing delays to timelines, running over on budgets, damage to sites and plants, and, if not managed correctly, injuries. All of these problems can be amplified by poor and extreme weather conditions, something that, according to research, accounts for 21 per cent of delays on a construction project. We explore the impact of the weather on construction workers and sites and see how even a little rain can wreak havoc on project timelines.

Hot isn’t ideal On paper, a hot and sunny forecast sounds like perfect outdoor working conditions, but in reality, this type of weather can cause a whole host of problems. With temperatures recently reaching record-breaking highs in the UK, it’s more important than ever to ensure that all operatives working on a site, or anyone working outside for that matter, are properly hydrated, take regular breaks from the sun and the heat, and wear the correct PPE to protect them from harsh

climates. If it gets too hot, it may be time to down tools and call it a day. Unlike the cold, heat makes materials expand and this can affect the dimensions and placement of particular materials. Concrete can experience thermal shock and become dry, weak and crack whereas materials such as steel can expand when exposed to high temperatures. In these conditions, it’s not unlikely for suppliers to stamp ticket the concrete in case it dries up to quickly.

The dangers of dust Hot and dry weather conditions also produce a lot dust. Whilst dusts on a construction site is unavoidable and inevitable, (we’ve written an article on the dangers of silica dust), sometimes, the presence of dust can be amplified by a very hot environment. Airborne dust and dirt not only causes dangers to the workers who are ingesting it, but it can also be damaging to some machines and equipment by clogging up filters and impacting their effectiveness and efficiency. Dust can be reduced by using a dust suppression system; these bowsers help to saturate and eliminate dust in the air, and are a worthy investment to avoid the complications that too much dust can cause to a construction site.

Here comes the rain Rain causes countless problems to those working on a construction site. Working outside in the rain is

not pleasant and any type of rain can make work more difficult, but incessant rainfall can create long delays to a project timeline. Heavy downpour can bog construction sites and make surfaces slippery, not to mention extremely muddy. These overly muddy conditions then require extra road cleaning and wheel washers – adding to the overall budget and delaying planned work. To mitigate the amount of mud created from muckaway, it’s important to bund and seal any muckaway piles to prevent the rain from penetrating, therefore keeping the muck dry and also prevent the muck pile from collapsing. If torrential rain has filled trenches with water, then time will have to be invested in pumping the water out, but if the edges of the trench have been bunded and sealed, it will be quicker and easier to fix overall thanks to forwardthinking damage control. Further to this, there are many materials that should not be exposed to too much moisture. Take bricks for example, moisture present in bricks while building can result in condensation collecting, and if these bricks absorb too much water, damage to the structure of the brick can be caused. If certain materials are exposed to the rain for too long, they can be subjected to rust and corrosion. This is another reason why regular plant inspection is important, else your machines could break down when damage

Ground engineering

could have otherwise been prevented. If there’s a storm with the rain, it can present its own set of problems; not only is there the wet weather to contend with, but also storms usually bring high winds creating even more setbacks and difficult working conditions. High winds also cause a lot of disruption with lifting-machinery or equipment, making it difficult to operate safely and smoothly. If high or gale-force winds are predicted, it’s best to avoid these types of machines or cranes. Winds can also spread dust, and as mentioned above, dust causes a plethora of environmental health issues to sites and its workers.

Low temperatures Working outside does have its perks, but when temperatures drop, it can become uncomfortable working in the cold conditions. Though, chilly temperatures impact more on a construction site than just cold workers. In a similar vein to heat making materials expand, cold can make them contract making a run-ofthe-mill task become arduous. Concrete is particularly difficult to set in cold temperatures, with the knock on effect being a slow down in laying foundations, slabs and brickwork, impacting the overall project timeline and, importantly, drastically reduces

the concrete’s stability and strength. As with extremely hot conditions, suppliers sometimes stamp concrete and tarmac to state that the material was fit-forpurpose upon leaving their hands, which essentially means that they are happy to supply to material but cannot guarantee that when we come to use it, the structure (and therefore strength) may not be the same after being exposed to particular elements. This is an important precaution to take though, because concrete emits heat and moisture more quickly in lower temperatures. It is industry-recommended to keep concrete above ten degrees Celsius for it to maintain its strength and curing. Whilst it can be laid at a lower temperature, it will take longer for the concrete the set and this could have a detrimental effect on the overall project timelines. In extremely cold conditions (though rare in the UK), concrete can freeze – this can mean that the concrete loses around 50 per cent of its potential strength. Low temperatures can also produce ice and frost, and when this happens, there’s a dual-impact of expansion and contraction, whereby the ground – or road formations – can expand when frozen (where it’s essentially holding all the water) and the when it eventually thaws and releases the water, the material can sink. It’s far more difficult to prepare a road in these conditions and, unless the tarmac has already been delivered, it’s probably best to hold off until you’re confident that the formation and sub-base is to the correct standards, with no chance of collapsing/sinking. As well as impacting the machinery, it’s also more dangerous for our plant operators to be driving in icy and foggy conditions and so they will need to drive at an even slower pace, or opt for tasks that are not reliant on driving plant.

How to prepare Sometimes, it’s not possible to predict what the weather will be. In the UK – looking at summer 2019 with it’s record-breaking heat wave and record-breaking rainfall, in the same month - the summer weather is as unpredictable as winter. But, construction companies should be mitigating risk as much as possible. Whilst it’s not possible to know the weather conditions when you price up a job, regularly checking the forecast, planning your tasks on a weekly basis and taking precautions around this is a good way to stay on track. On-site safety measures can be having a thorough health and safety plan in place; ensuring surfaces are not prone to being slippery when wet, using the bund and seal method around your muckaway and trenches, have water pumps at the ready and use dust suppression bowsers to eliminate harmful dust. If possible, before your project

starts, add a contingency plan into your overall project timings. Best case, you won’t need it and you could then, in theory, finish ahead of schedule. Always work to industry best practice; it’s better in the long run, to protect your site and staff. Finally, it’s important to keep an open communication with your clients if you think that bad weather could impact the site’s progress.

Michael Mayock is Managing Director of Mackoy. Founded in 2011, Mackoy is the fastest-growing groundworks and civil engineering company in the south. Based in Hampshire, but also covering Dorset, Berkshire, Surrey and Sussex, Mackoy is breaking new ground and helping to create communities with high-quality servicesand state-of-the-art machinery. For more information, please see:

www.mackoy.co.uk

news

Works complete World-class science laboratories have been successfully constructed at Keele University; with the works led by Midlands contractor G F Tomlinson. The £13 million construction was awarded to G F Tomlinson as part of the University’s £42 million overall investment into its Faculty of Natural Sciences’ facilities, and will be occupied by students studying on varying courses. Inside the Central Science Laboratories (CSL) building are new chemistry and pharmacy wet laboratories and flexible dry laboratories for courses in geography, geology, environment, forensic science and life sciences; laboratories for physics and astrophysics; and IT labs for subjects including mathematics and computer science.

There are also breakout social learning spaces, open plan teaching and research areas, and IT rooms – with the building aiming to bring together practical teaching and group working among undergraduate and

postgraduate students, as well as those studying on a Foundation Year. The new development links to the Lennard Jones Building next to the Dorothy Hodgkin Building. It was delivered by G F Tomlinson using Building Information Modelling (BIM) Level 2 – an enhancing design co-ordination process used for creating and managing digital design information across the entire project from start to finish, helping to deliver increased productivity and efficiency.

Designed to enhance visibility and eliminate blind spots, Wacker Neuson’s new Dual View Dumpers feature a revolutionary swivel skip dumper, setting new standards in terms of operator and construction site safety,

flexibility and cost effectiveness. Other safety features include a rear-view camera installed as standard and highlighted steps with signal colour to allow for a safe ascent to the driver’s station.

Safety first A-Plant is helping to improve site safety, sustainability and productivity with a £900k investment in 20 new 6T and 9T Dual View Dumpers from Wacker Neuson. Ian Jordan, Managing Director for A-Plant, said the investment is a response to increasing customer demand. He commented: “We purchased our first Dual View Dumper earlier this year and after proving its safety, sustainability and productivity credentials at Sellafield, it was clear to us that the new machines provide considerable safety advantages. “More construction companies are beginning to introduce Dual View Dumpers onsite as standard, and we are proud to be able to offer our customers this new product, which has enhanced safety and comfort in addition to increased operating efficiencies and improved productivity.”

Windows and doors

Making a statement A look at popular trends in the fenestration industry. By Richard Banks

look of the structure, appearance is one of the primary reasons why people choose to update windows and doors. Currently, 40 per cent of the market is demanding coloured windows and doors, so it’s important to offer a range of colours that customers can choose from to enhance their property. Popular colour trends include, blue, red and yellow, while black, Anthracite grey and Chartwell green finishes add individuality to any property.

rom food and drink to clothing and music, trends are constantly evolving — and the same can be said for windows and doors. Whether you’re a designer, manufacturer, supplier or installer, keeping upto-date with market trends is crucial to remain competitive in an ever-changing industry. Windows and doors have come a long way. Historically made from a simple wood frame and pane of glass, windows and doors are now regarded as a key attribute and aesthetic feature of any property — and as the industry explores new colours, accessory and design trends, the possibilities to make a statement are endless.

A splash of colour Say goodbye to plain, white windows and doors. The introduction of bold, new colours is transforming windows and doors into statement features of any building. With building owners now taking greater concern in the

Serious style

Richard Banks

Besides a multitude of colour options, fenestration styles are also advancing. From fixed and sash, to tilt and turn windows, these styles are becoming frequently requested to compliment a modern structure. Whereas door styles are concentrating on the materials that the door is made from, rather than simply the appearance. Newer options include composite and metal as the durability,

strength and finish of composite doors make it a popular choice, while metal doors offer increased strength and an unusual, effective look. By supplying a variety of popular colours and styles, your customers can keep up-todate with modern trends and enhance their property, which can increase customer loyalty and the reputation of your business. However, appearance is not the only factor for consideration, as products that can make lives’ easier is now considered more valuable.

SMART and secure As society reaps the benefits that technology developments offer, the fenestration industry is benefitting too. Innovations like Hive, Amazon Alexa and Google Home are simplifying the lives of millions, and as a result, SMART technology is now being incorporated into fenestration products for enhanced security, efficiency and accessibility.

Automated locks can be attached to windows and doors that can be controlled remotely from the property ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s phone, while SMART sensors can be retrofitted that signal an alert to the owner or maintenance team if a window or door has been left open or unlocked. We all appreciate that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important for your customers to feel secure in their property. So, supplying products that not only give peace of mind, but also make the customer feel safer, both in and out of the building, can showcase your business as valuable and trustworthy. Functionality is another factor that many look for when purchasing windows and doors. Dependent on the building, the windows and doors may need to function in a certain way. This could include fixed windows for high rise office or apartment buildings, or windows that can only open to a certain degree in schools or secure buildings for health and safety purposes.

Energy efficiency Alongside safety requirements, environmental concerns are growing, and energy efficiency has become an important topic in the fenestration industry. As the benefits become realised, the demand for energy efficient windows and doors is increasing across the supply chain. The British Fenestration Rating Council (BFRC) rates the energy efficiency performance of windows and doors on a scale from A to G, with a rating of A demonstrating the highest potential for energy efficiency. Ensuring that your products have a high-energy efficiency rating will save your customers money and reduce their carbon footprint. In fact, around 40 per cent of heat escapes through windows and doors, meaning that money is easily lost by increased energy consumption if inefficient

products have been installed. For any specifier, manufacturer, supplier or installer, energy efficiency should be a priority. By providing your customers with a solution to cutting costs and reducing their energy consumption, you can assure that your customers will thank you in the long run and consider you a reliable and environmentally friendly business. As aesthetics, technology and efficiency influence changes in the industry, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vital that customers can rely on suppliers to provide them with products that can benefit them for years to come. Windows and doors are no longer just a means for letting in sunlight or providing an entrance point for a building. Instead, they are now regarded as an important element of any building.

So, just like multicultural influences are transforming the food and beverage industry and companies like Spotify and Netflix are changing how we consume media, the fenestration industry is well on the road to being a trendsetter in the years to come.

Richard Banks is commercial director of PVCu windows and doors manufacturer Euramax Solutions. Euramax manufactures PVCu and aluminium windows and doors for the modular, new build, recreational vehicle, holiday home and home improvement markets. Part of the building and leisure products group OmniMax International Inc, the business offers made to measure products and has a state-of-theart manufacturing facility in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. For more information, please see

www.euramax.co.uk

news

Kerb appeal

New kid on the BLOC

Durakerb – part of the Econpro Group that transform waste and by-product into sustainable products and solutions – says that alternatives to traditional concrete road kerbs are essential for highway and construction companies looking to reduce the number of accidents at work. Concrete blocks can be difficult to carry manually, so Durakerb has developed an alternative, composed of 88 per cent recycled polymer, which is far lighter. Each Durakerb unit is made of the equivalent of 182 recycled plastic bottles and weighs only 6kgs allowing it to be cut with a hand saw and installed manually. The installation of concrete kerbs, which usually require the use of heavy cutting tools, also generates a high level of risk to airborne silica. Durakerb products can be manually installed in line with the HSE guidelines benefitting the workforce and project managers by reducing working time on live networks by up to 75 per cent, as well as the number of injuries and lost working days. Phil Sutton, Managing Director at Econpro, commented: “The installation of Durakerb is safe and easy for workers as the product’s lightweight nature and absence of carcinogenic silica mean installation is less risky than traditional concrete, preventing costly and dangerous accidents at work.”

BLOC Hotels’ third location, located opposite Birmingham’s Grand Central and New Street Station, will open in 2021. With work now onsite, the building will comprise 227 bedrooms spread across 22 floors, bringing a contemporary new structure to Birmingham’s developing city centre skyline. BSD developed the M&E and technical designs for BLOC Grand Central, working alongside project partners BrightSPACE Architects and structural engineers ICIS Design Ltd. Joel Sawyer, director at Building Services Design (BSD), commented: “Due to the height of the building, our biggest challenge was the splitting of water services. We had to design a system that would allow the correct amount of flow and pressure, serving every level of the building seamlessly. This was achieved through the boosted cold-water services being designed to utilise two different pump sets. This allows the lower half and upper half of the building to be served independently. “BLOC Grand Central will have a tall, slim structure that’s like nothing else we have in Birmingham - so will be a welcome, modern new addition to the city.”

Going greener While a recent [at time of writing] report from a cross-party group of MPs recommended using advanced asphalt technology on UK roads, Aggregate Industries is urging local authorities, highways agencies and the wider industry to take an eco-friendlier approach in all aspects of road surfacing. Aggregate Industries, which recently launched its own low temperature asphalt Superlow, has stated that while opting for warm mix asphalt (WMA) will go a long way in reducing the environmental impact of road construction, decision makers also need to take a more holistic approach to sustainability – one that prioritises low-carbon processes in all aspects of a project. Bob Allen, Head of Research & Development and Technical Services at Aggregate Industries, noted that many greener products, practices and technology are already available. “It’s just a case of making the most of the latest innovations,” he said. “After all, with the government’s recent pledge to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, if we are to successfully transition to a low carbon society, we will all need to do ‘our bit’.”

UK first An Oculus staircase, the first of its kind in the UK, is being installed at Cardiff University’s cutting-edge Innovation Campus. Bouygues UK, the construction company building Innovation Campus, is working with Taunton Fabrications to design and install the staircase, which is a sculptural, open staircase travelling through a slanting void. Designed by architects Hawkins\ Brown, the aim of the Oculus staircase is to drive engagement and collaboration between the varying departments and uses of the building. It starts at the ground floor as a social stair and forms breakout zones to each level, which are curated differently, becoming destinations to users on other floors. These can also be accessed by the lift core adjacent.

The Oculus staircase is set to be the showpiece of Innovation Central and its fitting is a major milestone in the project. Bouygues UK and Cardiff University are transforming a former disused rail yard into a state-of-the-art campus for social science-led

research, high-tech job creation and student start-ups, and further expertise in compound semiconductors. The Innovation Central building will be the world’s first social science research park, co-locating leading researchers, practitioners and policy makers.

Embracing inclusivity

Centre of excellence Gusto Homes has officially launched a new training facility at Lincoln College that will teach cutting-edge sustainable and low carbon building techniques to aspiring construction students. Led by local construction firms, The Construction College, which features the Gusto Homes ECOnstruction Centre of Excellence, was officially opened on Thursday 12th September. This new employer-led approach to construction training will help students, staff and the wider industry to upskill as gas is phased out from new sites completely over the next decade. Thanks to this expansion, Lincoln College will now be able to train an additional 100 learners a year. Through the ECOnstruction Centre of Excellence, Gusto Homes will provide training on the application and impact of products like air source and ground source heat pumps, solar PV, triple glazing and waste water heat recovery. Lincoln College also aims to buy properties, which students will renovate alongside local firms to aid the regeneration of local areas.

Sir Robert McAlpine has partnered up with Recite Me to provide barrier-free access to its website for people with a range of accessibility issues. This includes people with visual impairments, dyslexia, colour blindness and other forms of neurodiversity, as well as those who don’t speak English as their first language. With the introduction of Recite Me assistive technology, Sir Robert McAlpine is at the forefront of inclusivity online in the construction industry. To support website visitors and potential candidates looking for a career at Sir Robert McAlpine, the Recite Me assistive toolbar allows people to customise their website in a way that works best for them. This easy to use, award-winning software includes text to speech functionality, fully customisable styling features, reading aids and a translation tool with over 100 languages, including 35 text to speech voices, plus many other features.

Waste

Building for the future:

rethink, repurpose, reuse Nick Russell suggests that a holistic view of site development could be the way forward

raised in the verse of Hopkins and the pastoral scenes of Turner, the UK’s rural landscapes have long been a source of national pride. However, as the population increases and developers seek a solution for the housing crisis, some of the country’s greatest assets are at risk. Fortunately, we have a wealth of robust, existing structures (and infrastructure) available to us, ripe for development. The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) recently published research in which revealed we are currently sitting on areas of

Nick Russell

brownfield collectively the size of Birmingham (around 26,000 hectares) of which over half is ready for immediate development. Here exists a golden opportunity, from addressing the current housing crisis and overhauling our tired infrastructure network, to revitalising our struggling high streets and re-empowering local government. It’s a positive vision, but first things first, the construction industry needs to have a more open discussion about brownfield sites and actively improve public and investor understanding of how these areas can be utilised, both commercially and socially.

In for the long haul Presently we are faced with a number of hurdles. Chief amongst these is an attitude of shorttermism. On face value, building on greenfield can seem like the most cost-effective option; you’re not confronted with the initial, significant expense of clearing land and managing contaminated materials. However, often it’s more beneficial and less wasteful to spend more at first to build sustainable structures with a long lifespan or retrofit a structurally sound building which could be given a new lease of life. This raises further questions concerning our understanding of

the term ‘value’ and how it relates to our client and end users as opposed to shareholders alone. Of course, I’m not suggesting that construction companies should not seek to turn a profit, but that, perhaps, we could start adopting a more holistic approach to the work we do. This neatly segues into discussing another misunderstood term, ‘sustainability’, which has to go hand in hand with ‘value’ when discussing brownfield. The whole drive to build on the greenbelt and greenfield sites appears to be a regressive solution to our current needs, especially when you consider the CPRE’s finding. What do we mean by sustainability? Is it merely making sure a building is as ecologically friendly as possible? I believe it means so much more. Surely the term also applies to delivering buildings which stand the test of time, designed for a period of time appropriate to its use, and equally structures which strengthen and benefit the local community. It’s time we empowered this word with a richer meaning and applied it to our standpoint on brownfield.

Think locally All too often, buildings with an existing embodied carbon are replaced with a new development. Demolition might seem a safe option but is not always appropriate for the local area or beneficial to the welfare of local residents and workers. Superficially, it’s more financially prudent, but as we well know new buildings require further embodied carbon and environmental disruption. One of the biggest challenges facing many communities now is the erosion of the high street as shopping and social habitats. The evolution of online shopping and big box retailers being a major cause. Maybe building on, or

redeveloping, urban brownfield sites could provide local housing, working environments and other facilities which could give high streets a much needed boost, rather than unnecessary development of the countryside.

Waste not, want not Complementing a drive towards redevelopment, we all need to be more committed to ‘designing out’ certain redundant or non-sustainable materials, which no longer have a place in housebuilding. Plastics are a good example. It is our responsibility, as construction experts, to specify more sustainable solutions, such as timber, recycling concrete and masonry and thinking about the eventual re-use of the materials we specify for redevelopment. We should also give more consideration to second hand construction products. I have worked on a number of projects

in the past where perfectly good materials are removed from site to be scrapped, when they could be given a new life in the redeveloped building. Furthermore, we need to think about energy efficiency within the property, taking thermal mass and U-Values into consideration. Many existing structures can be successfully retrofitted to ensure greater energy efficiency without the need to knock everything down and start again. Good insulation is an essential requirement for modern housing and can have a positive impact on the homeowner/occupier’s energy bills, significantly reducing them. Overall, we need to adopt a more holistic approach, taking the whole lifespan of a building into consideration, as well as its impact on the local community. More joined-up thinking is required. Government has a role to play here as well, ensuring that we have appropriately funded local authorities who aren’t solely focused on balancing the books. Making best use of the structures and materials available to us helps build stronger communities within existing ones, offering an economic and socially responsible solution to the current problem, rather than establishing new ones.

Nick Russell is a Director at Thomasons. Thomasons is a UK structural and civil engineering practice, committed to helping clients across UK business and industry build safe, efficient, cost-effective and sustainable environments. Established in 1947, the company is passionate about good engineering and draws on the latest design techniques and sustainable materials technology to create innovative and costeffective designs. For more information, please see

https://thomasons.co.uk

The Offsite Construction Show (OSCS2019)

It’s show time

Now in its fifth year, The Offsite Construction Show (OSCS2019) is continuing to build on the success it has established in the marketplace

he show expects up to 70 exhibitors, showcasing everything from building materials, composite panel manufacture, and modular construction, to LSF structures, hybrid products, precast concrete, timber frame manufacturing and design, engineering and construction consultancy. At least 25 per cent of exhibitors at the 2019 show will be first time exhibitors, bringing a range of exciting products and services to a whole new audience. OSCS2019 is once again conveniently located at ExCeL in London, and the show’s organisers believe that hosting the event in a city that is home to many spectacular flagship OSC projects strongly contributes to the show’s high turnout and excellent visitor quality. “London ExCeL is located in the heart of the Docklands and is a truly world class venue,”

explains show director, Steven Callaghan. “It has superb facilities for visitors and exhibitors alike.” Head of Sales, Maddie Maclellan agrees: “Visiting the show could not be easier,” she added. “Whether visiting by public transport or by car, ExCeL has two of its own onsite Docklands Light Railway Stations (DLR) and this is the most popular way of travelling to the show, as it is fast, cheap and efficient. However, if you do prefer to come under your own steam, the venue has an underground parking garage with over 3000 spaces.” These excellent transportation links means the show is easy to access by the many thousands of senior construction, design and specifying personnel based in the capital city, as well as both central and local government. Once they arrive at the Exhibition Centre, visitors to the show can look forward to seeing

the progress that is being made in the offsite construction arena, and, as Steven point out, this particular sector is really seeing a huge amount of development and growth. “Offsite construction (OSC) is now more in the news than at any time since we launched the show in 2015,” he said. “Housing shortages in the UK, in particular the lack of affordable housing, have seen OSC advanced as something that could make a major contribution to solving these particular problems. This has led to a wider appreciation of the other benefits of OSC such as improved quality of the finished product and, vitally, improvements in health and safety at work.” Shortages of skilled labour are another good reason why OSC needs to be considered very seriously, as the digital generation has different expectations from a career in construction than

perhaps their predecessors. “Many employers are finding that current entrants to the workplace are less enthusiastic about working on a windswept building site than their forefathers,” added Steven. Ensuring the show addresses the wide variety of needs and interests that visitors will bring to ExCeL requires both experience and expertise, and this need is fulfilled by Londonbased organisation buildoffsite, which plays an important role in OSCS2019, as Maddie explains: “We organise the show in association with buildoffsite (www.buildoffsite.com) and they are regarded as ‘the trusted voice of the offsite construction industry’. As a membership-based organisation whose sole role is to promote the use of offsite construction technology, it only takes a brief glance at their list of members online to see the extent of their influence – it’s a real who’s who of end users, contractors, manufacturers and even government departments.” One of buildoffsite’s major contributions is the buildoffsite Seminar Theatre, which has become a very popular feature of previous Offsite Construction

Shows. “I’m pleased to confirm that it will be making an appearance once again in 2019,” announced Maddie. “The programme is yet to be published but for a flavour of what is to come at the show, expect seminars looking at key developments impacting on prospects for the UK construction market, a look at advances in the hugely important residential market, the importance of achieving design excellence to deliver project quality and value and future skills for an offsite enabled industry. “There will also be a series of Masterclasses and workshops including sessions looking at women in offsite and how offsite construction can help reduce workplace stress in the building and construction industry,” she added. “We will also be running the show’s own seminar theatre, so there will literally be something for everyone, and it’s all absolutely free of charge.” In 2018 OSCS was attended by over 4000 people, a record attendance, and a similar number is expected in 2019. Whether your reason for visiting is to learn more about OSC with a view to

incorporating it in your future projects or to look to develop your existing supply chain, the show has something to offer you. Bringing together suppliers and manufacturers under one roof, the event combines interesting and educational seminars, stateof-the art new products and services, and superb networking opportunities, making it a must visit for anyone specialising in offsite construction. Registration is now open online for your free entrance ticket - register beforehand and it will save you time on arrival at the show hall.

The Offsite Construction Show (OSCS2019) ExCeL, London 20-21 November, 2019 Supported by buildoffsite For more information, please see

https://offsiteconstructionshow.co.uk https://www.buildoffsite.com

Meet the teams Norcros Group is a market leading supplier of high quality and innovative products for bathrooms and kitchens and the wider construction market. Four group companies are exhibiting on Stand E5 at this year’s Offsite Construction Show

stablished in 1901, Johnson Tiles is the UK’s leading manufacturer of ceramic tiles. The company’s experienced design team travels the world to source products to enhance the product portfolio. It is also one of the greenest companies in the UK. With over 100 years’ experience Johnson Tiles has a long history of market leadership. With a dedicated in-house design team and UK-based production facilities, Johnson Tiles continues to deliver distinctive new products servicing both the contract and retail markets internationally, all of which is underpinned by awardwinning quality and environmental systems. Within the contract market, the company’s experience, service and product range cover all aspects of public and private specifications, from architects and designers through house builders, contractors and distributors.

Johnson Tiles have been used on both small and large contracts

for housing projects, schools, universities, hotels, hospitals, industrial developments and the leisure industry. Within the retail market the company designs and manufactures products for both independent and multiple retailers. It offers the widest choice of ‘on trend’ products, backed up by industry-leading logistics and service. MERLYN will be exhibiting at the Offsite Construction Exhibition, showcasing its innovative new MERLYN IQ range. The unique patent pending easy fit mechanism on MERLYN IQ, makes fitting easy. Unlike standard shower doors, MERLYN IQ is a one person install, using no screws on the frame assembly and is built on the tray, perfect for fitting in smaller bathrooms and ensuites. The easy fit rollers and clever installation tools, all make MERLYN IQ the easiest door you will ever fit.

Norcros Group

There are lots of benefits of partnering with MERLYN including: • Quality products for customers – design-led, premium quality products that are tested to a standard far exceeding any European CE Standards; • Installation Innovation innovative installation systems, designed with the fitter in mind saving precious time on site; • Market Leading Availability huge investment in stockholding and an excellent logistics partnership drives an outstanding OTIF of 99 per cent. This reduces project lag, by not impacting on CMLs, while also avoiding escalating labour costs; • Award-winning customer care – all the support customers need, with a dedicated account manager, product guarantees and comprehensive parts availability. Ninety-seven per cent of calls to the MERLYN customer services team are answered within 30 seconds. Norcros Adhesives is a manufacturer of a wide range of preparation, fixing and finishing products for tiling and flooring installation. The company will be using the opportunity of the Show to demonstrate that it fully understands and is ready for modular and off-site construction. Having built its reputation on product quality and innovation,

the company will be showing that it meets the construction industry’s demand for high quality tiling and flooring adhesives. These products will need to be increasingly tolerant of vibration, deflection and movement. Modular constructors will be looking for flexurally forgiving products with good cohesive strength. They will also be looking for products which dry quickly, in order to keep production lines moving at an optimum rate. Norcros Adhesives is wellequipped to satisfy this demand and to develop innovative new products to meet the requirements of the future. Norcros Adhesives works through RIBA’s NBS Plus programme to use industry standard specification that conforms to best practice. The company is also registered to BIM Level 2, enabling design to integrate fully with off-site construction methodology. Therefore, it is well-placed to pitch for Government contracts, where off-site construction is increasingly important, such as for student accommodation, schools, healthcare and social housing. VADO is a leading British brassware manufacturer that provides premium taps, showers and accessories to customers across the globe. Channelling expertise and engineering knowhow into innovative brassware technology, VADO has introduced three diverse collections to market throughout 2019; Individual by VADO, Booth & Co. and Axces by VADO. Celebrating innovation and original design, Individual by VADO offers a distinctive collection of taps, showers and accessories in a variety of special finishes, including brushed black, brushed gold, brushed nickel and polished gold.

Inspired by British brassware designs, the Booth & Co. collection introduces a range of bathroom and kitchen brassware in two lustrous finishes; chrome and bright nickel, each featuring unique ceramic accents with a choice of cross and lever handles. Axces by VADO, the most recently launched collection, introduces a range of affordable bathroom and kitchen brassware that’s both stylish and functional. All three collections can be found at stand E5 at this year’s Offsite Construction Show.

Norcros Group www.johnson-tiles.com www.merlynshowering.com www.norcros-adhesives.com www.vado.com

profile: Frank H. Dale

Steely values Frank H. Dale is fitting out its new facility that will help the structural steelwork fabricator become the market’s go-to company

or years on end, it has been the family atmosphere reigning at Frank H. Dale which has created the continued success achieved by the Leominster-based structural steelwork fabricator. In the view of Paul Read, Managing Director of the company, the sense of togetherness permeates the entire structure of the business. “All team members work very closely together

and, more importantly, they truly care about what they do and take pride in their job. Unsurprisingly, our staff turnover has always been very low and the fact that retirement has recently taken away three highlyvalued members of staff with a combined service record of 99 years, is testament to that.” The family ethos at Frank H. Dale has its genesis from the family ownership model that has been present at the company

during the 87 years of its existence. As such, the business upholds the values of trust, honesty, understanding, quality, and being a good neighbour. It was through working to these characteristics that Frank H. Dale has won hundreds of contracts over the course of its history and the works it carried out for buildings on the Balmoral Estates led to it being granted a Royal Warrant by the Queen in 1971. The warrant boosted the company’s

structures. Having gained a broad experience, the company can operate successfully in a number of sectors, including commercial, industrial, storage and distribution, education, health, leisure, and more recently, data storage. “Our presence across many areas reflects the specialities of our clients and the markets they target, all of which vary greatly,” Paul adds. “As a result of that, our turnover has grown over the last few years to more than £22 million and it is our intension to steadily grow the company over the next five years.”

Expanding capacity

reputation immensely and, to this day, it remains one of the significant milestones which has pushed the organisation forward. “Our core specialism is our attention to client needs,” Paul continues. “In conjunction with a high level of service throughout the project, a keen eye for value engineering and an excellent safety record, meeting clients’ expectations is of primary importance to us. Ninety per cent of our customers have

worked with us before and we are extremely proud of this exceptional repeat business statistic, which hopefully demonstrates our commitment to quality and customer service.” Frank H. Dale’s complete inhouse steel design, detailing, fabrication, painting and erection services are available on a diverse range of structures – from single/ multi-span portal frames to high bay warehousing and multistorey post and beam-type

In order to meet this objective, Frank H. Dale has invested in a brand-new, state-of-the-art factory that spans 140,000 square feet and will operate alongside the company’s existing facility. Paul comments: “The multi-million pound investment establishes our intention to continually grow the business and cements our position as one of the UK’s leading steelwork fabricator. As a large and wellrespected employer within our local area, it will not only secure our existing workforce, but will enable us to expand our team. We are currently in Phase Two of the new factory development with the latest models of various machines. The first phase involved the installation of a new automated process line, which has decimated the processing time of the existing facility. Upon the completion of the second phase, which is projected to happen by the end of the year, we will have the capacity to more than double our output.” The new purpose-built workshop is 224 metres long and once the second phase has come to an end, Frank H. Dale will have a combined potential capacity of up to 500 tonnes per week between the two facilities, which will allow the organisation to

profile: Frank H. Dale

meet even the most demanding programmes. “The fit-out of the machinery will be done in four phases, so we are planning to grow this capacity further in 2020 when Phase Three is completed,” Paul points out. He moves on to discuss the types of machinery that are being installed across the shop floor: “The facility boasts a brand-new Voortman automated cutting, drilling, robotic coping, and shot-blast line. Integral to this is an automated layout marking system for all the components

COMPOSITE PROFILES UK Award-winning specialist metal decking services Before we arrive on a construction site, the new building is just a frame. We give it its floors and roof. Highly skilled at working at height in exposed conditions, safety is of paramount importance to us and our teams are trained to above industry standards. We have an ‘Honest Pricing’ policy to price fairly with no hidden costs and to deliver quality on time. We offer both Supply Only to trade or private builds, and Specialist Installation Services including Value-Engineering Technical Design, Concreting, Fall Arrest Systems and wHOLE.Protect™.

that are to be welded to the main sections – this will not only speed the various processes along, but will also reduce errors. Along with the most efficient and economical welding equipment available to date and also having installed full motion controlled LED lighting in the entire factory, offices and welfare areas which highlights our commitment to operating efficiently and in a sustainable manner.”

High-profile schemes The performance of Frank H. Dale’s second facility will be instrumental in reaching the growth levels the company aspires for, with the greater production capacity promising to allow the business to fabricate and deliver larger and more prestigious programmes. “We

have already been involved in a number of projects where we were required to demonstrate our capabilities to their full extent and that are true sources of pride for the company,” Paul claims. “Among the most highprofile schemes we have worked on, are a 19-storey student accommodation in Southampton, a distribution unit in Banbury comprising of a seven-span portal frame, 14-storey offices in Birmingham city centre for HMRC, and a six-storey cinema extension inside the O2 Arena in London, to name but a few.” Owing to the exceptional customer service and efficiency demonstrated by Frank H. Dale, the company has remained firmly in the top flight of the UK’s steel fabricators for a number of years. “However, to remain in that ‘top

flight’, you have to continually invest in both your people and your infrastructure to stay ahead of the game and ensure the business remains competitive. We have all the necessary prerequisites and if we stick to our values, I am sure we will remain the preferred steelwork fabricator in the country,” he wraps up.

Frank H. Dale www.fhdale.co.uk Services: Structural steelwork fabrication Voortman Steel Machinery Voortman has developed machines and solutions for the steel fabrication and manufacturing industries for 50 years. We are continuously developing new machines and solutions while providing an optimal experience in order to meet your needs in the best possible way. Our customers quickly discover how they can increase their output in a way that can be easily calculated upfront and proven afterwards. We are dedicated to avoiding machine interruptions and reduce production operation costs with tailored services based on customer needs. We will continue to invest in and strengthen our position as pioneers in the automation industry.

profile: Land & Water

Floating ahead

Land & Water’s distinct mode of operation has enabled it to establish valuable long-standing partnerships with clients, based on delivering exceptional civil and environmental engineering services through its empowered workforce

hat you should be ‘giving before you can expect to get something in return’ is a truth Land & Water has been holding on to in the 25 years since the civil and environmental engineering expert was established. The customercentric approach adopted by the business has gone to such lengths that, on occasions, Land & Water has deliberately worked for less profit on a project, just to develop a more long-standing relationship with its clients. Over the years, this dedication has paid off multiple times and today, 76 per cent of the company’s turnover comes from repeat business.

“A practical benefit of us working with a select group of customers, is that we do not need to competitively tender all the time,” CEO and co-founder, James Maclean, begins. “Our clients tend to take long-term decisions with us and we have developed and deepened fantastic relationships with organisations like the Canal & River Trust and the Environment Agency. In fact, we have traded (unbroken) with the former for 17 years now and not once have we been placed in a compromise where we have had to make a commercial claim, having maintained an unbroken partnership, which is something very few civil engineering

contractors can achieve with a client.” Throughout its existence, Land & Water has also stayed true to its commitment to working on or close to water, thus developing an expertise in maintaining and managing the UK’s coastal, canal, and river networks. As such, it labels itself ‘an environmental company, full of people who are passionate about caring for the coastline and the nation’s network of rivers, streams, wetlands, and waterways’. “Our mantra across the business is ‘people, profit, planet’ and we develop our budgets and processes in a way that reflects all three,” James points out. “The

machines that we design and develop for our clients aim to reduce our environmental impact and improve on-site safety. For example, we are now offering remotely controlled flails and digital mapping to identify sensitive areas, which might be inhabited by protected species, to make sure that our kit does not work there. “Furthermore, we always look at maximising waste reuse. We have even patented a number of waste treatment technologies in conjunction with the Canal & River Trust, where we are capable of taking the silt out of their canal and then reusing it within their infrastructure,” James adds. By far the most telling example

of Land & Water’s recycling efforts, however, is the company’s work for The Port of London Authority and RSPB on the creation of a wetland habitat at Rainham Marshes. “It is actually a joint effort between us, the PLA, RSPB, and Veolia to create London’s biggest green space and is the most ambitious project the company has undertaken so far,” James states proudly. “For it, we are bringing six million tonnes of re-engineered spoils collected from various major infrastructure projects along the Thames, to create a patchwork of habitats across the site. These will include upland/dry/sandy areas ideal for some ground nesting species, with shallow valleys and damp swales, and collecting ditches that will eventually channel surface waters to the permanent wetlands to support the endangered Marsh Harriers. It is an exciting challenge where we are making 100 per cent use of recycled dry and wet spoil material, which will ultimately result in an oasis of wildlife for East London.” The implementation of the Rainham Marshes project coincides with a period of sustained growth for Land & Water. To James, the fact that the business is being recognised as a quality player comes down to the

exceptional workforce that Land & Water employs and the concerted efforts it makes to empower its staff members. “We have a big investment programme where we train our people in a way that is a little bit different to the way the rest of the contracting world behaves, and we openly talk about our core values all the time, because we feel a responsibility to preserve and promote them, in order to provide better service to our customers.”

Engaging employees Fostering a dialogue between the separate levels within the company structure is paramount for Land & Water’s management team as it looks to ensure that everyone across the business is pulling in the same direction. “Twice a year, we shut the company to gather and discuss the changes in legislation, the equipment we use, and the lessons we have learned from past projects. We invite the workforce and encourage it to tell us how we can do things better. This is a very powerful way of making sure that everybody is engaged and understands how the business is changing and where we are going,” James explains. “The model we have established, extends to our safety

profile: Land & Water

initiatives, too,” he continues. “We have a great initiative called ‘safety squad’ that involves people from every level of the business, where we stop a project and have an open discussion as to how we can complete it in a safer way. The idea is to allow the teams on the ground who are physically involved in the delivery of a job to tell us what needs improvement and I can say that these collaborations have brought significant benefits on every single occasion. Such has been the success of the ‘safety squad’ that the Canal & River Trust asked us to start teaching their teams how to run this ground-up initiative, everyone attends from CEO to the site security guard, seniority means nothing, safety, environment, health and quality drive the ideas.”

Changing concepts Land & Water has also changed the bonus and rewards scheme for its employees, so that it is based on cash generated and not on the profit/loss balance. In James’ opinion, it is a proactive move that gets the company focus on increasing its cash flow, rather than thinking about the margins that need to be kept or the crazy vanity of chasing turnover. “I also think that the role of a management contractor is no longer adding value, there will also be conflict with the outsourced subcontractors, as the project profit cannot reasonably

allow the ‘resource-led’ delivery contractors to deliver the works. Management contractors are not contractors, they are agencies. The sooner the industry wakes up this concept the sooner the payment and profit conflicts will be de-fused.”

Specialist knowledge

shared with differing shareholder demands. For me, if clients really believe the larger management structure is giving value, the management contractors should behave like agencies for their client, assuming the position of an agency that oversees the quality, value and safety of a project, and

Becoming more sustainable and taking care of its people are the fundamentals around which Land & Water’s short, medium, and long-term strategy will revolve. The company is in the process of building its one, three, and five-year plans and an important point in all of these, will be the integration of apprentices into the business. “We have got a lot of work secured over the coming months and we are planning to have an apprentice involved in

each of our projects in the next couple of years, so that we can train them from the ground up,” James comments. Having noticed that obtaining planning permission and environmental consents is becoming an increasingly complicated process, Land & Water is using is’s specialist knowledge to develop its pre-contract and design offering. “We have a dedicated team of environmental scientists to help our clients gain consent for their projects. Interestingly, we use the services of two partially-retired directors who reached the age of 65, but who still want to offer their expertise when needed. It is a great example of how we harness all of our knowledge to develop our customer relationships and we allow our staff to work flexibly,” James notes.

“As we are about to enter the biggest year in our history, we are hopeful that we will consolidate our partnership with the Environment Agency and the Canal & River Trust, and manage our growth in a way that will ensure the existence of a resilient business in the decades to come,” he concludes.

Land & Water www.land-water.co.uk Services: Civil and environmental engineering WP Group Headquartered in state-of-the-art offices in Southampton, WP Group has localised expertise, a national reach and a global awareness. Having operated for more than 60 years, and with a fleet of over 50 drivers, customers choose WP based on reliability, innovation and our approach to sustainability. Driven by our relationships with some of the largest companies in the UK and our gold partner status with the Supply Chain Sustainability School (SCSS), our priority is providing the UK with the right fuelling solution, supported by innovative products and technologies to achieve business objectives and overcome challenges, whilst implementing environmentally sustainable practices into operations.

profile: Saferoad VRS

Have a safe journey Saferoad VRS’ continuous investment in its manufacturing process has enabled the supplier and installer of vehicle restraint systems and sound noise barriers to produce highly effective, low-cost products that are continuously being used in key motorway projects

t did not take long before Saferoad started making its own vehicle restraint systems (VRS) and noise barriers after the organisation’s entry into the UK market in 2008. The Norwegian company was founded just a year earlier as a merger between Orsta Group and Eurosklit Group. It then expanded into the country following the acquisition of Balmer Lindley Group, initially focusing only on the installation of the abovementioned products and operating under the name of Saferoad VRS. Once set up to manufacture its own VRS and noise barriers, however, it demonstrated extraordinary capabilities that have allowed it to grow into one of the three largest suppliers of its kind in the UK. “We are following an innovative manufacturing process that allows

us to produce large quantities of material at low cost,” John Cudlipp, Operations Director at Saferoad VRS, begins. “Recent years have seen us invest significantly in expanding our capabilities, which has resulted in the production of very costeffective products. In addition, we also work closely with a number of small independent manufacturers in the UK who are fully-certified to manufacture our products, which further balances the economies of scale and provides support for local business.” Over the years, Saferoad VRS has developed a host of flagship items that are widely recognised for their quality. These include the company’s highly distinctive energy absorbing SafeEnd terminal and a range of higher

containment VRS that stand out for their efficiency. “We have experienced a steady increase in demand for our products over the last seven years, with clients acknowledging their innovative nature and the comprehensive service we provide,” John states. He moves on to share his observations regarding changing market demands for VRS and noise barriers: “We have noticed a trend for the use of concrete foundations for deformable steel VRS and in response to this need, we have invested in developing systems that reduce the overall amount of concrete required, providing environmental and cost benefits to customers. “With noise barriers, there appears to be a likely move away from traditional timber barriers towards longer-lasting materials

such as galvanised steel, plastic, and aluminium,” he adds. “Whilst we have some regrets over this, given the sustainable nature of timber, we are well-placed to meet the challenge.”

Prestigious projects A telling example of the confidence the industry has in Saferoad VRS’ abilities, is the company’s successful bids for several major projects on UK trunk roads. “Two of these are the M4 and M6 smart motorway schemes. Our involvement in both will be to supply and install both VRS and noise barriers and we are very happy to get the opportunity to work with two of the UK’s premier Tier 1 contractors and build on our existing relationships,” John details. “It has to be said that there has been a positive change

in Tier 1 contractors’ attitude towards their supply chain and the construction industry is certainly becoming a lot more inclusive

than before, which is opening up new opportunities for a business like ours. “Both programmes are challenging in terms of quality, time constraints, and the need to provide value,” he adds. “By adhering to our approach of constantly developing simpler, lighter, more cost effective, and easier to install products, however, we are certain to meet the project goals and our customers’ expectations. There is a good number of people within the company who have experience of between 20 and 35 years, so seldom do we come across anything that someone has not had to overcome in the past.” Speaking of the more typical challenges Saferoad VRS has to cope with in a project, John claims that while every scheme poses its

profile: Saferoad VRS

part is changing the dynamics of the entire project. Adrian names the possible solution to the disorganisation of the workflow that might follow: “As we continuously innovate and come up with quality products, we constantly find ourselves catching up with the trades, which enable our work to commence. In this situation, I believe that the best course of action would be to delay the VRS installation to a later stage of the project, so that the forward trades can progress sufficiently before we step in.”

Digital ambitions

own issues, one of the traditional concerns is the limited space the company has to share with many other trades trying to complete their own works. “This holds true especially when working on the trunk road network. Therefore, in order to resolve any issues or even prevent them from happening, there has to be a good deal of collaboration and communication between different entities. “There is also the challenge of working within ageing

infrastructure, the details of which are not always known, meaning that the designers are often forced to make assumptions. This, in turn, can lead to considerable delay and disruption with escalating costs. When this happens, it becomes very important to work with the customer and do everything possible to mitigate delays and reduce the additional costs,” he continues. Finally, the creation of easier to install VRS on Saferoad VRS’

Since all efforts undertaken by Saferoad VRS to grow the business in the last 11 years have met with success, the company is eager to continue doing what has proven to work in the years to come. “Introducing new products, training and investing in our workforce, and further emphasising safety are a must for us,” John insists. “Looking further ahead, our long-term vision is to have the best product range in the market and to be recognised as delivering the best customer service and advice. We are planning to develop a capability that will allow us to provide full digital models of our products, so that they can be incorporated into 3D scheme models, which will further advance our offering. Last but far from least, we will take all the necessary measures to ensure that none of our people gets hurt or has an accident in the next three-to-five years and continue to work towards making the roads a safer place for the workforce and the travelling public alike.”

Saferoad VRS www.saferoad.co.uk Services: Manufacture and installation of vehicle restraint systems and sound noise barriers

profile: Ibstock Brick

Cementing a sustainable legacy Having spent the last 12 months being rewarded for its efforts in making its business and products more sustainable, Ibstock Brick is now moving onto the next stage of its sustainability journey

oasting 19 manufacturing sites spread around the UK and a network of 23 active quarries located close to its manufacturing plants, Ibstock Brick possesses the largest brick production capacity in the country. With a lineage that can be traced all the way back to the early 1800s and a plethora of projects successfully completed over the decades, it comes as little surprise that in 2019 the brick maker continues to sustain its earnings while others in the industry falter. “In the year since we last featured within Construction & Civil Engineering, we have experienced a period of steady growth, during which we have focused our efforts on doing what we know we do best,

which is manufacturing quality brick products,” begins Ibstock Brick’s Group Sustainability Manager, Michael McGowan MSc. Indeed, in its most recently released financial results, the wider Ibstock group revealed that revenues from its continuing operations rose by six per cent year-on-year in the six months to 30 June, 2019. For Michael, 2019 has been a significant year personally, as it was back in February that he assumed his role of Group Sustainability Manager, having previously served as Quality, Environmental & Energy Manager at Ibstock Brick. Regarded as a leader in the field of sustainable manufacturing, Michael is

responsible for the strategic leadership of sustainability across all of the brands that sit within the Ibstock portfolio. Truth be told, the concept of sustainability has long been embedded within the business culture of Ibstock, and has resulted in its various businesses picking up a number of industry awards and recognition from its peers. In 2019 alone, Ibstock Brick has been named as the winner of the ‘Energy Efficiency’ category at the edie Sustainability Leaders Awards 2019 (the UK’s largest and most prestigious sustainability awards event), has become the recipient of the ‘Most Ethical/ Sustainable Manufacturer of the Year’ prize at the Made in the

profile: Ibstock Brick

Midlands Awards, and was also presented with the latter accolade at the country-wide Made in the UK Awards in Coventry in June.

Big milestone Amongst the actions cited by the above awards bodies as examples of the group’s work in recent months was the commissioning of Ibstock Brick’s new Eclipse factory in Leicestershire – one of the largest and most efficient brick factories in Europe – and of a new kiln at its Lodge Lane site. It has also received credit for its efforts to upgrade LED technology at ten of its factories, resulting in energy savings of up to 65 per cent, and for putting into place systems that allow over 60 per cent of the water used in its production processes to come from nonmains sources such as recycled water or boreholes. As well as driving environmental efficiencies, innovation and best practice in key areas such as waste, energy and carbon reduction, he has also been tasked with leading a team focused on the development of a new corporate social responsibility roadmap. The result of this work is the introduction of the group’s Sustainability Roadmap 2025. “This is a particularly big milestone for the business, as it marks the first time that we have publicly set out our group-wide targets,” Michael explains. “We have always considered ourselves to be a truly responsible business, and as a market leader in sustainability in our field we always want to ensure that we retain this lead. One of the ways in which this can be achieved is by setting ourselves clear, long-term goals, which will be delivered by the core asset of our whole operation – our people.” There are four core objective areas that make up the Sustainability Roadmap, these being Customers and Suppliers, People, Environment, and Communities. “If we start with

Customers and Suppliers, one of our key targets for 2025 is to achieve a ten per cent increase in

our sales turnover that is made up by sustainable solutions,” Michael states. “We will also continue

Ibstock Brick edie Sustainability Leaders Awards to pursue our target of making sure that, by 2025, 100 per cent of our suppliers will meet our sustainability code of business conduct, which is something we have introduced in the last year.” On the people front, the group knows that it is essential to the success of its operations that it maintains a safe and healthy workplace, one built on the implementation of a ‘zero harm’ philosophy where workplace health, wellbeing, social inclusion and diversity is allowed to prosper. “During the second half of 2018, our Health and Safety and HR teams worked together to formulate an employee wellbeing programme – Working Towards Your Health and Wellbeing – which aims to raise awareness of key issues and encourages our people to openly discuss any that they have been affected by,” Michael adds. “This programme has proven itself to be invaluable over the course of 2019, and we look forward to taking it into 2020 and beyond.”

have been working to raise awareness and vital funds to support people who are experiencing homelessness and bad housing, and we look forward to advancing the phenomenal traction that we have already gained as we head into 2020.” Remaining both sustainable and efficient as a business is a major aim for the Ibstock group, which is why it is committed

to reinvesting a significant percentage of its revenues back into its various programmes. “We have a whole host of fantastic actions in the pipeline, targeting things like driving down our carbon output, further improving our wellbeing and safety efforts, and eliminating the plastics we don’t need so that what we do use can be designed to be safely reused or recycled,” Michael enthuses. “There are certainly a lot of challenges that will accompany this work, but the most important thing is that we are all hugely motivated and ready to achieve the ambitions that we have set out!”

Ibstock Brick www.ibstockbrick.co.uk Services: Brick manufacturing

Environmental initiatives In the category relating to the environment, targets include achieving zero waste to landfill from its operations, a further five per cent reduction in mains water use per tonne of production, and a 15 per cent reduction in CO2 per tonne of production. Assisting in making these goals attainable will be other initiatives such as a multi-million-pound investment in various energy efficiency projects. Lastly, as a business, Ibstock is committed to making a positive contribution to the communities that surround it, and part of its Sustainability Roadmap revolves around building long-term local relations, supporting local projects and inspiring young people. “On the community side of things, we have also selected Shelter – the housing and homelessness charity – as our latest charity partner,” Michael reveals. “Together, we

profile: Stanton Bonna

Precast is the answer Aiming for a considerable expansion in size, Stanton Bonna has stepped into a number of new markets in the last three years

iversification has been the name of the game for Stanton Bonna in the three years since we were last updated on the activities of the manufacturer of precast concrete drainage solutions. Part of the wider Consolis Group, the Ilkeston-based company had an initial success in the highways sector, courtesy of its partnership with Saint-Gobain PAM UK. Following up on its initial ventures, Stanton Bonna has gone deeper in this particular market with the development of its new Aqua-Slot™ Drain product. “We started integrating some of SaintGobain PAM’s cast iron drain grates and covers and that met with success with a couple of customers, which was our introduction to the highways sector. Having established contacts with certain players within this field, we decided to launch the Aqua-Slot™ Drain system, which was designed to help remove surface water from carriageways quickly and effectively and that is ideal for use along verges, central reservations, and junctions,” comments Stanton Bonna’s Managing Director, Colin Richardson. The first major project where the AquaSlot™ Drain is being utilised is the Highways England M6 J13-J15 scheme, where Stanton Bonna is supporting Kier Highways. “The client was looking for an offsite solution, which is a common trend at the moment, and as Kier is by no means the only customer we are supplying with this product, we are confident that the demand for it will continue to grow,” Colin remarks. “We are also monitoring the development of the Smart Motorways Alliance (SMA). We believe that a number of contracts will be awarded either by the end of this year or early in 2020, and we are hopeful that we will succeed in picking up some of the work that will result from that.” Going back to Stanton Bonna’s core capabilities, which lie in providing precast concrete pipes and manholes, the business has of late taken it upon itself to popularise one of its products that has historically enjoyed great success in Europe, but is little known in the UK. “Our Pressure Pipes have some unique properties that differentiate them from existing products,” Colin states. “Most importantly, the pipe can be used in the potable water sector and as well as acting as the conduit for the water to flow in, it can be designed to act as a jacking pipe, overcoming the need to jack a regular concrete jacking

profile: Stanton Bonna

pipe before then installing one of the other pressure pipe materials inside. “We are focused on applying this product to the drinking water sector and we have just recently secured an approval from the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) that will allow us to seek expansion within the area. It is encouraging that we have been approached by interested parties for this type of solution and now that we have all the necessary approvals to use the product in the UK, we are ready to start addressing their issues,” he continues. Being part of an international group like Consolis (Europe’s largest precast concrete manufacturer) gives Stanton Bonna a competitive edge over its peers in the UK, with

the company being able to leverage the knowledge and resources provided by its parent organisation to bring new solutions to the UK marketplace. A few examples can be picked

to illustrate this claim and Colin draws our attention to some of these: “One area where we are transferring the experience of Consolis, is the rail sector. We have been involved in the implementation of many of the recent light rail schemes in places such as Manchester, Nottingham, and, currently, Birmingham, as well as supplying noise and vibration mitigation solutions to prestigious projects like the High Speed 1 and Crossrail. We have also had a number of discussions with HS2 contractors to see if we can help them tackle some of their challenges by harnessing our expertise on a European level and adapting it to UK conditions. I am mainly thinking about solutions for tunnel segments, but there are lots of other applications where, we feel, precast will be the answer, going forward.”

Factory upgrades While at the moment, it is still unclear whether the HS2 scheme will go ahead, Stanton Bonna has taken the necessary steps to increase the capacity of its factory in Ilkeston, in order to meet a future spike in demand. “We have recently received permission for a large extension at the back of our facility, which will allow us to build two large sheds. Capacity will be key in handling the requirements of HS2 and we believe that the manufacturing space we have at our disposal gives us a bit of additional comfort that we can serve our customers efficiently,” says Colin. “In fact, we have spent in excess of £10 million on upgrading the factory in the last four years,” he points out. “These investments were made to serve two purposes, in particular. The first one was to modernise our equipment, as some of it was getting quite old and not running as efficiently as we would have liked it to. The other goal we were pursuing had to do with our willingness

to increase the quality of the products and enrich our product range with some new items. “One major investment was in a concrete batching plant, which, together with its distribution system, cost us £2.2 million and its impact has been felt on various fronts since its completion,” Colin adds. “Not only have we been able to improve the quality of the concrete, but the new plant has also made it possible for us to increase our output by 40 per cent. This year, we have also built a new production shed for our wet cast needs and depending on how many bids we win for some of the projects in the rail sector we have applied for, we will know how much work there will be for it.” There is not a shadow of doubt, as Colin puts it, that HS2 has the potential to transform Stanton Bonna and significantly accelerate the growth of the company. Even if the project is scrapped, though, there are plenty of opportunities for the business to expand. It is for this reason that the Managing Director is optimistic that the company’s future endeavours will meet with success. “As discussed earlier, the highways sector promises to be buoyant for us in the coming years. We have also tried our hand at the electric vehicle charging market where we are making some plinths for a Dutch company that is installing charging points at Newcastle University.”

“Last but not least, we aim to create a circular economy system for some of our products. We have been involved in the building of a circular viaduct in the Netherlands using precast concrete components that were later dismantled and ready to be reassembled on a future project. This was our first project of this kind. As precast manufacturers, we are aware of the environmental impact of the products, so we are looking for viable environmentally-friendly solutions we can execute together with our customer base,” Colin maintains in conclusion. production process, but also monitor our products when they are in situ. For instance, we have embedded strain gauges within railway sleepers to track their lifecycle.

Stanton Bonna www.stanton-bonna.co.uk Services: Precast concrete production

Forward plans In further strengthening its offering, Stanton Bonna will also continue to work closely with its parent company. “Consolis Connect was set up about a year ago to look at the opportunities presented by the Internet of Things (IoT) while using digital technology to help us capture some of the data from the products that we manufacture. This will enable us to access vital information regarding the

profile: Abbeymill Homes

Excellence as standard Known for its excellent finishes and ability to utilise a range of materials for its new builds, Abbeymill Homes is enjoying a period of sustainable growth

profile: Abbeymill Homes

he projects that went Abbeymill Homes’ way when the new builds developer was still in its infancy have allowed the Milton Keynesbased company to hone its skills due to the exceptional quality requirements it had to satisfy. Managing Director, James Pacifici, recalls: “Back in the day, we would work on one-off builds, delivering just two or three per year, but those were high-end homes where the level of quality and finish had to match the expectations of our clients. Being involved in these projects has been key in our growing of an ethos where high specification is a centrepiece and we now apply this philosophy across the small, medium and large homes that we primarily do these days.”

Pursuing growth For more than 15 years after its inception in the early 1990s, Abbeymill Homes would focus on completing just a handful of high-end developments per year. It was not until James joined the business founded by his father Peter and a partner, that aspirations for entering other sectors and pursuing more significant growth appeared. “We had the right mix of the founders’ expertise and my youth and ambition that provided the platform to build upon,” James claims. “Over the last decade, we have placed special emphasis on hiring key personnel who share our values and whose expertise and efficiency allow us to take on more work. In addition, we have retained our traditional builder profile, but have, in the meantime, constantly been looking to incorporate new and more sustainable methods in our work. “An example of the latter would be the extensive use of timber framing in our projects at the moment,” he continues. “The technology is widely spread

across continental Europe and it is now finding an application in the UK, too. Where possible, we also install solar panels and LED lighting, and make sure that we deliver high levels of insulation. By doing this, we demonstrate our compliance with the various regulations we need to work around, but, together with this, we also try to go the extra mile and provide solutions that exceed their framework.” The variety of materials and techniques Abbeymill Homes is skilled in using when building its properties gives the company extra advantage in the market. Whether it is stone or brick, it can achieve the traditional look it prides itself on and create lasting structures that are guaranteed to stand the test of time. In order to materialise its ideas, however, Abbeymill Homes ultimately needs a capable workforce that can be entrusted with the developments. “By and large, we use the same select group of contractors who have proven their abilities over and over again,” James maintains. “We never go for the cheapest and we are not trying to drive the prices down for the contractors, because we know they have to make money, as well. Our experience has shown us that there are immense benefits to working with a limited number of familiar contractors and paying fairly for their services, because this stimulates them to deliver the job to the standard we expect.” He goes on to cite several projects that highlight Abbeymill Homes’ competences. “Not long ago, we worked on two completely different types of developments simultaneously, achieving the same quality and finish across both. The first scheme was for 33 units in Old Stratford and the second was in Tanners Lane, Burford, for six high-end well-proportioned family homes. We treated both projects

as equal and did not compromise with the quality of our work at any point of their execution. “Another project that catches the eye for its aesthetics, involved the conversion of three really rundown and derelict barns in Ravenstone into beautiful properties. What was significant about this programme, was that we managed to keep a lot of the barns’ existing features, thus creating a sense of continuity on the site,” James adds.

Positive outlook Having expanded considerably in recent times, the company recognised the need to create a land bank, so that it has a long-term certainty over the availability of plots it can build its clients’ future properties on. “We set up a special department with in-house planners, designers, and land managers who have been tasked with finding suitable sites where we can design buildings as we would like,” James explains. “It has become a bit harder to convert land opportunities, not least because of Brexit, but we still have a positive outlook for the future and we can see us continue to grow, albeit at a slightly slower rate. “In my opinion, we will see the results from establishing the land team in a few years when we will have established an ample land bank and secured multiple sites to deliver through the pipeline.

Crucially, we want to carry on building a sustainable business and retaining our highly-valued people will be key in achieving that,” he sums up.

Abbeymill Homes www.abbeymillhomes.co.uk Services: New builds developer

Etch Interiors Etch Interiors has been working alongside Abbeymill Homes in the design and installation of its latest show homes at Fairfield Park, Stotfold, and Bluebell Gardens, North Leigh. Etch was thrilled to be given the opportunity to produce schemes that not only represented our company’s vision to produce bold, unique and creative designs, but to work alongside Abbeymill Homes, delivering an exceptionally high, personalised level of service. We have a mission, not just to create beautiful interiors, but to ensure that the same creativity, energy and quality is delivered throughout our installations, whether this be show homes, commercial or private residential. We focus on speed of installation and competitive pricing, whilst maintaining a high-end finish, and most importantly we aim to fulfil and exceed our client’s expectations.

profile: TJ Hall

Hard work pays off

Knowing that the saying ‘you’re only as good as your last job’ is entirely accurate in the construction arena, TJ Hall’s business is driven by its determination to offer the highest levels of quality, service and value, whatever the size of a project

stablished in 1996 by Tom Hall and his son Gordon, TJ Hall was brought to life on the sound principles of quality of work, attention to detail and putting the customer first at all times. Since then, it has built itself upon a solid foundation of success through customer satisfaction, which is only possible through the existence of a high degree of honesty, integrity and trust. Headquartered in the East Midlands – but operating on a national basis throughout the UK and across Ireland, TJ Hall acts as a principal contractor for an extensive list of customers including both public and private organisations in the commercial, industrial, healthcare and education sectors. TJ Hall initially specialised in providing partitions and suspended ceilings. Now the expertise extends to a full turnkey solution, covering a range of building and renovation services including new warehouse construction, fit out of a bare shell, refurbishing existing premises, office fit out, dilapidations and restoration projects. The company stands out amongst its field of

competitors because of this willingness to be flexible and undertake projects across such a broad spectrum. Identifying the opportunities and acting on them, has been what sets TJ Hall apart. Following the mantra, if you want something done properly do it yourself, in 2015 TJ Hall took the gamechanging step of acquiring one of its trusted electrical contractors, creating its own sub-division, TJ Hall Electrical, and it has not looked back since, subsequently introducing its own Mechanical and Flooring businesses. “As well as broadening the TJ Hall offering this has helped to ensure that the business remains financially secure,” explains TJ Hall’s Managing Director, Gordon. “This has given us greater control over projects that we undertake, and the unique way in which we have structured the company has undoubtedly helped to create better results for our clients and brought in return business.” TJ Hall’s success also came as a result of its decision to go in a different direction to your traditional contractor and approach end users directly. “Some of our first customers

included the likes of Williams Formula 1 and British Aerospace, so these were companies that we reached out to in order to price their work,” Gordon details. “Over time, this client list expanded and our track record for focusing on quality, certainty of delivery and guaranteed cost prompted strong word-of-mouth referral.” They say that variety is the spice of life, and that certainly rings true when looking at some of the many different projects that TJ Hall has undertaken in its lifetime. From local schools and sports clubs, hospitals and airports, MoD work, to major office fit outs in the City of London, the company has done it all, and was even responsible for building the very first Big Brother house for production company Endemol ahead of the start of the now iconic reality television series! “A lot of companies get to a stage where they are turning over big numbers and decide they do not want to touch jobs under a certain value, but that is something we will never do,” Gordon declares. “We know that we have the skills, expertise and capability to take on a job, whether it is valued at £1500 or £10 million, but most importantly,

we know that a small job often has the potential to lead to bigger, future work, as has proven the case for us.” This claim is backed up by hard evidence, as 18 years ago TJ Hall installed a door set for DHL and recently completed a 7000 square metre office fit out at the DHL East Midlands Airport facility. Undoubtably this ongoing relationship with DHL has helped to propel the business to another level, and this success has fuelled a desire for continued growth: “One of our goals as a business is to take it to an annual turnover of £100 million in the next five years, all while retaining the same degree of profitability and staying true to the high standards of quality that we hold ourselves to now,” Gordon says. “Perhaps the trait that is at the core of all that we have achieved to date is the fact that we

be completed in an extremely tight time scale,” Gordon adds. “Through careful planning and the efforts of our people, this £9 million project was completed in just eight months, and in the process really propelled TJ Hall to another level.” Several complex and challenging schemes have since followed, although TJ Hall still takes great pleasure in completing the smaller projects in the same vein, Gordon is quick to point that there is no room for complacency, and personally demands that the same standards are adhered to on all forthcoming projects.

TJ Hall www.tjhall.co.uk Services: Commercial construction

do exactly what it says on the tin, so to speak. We are always honest and straight with people, we don’t over complicate things, and our doors are always open. At the end of the day, what has served us so well is the fact that we deliver on what we promise, and what we deliver is quality!” In order to drive the business to the next level, Gordon’s eye for quality workmanship has ensured that he has been extremely careful about the talent that he brings into the business. He is always keen to look after his team, and everyone knows that his exacting standards must continually be adhered to. The proof is in the pudding, as time and time again clients ask for the same personnel to run their projects. The first example of a large project would be the development of an in-flight food facility at Heathrow Airport for DHL, and in collaboration with British Airways, which took place in 2010. “This particular undertaking required the full refurbishment of an existing building, and the construction of a new office and administration centre, all to

profile: Pontrilas Group

Group dynamics For more than 70 years, Pontrilas Group has been providing its customers with the highest quality timber and timber products possible, all while retaining the family values and ethics it was built upon

ocated half a mile from the Welsh border, Pontrilas is a picturesque village situated in south Herefordshire. It is here that, in 1947, Pontrilas Group was first established. Fast forward to 2019 and this third generation, familyrun business continues to go from strength-to-strength, turning over approximately ÂŁ26 million per year, selling timber and timber products to the construction, manufacturing, distribution and renovation sectors. Today, Pontrilas Group is made up of three companies, Pontrilas Sawmills, Pontrilas Merchants and Pontrilas Packaging, each of which prides itself on the quality of its products, and the prompt and efficient service they respectively deliver to their customers. Founded the same

year as the group itself, Pontrilas Sawmills has since expanded organically to become one of the largest independent sawmills in the UK. It boasts two sawmills, for both softwood and hardwood timber, located on a 60-acre site that sits within close proximity of the M4 and M5, providing good access for delivery all over England and Wales. Pontrilas Sawmills provides sawn timber products to customers in the steel, fencing, construction, pallet, flooring, furniture and packaging sectors, with all of its timber also available kiln dried, heat treated to ISPM15 56/30 and pressure treated. Its hardwood mill is a specialised mill producing unseasoned and kiln dried hardwoods for markets ranging from heavy industry to furniture manufacturers and oak timber frame builders. The

hardwood mill cuts mainly oak, ash and beech, but also mixed hardwood and Douglas fir cut to order, with lengths of up to 14 metres, 600mm x 600mm. All hardwood is cut to individual requirements, and the company is also able to machine bespoke profiles. The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s softwood mill, meanwhile, is one of the most modern of its kind in Europe. Its main line is of Swedish design, fully automated with the latest in timber scanning technologies, meaning that a single log can be cut into 18 pieces online. As well as being designed to efficiently produce high volumes of the best quality timber, it also maintains the flexibility required to produce a range of products and sizes, something which is not normally associated with high volume mills. All of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

softwood timber products are available kiln dried, heat treated or preservative treated in brown Tanatone or green Tanalith E treatment. Based on a six-acre site, Pontrilas Merchants is one of the largest independent timber and builder’s merchants in the UK. With more than 50 years of experience in the timber trade, it offers a large range of timber and building materials to meet the construction or DIY needs of its customers, which can be collected from its depot or delivered directly to site. In terms of timber, Pontrilas Merchants boasts the largest stock of softwood and hardwood in the region, including FSC sourced materials. As well as home grown timber, it also sources specialist material from all over the world, all of which can be cut and pressure treated in its own facility to meet specific requirements. It also benefits from the supply of hardwood flooring in solid oak from Pontrilas Sawmills, which come available in a variety of widths and lengths ready for staining. Additionally, Pontrilas Merchants supplies a full range of beautiful kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms ready for assembly. The company’s site also includes a comprehensive range of garden and landscaping supplies, including garden furniture, sheds and a wide range of fencing solutions. It also offers an extensive range of gravel and decorative stones for garden paths and driveways. Lastly, and new to Pontrilas Merchants, is its range of children’s swings and slides!

incorporated, it has grown into a national company offering bespoke packaging requirements in timber, steel and cardboard, thus supplying all of the packaging needs of a great many of the world-class manufacturing companies operating in Britain. Through a programme of continuous investment, it has diversified from being a timber pallet maker into becoming a leading one-stop-shop for all of its customers’ packaging requirements. Amongst its impressive list of products and services one will find pallets, cardboard packaging and cases, biomass boilers, pallet lines, and transportation solutions. Throughout the entire Pontrilas Group, its values and aims remain the same, and that is to continue to grow organically,

whilst at the same time providing the best quality of product with the highest level of service. In order to achieve said aims, the group and its respective companies are steadfast in their commitment to putting both their customers and employees first by listening, valuing and adapting to their needs. Most tellingly, although it has continued to grow as a business ever since 1947, Pontrilas Group remains to this day a grounded, family-run business built on old fashioned values, values that serve it as well in 2019 as it did over 70 years ago.

Pontrilas Group www.pontrilastimber.co.uk Products: Timber, builder’s merchants and packaging solutions

Steadfast commitment Formed in 1989, Pontrilas Packaging makes up the final third of Pontrilas Group. Located on a 17-acre manufacturing site in Llanelli, South Wales, since Pontrilas Packaging was

profile: Ardent Hire Solutions

Doing it differently With an industry leading team, and one of the largest fleets of plant and equipment available in the UK, Ardent Hire Solutions is delivering game-changing, smart hire solutions that can’t be found anywhere else

n the eyes of Jeremy Fish, CEO of Ardent Hire Solutions (Ardent), the hire industry in the UK today finds itself at a

crossroads. “My own view of the hire industry is that, in recent years in particular, it has failed to innovate or invest appropriately and thus has become somewhat

stagnant,” he states. “This has come at a time when prices have remained either static or have declined, while businesses have had to deal with inflationary pressures relating to things like labour and the rising capital cost of equipment. I believe this to be a major problem for the industry, but one that can be aided by

a business like ours which is prepared to do things differently.” Since Ardent last featured within Construction & Civil Engineering back in the late summer of 2016, a fair few things have occurred, but what has not changed is the ethos of the Enfield-headquartered owner of one of the largest and youngest

fleets of telehandlers, excavators, loaders and other associated plant. “Our success in recent years has been down to a combination of delivering excellent service, having first-class equipment, our team of passionate people that truly care, and our belief in challenging the status quo of the whole hire industry,” Jeremy adds.

Package of information This approach and subsequent success manifested itself in July 2019, when the company was presented with the Digital Construction Excellence Award at the 2019 Construction News Awards, in recognition of its industry leading Site Manager platform. Site Manager is the

company’s unique Management Information and Telematics System (MITS), specially designed by Ardent to be the only software tool in the hire industry that provides a practical solution for improving productivity, reducing operating costs and eliminating risk. “We have long had a desire to

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME? The Thwaites Super Seven delivers improved operator visibility, stability and safety. Ensuring the operator can see and be seen reducing risk for both site workers and operators, whilst increasing payload and productivity.

IMPROVED VISIBILITY

Designing the skip with a lower front edge provides the operator with a much clearer view of any obstacles that may be ahead.

ADVANCED 180º FRONTFACING CAMERA A screen located on the Dumper dashboard provides a clear view of the front blind spot for low-speed manoeuvring.

COMPLIANT STAGE V ENGINE (No AdBlue®)

A more environmentally friendly and efficient tier 5 engine provides a cleaner engine with plenty of power whenever you need it.

WIDER TRACK FOR GREATER STABILITY With an axle configuration fitted from a 9-tonne dumper, the operator is assured of a safer and more stable ride.

SAFER OPERATOR ACCESS / EGRESS

Day glow yellow steps and grab rails highlight the important three-points-of-contact to reduce slips, trips and falls.

7 TONNE SKIP CAPACITY

Intelligent skip design allows an additional tonne of carrying capacity over the 6-tonne dumper, whilst providing greater forward visibility.

1st CLASS GROUND CLEARANCE

When the terrain gets challenging, the axle allows for safe and effortless travel over the toughest of site conditions.

GET THE JOB DONE. www.thwaitesdumpers.co.uk

Ardent A4 Advert - Aug 2019.indd 1

29/07/2019 15:25

profile: Ardent Hire Solutions

help our customers improve the safety of their sites, manage their costs more effectively, and be more productive with their assets, and we are working to make this possible by using Site Manager to encourage behavioural change and provide said customers with better value out of their hires,” Jeremy explains. “Our Site Manager innovation does not require complex systems or software, so long as a site manager has a mobile phone it allows us to send real-time texts and emails alerting them to plant incurring unnecessary cost, equipment idleness or any impending risk to safety. “An example of how the platform can assist site managers is how we can help them reduce the number of rental days they buy rather than the price they buy them at. A utilisation threshold is set within the system, when a hired in machine from Ardent falls below that threshold on a certain day a text alert is sent to the site manager along with an electronic off hire prompt that can be clicked to off hire the machine in question. This may go against the traditional hire industry mentality of having customers renting equipment for as long as possible, but what it is doing is helping to reduce their costs at a time when this is of paramount importance. By taking the telematics data of the manufacturers’ equipment and blending it with our customers’ own data, we are creating what we describe as a ‘smart hiring’ environment that delivers a package of information to the

right people, in the right place, at the right time.”

Video technology Site Manager forms one part of the journey that Jeremy and Ardent wants to help take the hire industry on, and it is far from the only innovation that the company has introduced. “Another example of how we strive to do things differently comes in the form of how we are helping to tackle machine downtime,” Jeremy reveals. “Under the typical model, if you experience a downtime incident, you would call the relevant customer service team and a fitter would be sent out to site in around two-to-four hours, during which the machine sits unused. We have developed an alternative solution called Ardent TV, which utilises unique QR codes inside all of our equipment that direct users to a series of one minute self-help videos that we have produced in English, Polish and Romanian. “These videos provide a breakdown of how to fix a number of common issues experienced on site, which significantly reduces the need to call out fitters to site. This solution typically helps when it comes to things like hand brake adjustment, machine lock outs, water getting into the fuel, or other actions such as how to attach a breaker or a bucket to a piece of plant. As anyone with experience on site will tell you, even the simplest of things can sometimes go wrong, and these can soon add up to downtime and unwanted costs. Using Ardent TV, our videos can restrict this

Thwaites Thwaites is pleased to announce the launch of its Super Seven Dumper. Showcased at Plantworx 2019, this new machine embodies the engineering excellence that is synonymous with all Thwaites machines. With seven key features, the new seven-tonne machine gives operators greater visibility, stability and ease of use. Launching the Super Seven, Thwaites MD Ian Brown said: “The objective of the Super Seven is to deliver seven key improvements that enable enhanced operator visibility and greater stability. The new machine is focused on ensuring risk is reduced for both site workers and the operator, whilst increasing payload and productivity.” The Super Seven was designed by the Thwaites Warwickshire-based engineering team, who were driven by the vision of improving the operator’s ability to see and be seen, without sacrificing the effectiveness of the dumper’s capabilities on site. Check out our full-page advert for details of the seven key improvements.

profile: Ardent Hire Solutions

downtime to a matter of minutes and potentially save customers hundreds of pounds over time.”

Fleet investment With the company growing, it has also made significant investment over the last four years or so, spending approximately £220 million in new fleet. This has been channelled into telehandlers, excavators, dumpers, rollers and a new roto telehandler fleet, some of which has been used to expand Ardent’s capabilities, while a percentage is used to maintain an average plant age profile of between two and four years. An example of the scale of this investment was seen in July, when the company confirmed that it had placed the biggest single order of telescopic handlers ever made by a UK customer with JCB,

a part of a two-year deal worth more than £75 million. Further announcements are expected within the coming weeks and months with other leading manufacturers.

New sites The company’s investment has also extended to its people and infrastructure. “In the case of the former, we have invested capital into apprentices, and staff training and development,” Jeremy says. “Meanwhile, in terms of our facilities, we have just opened a new state-of-the-art depot in Fareham, which is three times the size of our previous location in the area, and we are about to move into a massive depot in Midlands, which will assist us in preparing for HS2 and expanding our business in the region. Other

developments have included the opening of sites in Glasgow, Leeds and Haydock, and we have successfully expanded our depot footprints in Bristol, Oxford and Kent in the last 12 months.”

Model disruptor The above steps also represent part of Ardent’s aim to firmly establish itself as the UK’s premier hire company. However, as Jeremy tells us, it plans to achieve this in its own unique way. “We are not necessarily looking to reach

Indeco Indeco Ind. S.p.A, an Italian manufacturer of hydraulic attachments, was founded in 1976 and soon became a leading brand in the global demolition industry. In 1986, the company patented the world’s first “Intelligent hammer”. Since 1999, our subsidiary Indeco (UK) Ltd has provided solutions to your application requirements. Indeco’s range is the widest available anywhere on the market, with 22 models making up around 50 different combinations, including the world’s biggest hydraulic hammer. The horizontal growth of the Indeco range continues, with other products such as pulverisers, steel shears, multiprocessors, multi grabs, compactors, boom systems and mulching heads.

our goal by being the biggest company of our kind, rather we want to do it by providing the best quality of equipment and service, and by thinking outside of the box. Our view is that there is not really space for just another plant hirer in the industry today, but there is for one that embraces doing things differently and is comfortable in being a disruptor of traditional models. The results of this approach are already becoming apparent, and it helps us to stay true to our values as a company, which are passion, pace and performance, and that is what we at Ardent are all about!”

Ardent Hire Solutions www.ardenthire.com Services: Construction equipment and plant hire

profile: Penlaw

Profitable strategy Known for the honest relationships it builds with its partners, Penlaw has grown its range and entered new markets over the last ten years, fulfilling its founder’s ambition of becoming the UK’s number one drywall and associated building materials distributor

oyalty, trust, and honesty have been the buzzwords for Penlaw since the distribution side of the business was launched in 1997. By displaying these qualities, a leading specialist independent in drywall and associated products has succeeded in earning the respect of the industry and assembling a strong team of professionals that have proven instrumental in its ongoing growth. “Our relationship building is second to none,” exclaims Penlaw’s Sales Director, Brett Sherwin. “We have a track record of establishing fruitful

partnerships and it is very telling that most of the new business we win comes from referrals from the manufacturers or clients who have chosen us as their distributors.” The combination of the company’s strong collaborative skills and high-quality service has also attracted some of the best talent across the building materials distribution sector to the business. Individuals have repeatedly been impressed with Penlaw’s commitment to delivering excellent service based on adding real value to customers, hence their desire to be part of the journey. Furthermore, Brett singles out

the role of Penlaw’s CEO, Richard Gray, whose restless drive to grow the business continues to keep the distributor on its toes, always looking to improve its offering and expand its coverage. “Even though he is 71 this year, Richard’s passion for the company remains undiminished, just as big as it was 22 years ago when he considered opening his first depot. It is also noteworthy that in the last 16 years, he has consistently strengthened the management team whose input has been crucial in achieving his dream of making Penlaw one of the country’s largest independent drywall and associated building products distributors.”

During the two decades in which Penlaw has been engaged in distribution, the company has steadily built a network of sites, predominantly in and around London and the Home Counties, but also in Warrington and Gateshead, in the northern parts of England. “Our first branch opened in Wickford in 1997, followed by two more in Greenwich (2003) and Eye 2004 (in Suffolk). In 2005, we launched the Warrington depot and another two years later, the Enfield site opened,” Brett narrates.

Site expansions Another milestone showing that Penlaw was definitely on the right path came in 2015 when the company had to relocate to a larger, 25,000 square feet facility in South East London –

in Sydenham, having outgrown the Greenwich branch. “What we did with the Greenwich site was to repurpose it as a specialist fixing centre,” Brett explains. “We then opened a second such centre in Gateshead in 2016, which is our latest facility to date.”

The last four years, in particular, have seen Penlaw grow in double figures year-on-year. In Brett’s opinion, this became possible thanks to the change of direction undertaken by the company, in regards to the materials it supplies. “Up until 2011, we were predominantly drywall, but with

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profile: Penlaw

me becoming the Technical Sales Director that year, I put together a business development team. Alongside Drywall we targeted associated products & entered new markets to be able to offer a ‘one-stop-shop’ to our customer base. This is how we ventured into the façade side of the construction industry,” he remembers.

Gaining momentum As a result of the distributor’s renewed focus, it has successfully enriched its product range and shown significant growth in external render, SFS, sheathing boards, construction fixings, membranes and insulation products. “Over the past decade we have established strong relationships with all the major manufacturers in our sector, and they remain the backbone of our success.” Brett adds: “Our growth comes

down to the work we are doing in the area of infill solutions for the external wall zone. It also helps that we have specialist fixing centres whose services tie nicely with our intention to deliver a one-stop solution. When working on the façades, you need to fix the metal down to the concrete substrates, then additional internal and external fixings, which is something we can provide. “This year we have gained momentum with Developer Supply Chain Agreements, which have secured us just over ten per cent of our national turnover, by appointing a Supply Chain Director solely focusing on the cradle to grave approach in delivering the scheme on time every time.” Having said all that, it is no surprise that Brett expects Penlaw to continue to outperform its

competition in 2019, by achieving growth in the range of 16 to 20 per cent. “It is a testament to our strategy and staff that the spike is coming from all the new markets we have ventured into in the last few years,” he notes, going on to conclude. “Further down the road, next year, we foresee another ten per cent year-on-year growth. Beyond that, we are hoping to open one or even two new depots – probably in the South West of the country and either in East Midlands or Yorkshire – in the next 18-24 months, which will allow us to hit the £100 million turnover mark within three years.”

Penlaw www.penlaw.co.uk Services: Distribution of drywall and associated building products

ISOVER - Saint-Gobain Insulation UK ISOVER, part of Saint-Gobain Insulation UK, has a long history of providing innovative and reliable products. ISOVER manufactures and supplies an extensive range of high performing glass mineral wool insulation for a variety of applications. More recently, ISOVER has launched a new BBA certified stone wool façade insulation, Polterm Max Plus. The non-combustible 1200 x 600mm slabs will provide thermal and acoustic insulation within ventilated rainscreen cladding and overcladding systems. In addition to offering a comprehensive range of products, ISOVER can also provide specialist technical support. From assistance with specifications to promoting best practice installation, ISOVER is committed to working closely with its customers to help them get the most out of its products and services.

profile: Triton Construction Ltd

Driven

to delight Building on the considerable experience of its founder and team of experts, Triton Construction Limited is a rapidly growing general contractor bringing a host of exciting projects to life across the North of England

ince it was founded by Michael Parkinson in 2005, Triton Construction (Triton) has been a forward thinking general contractor, providing construction services across the North of England. With experience covering all manner of sectors – including the commercial, industrial, education, retail and healthcare arenas – and the ability to offer everything from procurement and traditional tendering to open brief design and build, the company has an enviable track record of dealing with projects ranging in value from £250,000 to £10 million. In the 14 years that Michael has led the business in his role of Managing Director, he has shaped its ethos as being a proactive problem solving business, with a focus on consistent delivery and quality. It was in May 2019, however, that the next phase of Triton’s evolution began, with Michael moving to become Chairman and Paul Clarkson being brought in to head up the business. “Mike and I go back a number of years, having previously worked alongside one another at ISG (formally Totty), before I went on to lead Britcon for more than ten years,” Paul explains. During the course of the pair’s overlapping careers, the two have been shown to share much in the way of values, work ethic and management style, making Paul the ideal choice to take the proverbial reins. “Knowing Mike for as long as I have done, meant that not only did I have a prior understanding of Triton, but also the way it operated and its raison d’être, if you will,” Paul continues. “I also knew that what is important to Triton – namely quality, delivery and service – has also been important to me throughout my career. Lastly, but perhaps most crucially, I knew that coming into the company would allow me the freedom and control to take a group of like-minded people on an exciting business development and growth journey.”

Impressive projects The Triton approach is a fairly simple one, in that whenever it undertakes a project it does so with the aim of not just satisfying the client, but delighting them. It does so by providing a seamless, tailored and first-class service that meet a client’s construction needs on every level, no matter what the project entails. “As a business, we are entirely focused on exceeding our clients’ expectations and it is this high benchmark that we also aspire to,” Paul states. “Delivering quality projects, time after time, is what helps to bring in repeat business as well as new clients drawn in by word-of-mouth, and this has helped Triton to thrive.” The reputation that the company has gained over the years has resulted in it amassing a highly impressive back catalogue of completed projects,

profile: Triton Construction Ltd

and has made it a go-to name for clients within highly demanding sectors such as the education – where it has brought to life numerous primary schools, academies and college buildings – commercial, industrial, healthcare and hospitality markets. In the latter, for instance, Triton has become particularly well known for building the types of hotel concept used by the likes of Premier Inn, who it has worked extensively with. Among its recent successes, one will also find the design and construction of the Big Yellow Self Storage national excellence facility in Manchester. This 92,000-square foot building came with a set of strict guidelines and extensive method statement to ensure that there was no damage to the adjacent train line, and its completion gained Triton considerable recognition. The fruits of the company’s efforts will soon be presented in

numerical form with the release of its accounts for the year ending in March 2019, which Paul is happy to give us a flavour of what to expect. “In our accounts for the year ending March 2018, we returned a turnover of around £28 million as a business,” he says, “whereas this latest set of figures will show a figure of closer to £58 million, meaning we have succeeded in doubling in size in a little over 12 months. While there are several factors behind this, the underlying reason remains our focus on delivery, exceeding expectations and securing repeat business.”

Future goals One notable contributing element to the company’s prosperity in the last 12-to-18 months was its acquisition of Merseyside-based company Remstone Construction in April 2018. This move formed a key part of Triton’s plan to

strengthen its presence in the North-West region, and has helped to raise the profile of the business further still, while also bringing with it a new book of clients and contracts. The result for Triton as a group, is that today its business activities are almost split 50/50 either side of the Pennines, which puts it in a very healthy position indeed. “With regards to our current workload, we presently have seven school projects at various stages of delivery, ranging from a £0.5 million refurbishment project to a £4 million demolition and new build undertaking at Chorlton Park Primary School in Manchester,” Paul details. “Elsewhere, we have teams working on a large scale industrial development in Leeds, on which one unit will be operated by MKM Building Supplies, we are

building a high-class rehabilitation care home in Cuddington, nr Northwich, Cheshire, and we have four Premier Inns currently under construction, with a further three due to commence later this year. We are also extremely proud to be a part of a major development project that is ongoing within the Royal Liver Building, Liverpool. We expect to complete the first phase, which includes work on the basement and first floor mezzanine, before Christmas 2019, and expect our presence here to continue into 2020.” Away from Triton’s many ongoing projects, Paul also has a number of internal goals that he would like to achieve in the coming months. “One thing that I am very keen to do is develop our ISO accreditations in order to allow us to bid for more

framework contracts,” he states. “In addition to that, I also want to begin to digitise our onsite quality processes and reporting functions, which will enable us to carry out audits and deliver QA outcomes and reports on a real-time basis. “Looking ahead to 2020, I would like to see us extend our incredibly successful hotel offering to other operators, and also take our first steps into the energy sector. On top of all of this, Mike myself and the Triton Team will be working to leverage the additional focus that he now has in his role of Chairman to target self-developed work across the business and refine Triton’s long-term strategic goals.”

Triton Construction Ltd www.tritonconstruction.co.uk Services: General construction services

profile: Oakray

One-stop M&E service provider Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Oakray is a mechanical and electrical services provider, specialising in the areas of commercial and domestic heating, electrical services, renewable energy and security solutions

hen a single company has been providing buildings support to a host of local authorities, social landlords, NHS trusts, and private sector clients for more than 35 years, the diversity of its clientele and the sheer longevity of the partnerships with said institutions say more than enough about the reputation and reliability of the business in question. Such is the case with Oakray – an Enfield-based organisation with an impeccable record of delivering mechanical, electrical, renewable energy and security solutions to commercial and domestic clients alike. Family-owned to this day, Oakray lives and breathes the traditional values of quality workmanship and pride in the job that were the guiding light for the late founder of the company, Ray Franklin. Presently, Oakray is wholly-owned by the Ray Franklin Will Trust, with integrity and transparency being at the

core of the business, alongside a commitment to innovation and continuous improvement. Through its team of highlyqualified engineers and technicians, the organisation offers expertise and experience across a broad range of disciplines. From design and installation through to planned maintenance and emergency callout and day to day repairs, 24/7, 360 days of the year, Oakray’s services include commercial and domestic heating, electrical services, renewable energy and security services. Some of the commercial heating services delivered by Oakray include CHP systems; air conditioning and ventilation systems; asset surveys, provision of asset registers, and condition surveys; boiler maintenance; and statutory maintenance. In addition, the company is an expert in the design, installation, and repair of district heating plant rooms and pre-insulated mains pipework. As such, it is able to provide a comprehensive

service for this efficient and environmentally-superior system for distributing heat generated in a centralised location. Speaking of environmental superiority, over the years, Oakray has also grown an expertise in all types of renewable energy that enables it to tailor strategies for its customers that help the latter reduce their carbon emissions, cut costs, and ensure compliance with relevant government energy legislation. Among the solutions the company can offer, are air source and ground source heat pumps, solar thermal heating systems, recoVAIR systems, solar photovoltaic panel installation, LED lighting schemes, smart metering, energy control systems, and full design and specification service. As regards Oakray’s domestic heating services proposition, the business has made a name for itself as one of the leading specialist contractors in the London region, demonstrating best practices in fields such as pressurised systems installation and maintenance, system power flushing, underfloor heating, water treatment, planned preventative maintenance to heating and hot water systems, and full reactive repairs and emergency callout service. What is more, its Gas Safe-registered engineers provide a broad range of testing and certification services including statutory maintenance, testing and certification; landlord certification; and glycol efficiency tests. Oakray’s ability to provide a complete solution extends into the electrical services field, too. Under this division, the company delivers industrial and commercial installations; domestic rewires and upgrades; electrical inspections, mains, sub-mains, and distribution installations; external, security and emergency lighting; fire alarms; sprinkler and dry riser works, electric heating; energy saving schemes and energy audits; preventative and predictive

maintenance; as well as round-theclock emergency callout. Notably, Oakray’s trusted supply chain specialists also have the expertise to provide full building cover. The team are skilled in delivering services for lifts and escalators; access control systems; security systems; auto doors; hoists and shutter maintenance and repairs UPS systems; and generators and gas suppression systems. Furthermore, the business can offer solutions for lightning protection, alongside asset and condition surveys. Last but by no means least, Oakray’s security services encompass access control, CCTV, and automation. From small four-way audio entry systems to IP digital video entry systems for large apartment blocks, the company works closely with its customers to accurately meet their needs. Partnering with trusted manufacturers, it can arrange demonstrations, training, and sample systems prior to installation, to ensure that the system is a perfect match for a client’s technical and financial requirements. From a CCTV point of view, the provider’s services include analogue and digital CCTV installation, together with full HD IP addressable system and DVR/NVR builds installation and maintenance. Its specialised engineers keep themselves fully up-to-date with industry advances by regularly attending manufacturer/industry specific training. They are also aware of the impact of data protection legislation on the work carried out and this knowledge enables them to offer the best possible solutions. To cap its proposition in the area off, Oakray also supplies a planned maintenance service. Cameras, recorders, and communication are all tested regularly to ensure that security is maintained at all times. Finally, the company’s in-depth security services expertise covers

the installation and maintenance of communal entrance doors, car park gates, and automatic ventilation systems connected to fire alarms in communal areas. It also carries out installations for Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliance, creating bespoke solutions based on the needs of the user identified by occupational therapists. A key advantage for Oakray is the fact that it delivers and manages all of its security services from one department in-house. This makes the company the ideal partner to integrate all four technologies into one solution. In fact, many of the schools that have chosen to work with Oakray take advantage of this opportunity, combining controlled access through automatic doors via a fob, along with CCTV

monitoring that switches on automatically when a fob is used to ensure that only an authorised person enters and that no one follows them in. Having reviewed the wide range of services Oakray is capable of delivering, it is no wonder that the company continues to experience excellent growth – a trend that has been as patent as ever in the last ten years. As the business celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2019, it felt a good time to present and celebrate its legacy, with the firm having every reason to believe that it will continue on its upward trajectory in the years to come.

Oakray www.oakrays.co.uk Services: Mechanical, electrical, renewable energy and security services

profile: H W Martin (Traffic Management)

Service and solutions Prioritising safety, customer experience, and outstanding service delivery, H W Martin (Traffic Management) is developing solutions that upskill its people, reduce the company’s environmental impact, and take advantage of the Industry 4.0 revolution

n order to remain the UK’s largest independent provider of specialist traffic management on motorways and high speed roads, H W Martin (Traffic Management) – part of the highly-successful Martin Group – is actively seeking to incorporate innovative solutions into its service offering. Keen on addressing the most pressing challenges almost every industry has to face as regards environmental sustainability, also looking to make the most of the opportunities provided by digital technology, the organisation has got a number of initiatives underway as of late. Following their successful implementation, H W Martin (Traffic Management) is confident the company’s expertise will grow further and it will become an even more sought-after partner in the market as the management of the strategic road network, in particular, becomes digitally enabled. Earlier this summer, the business became the first traffic management organisation to scientifically trial electric vehicles for temporary traffic management (TTM) in conjunction with Highways England and the University of Bath. The five-month trial period is set to conclude in November, its goal being to ascertain what proportion of traffic management works can be completed with an electric vehicle and encourage the reduction of certain activities’ environmental impact within the sector. “We are looking at a diverse and detailed dataset from the trial and this includes data from two electric vehicles (the trial vehicles) and two diesel vehicles (the control vehicles). The dataset includes details about the vehicles and their usage (charge, range, speed, throttle, braking, load being carried, use of heaters, light, and other ancillary systems); the charging points, i.e., how long they are charged for, where they are charged, and any challenges that they encountered; and the drivers and their behaviour,” explains David Shaw, Director at H W Martin (Traffic Management). “The trials are still ongoing, but they have already allowed us to understand how the vehicles compare to the performance levels detailed by the manufacturer and how our unusual usage scenarios for traffic management affect their performance,” David adds. “We have also had our thoughts about the influence of driver behaviour confirmed by the initial stages of the trial. We are convinced that this is the most influential characteristic, outweighing the load carried and the weather

profile: H W Martin (Traffic Management)

conditions. With the optimum routing, driver behaviour, and vehicle load, we have found it possible to reach 95 per cent of the stated range.” While it seems unrealistic to conduct every traffic management operation in a carbon-neutral way in the immediate future, H W Martin (Traffic Management) holds that through consistent efforts, it can increase the percentage of activities done with zeroemissions. To this end, the company is committed to regularly renewing its fleet. “Over the past two years, we have invested around about £2 million in the most environmentallyfriendly vehicles that we could get, and this is an important element of our CSR that highlights our willingness to constantly move forward with our initiatives in the area,” David comments.

understanding of the service it provides as being customerfacing and creating a positive perception of its clients to the roaduser.

Going digital David continues: “Another important feature of our training programmes is the use of digital E–Learning tools whenever possible. We have supplied our staff with tablets where they can access modules specifically formulated for them. By doing this, we can ensure that they are up to speed with the requirements they need to meet and aware of certain methodologies, policies and processes. It is also a way to provide continual skills refresher training aligned to the classroombased sector 12 training syllabuses developed and administered by Lantra Awards – the governing body for training in our industry. “Digitalisation presents many opportunities for the sector and we certainly are not confined to utilising IT solutions only in our workforce training,” he points out. “For example, it also allows us to provide our planning, design, and commercial information to our

Extensive training Safety, customer experience, and delivery are the three tenets of H W Martin (Traffic Management)’s proposition. “This is due to the specifications of traffic management, which make the job high-risk, timecritical, and often involving complex tasks, but also due to our understanding of it being a more customer-facing activity, we have taken it upon itself to provide exclusive, industryleading training to our workforce. “To deliver leading performance in safety and customer service we must ensure our personnel have the full range of practical, technical and customer interaction skills,” David observes. “To enhance the skills of our frontline leaders and equip them with a broad range of leadership skills, we have developed our Formanplus training to provide a supplementary training syllabus to the Sector 12 training for Traffic Management.”

2018 saw an extensive rollout of the training across the country. Foreman Plus is characterised by four elements – Leadership, Organisation, Communication, and Knowledge. These encompass a wide range of skills, which the operatives need to master, in order to handle the various types of challenges that might occur during the job. Among the skills that are being bolstered are mentoring, time management, planning and programming, data collation, effective briefing, conflict management, and customer service. Notably, the latter three demonstrate H W Martin (Traffic Management)’s

clients in-real time. Furthermore, with the requirements of BIM stretching into the temporary works sector, the digitalisation of our systems and processes will enable us to provide that single source of the truth in a common data environment.” To David, there is no doubt that traffic management is bound to become an industry with very different requirements from the ones that exist today. In his opinion, it will be a lot more datadriven and automated, which will open the sector up for a greater number of young people who will be able to apply their IT savvy to an industry they do not necessarily see as a stimulating or progressive career at the moment. “We have to evolve the sector so that it becomes appealing to a

much broader pool of talent and attracts more participation in the sector from groups of society who are currently underrepresented. The stark reality facing the sector is there is unlikely to be the quantity of future employees available to maintain existing levels. The sector needs to evolve so that it can deliver the same with less; the people of the future will require additional skills and knowledge and those in post currently will be upskilled to meet the needs of the future.”

Maximising productivity H W Martin (Traffic Management)’s strive to streamline its operations spreads beyond the digitalisation efforts undertaken by the organisation. Recently, it opened a new facility in Peterborough with a view to facilitate its logistics processes. The new site is fully bespoke, allowing the loading of equipment efficiently is enhanced by fully adapting a manufacturing and production line ethos. Andy Graham (National Operations Manager) explains: “Traffic management is a logisticsbased operation and, therefore, speed is key to maximising productivity for ourselves and our clients. Our new facility has enabled us to streamline the number of yard staff required to load vehicles, but, crucially, we have we have upskilled to them Temporary Traffic Management front line personnel and increased the capability and capacity in the East of England.” Taking a look at the future, David insists that improving safety performance will remain on top of the agenda for the company. “Meanwhile as automation and digitalisation develops, we still have to manage delivering an excellent service to our clients whilst ensuring safety is our primary focus. Our personnel will continue to operate within a high risk environment in the foreseeable

future, so of course, we will continue developing solutions that remove or significantly reduce the risks present within those environments.”

H W Martin (Traffic Management) www.hwmartin.com/traffic-management

Services: Traffic management

profile: MSL Engineering Ltd

Building quality Offering an unparalleled range of services, MSL Engineering Ltd. has made a name for itself in the Irish construction sector with its ability to smoothly deliver high-profile projects in numerous industries

elebrating its 40th anniversary in 2019, MSL Engineering Ltd. (MSL) is a vivid example of how, when a company is fully committed to achieving the highest standards in workmanship, safety, quality, and reliability, it can excel in its respective industry in such a way that it becomes the reference point for its peers. The Irish mechanical engineering

contractor specialises in the fabrication and installation of process, utility, and high-purity pipework, platforms and steelwork; and equipment installation across a number of industry sectors. These include pharmaceutical, biopharma, chemical, oil and gas, power generation and utilities, food and beverage, data centres, transport infrastructure, medical devices, process drainage, and fire protection.

“Through one-off construction projects, maintenance, and term-service contracts, we can also provide modular fabrication and assemblies, manage multidiscipline subcontractors as part of our projects, and use BIM and 3D modelling processes,” MSL’s Managing Director, Brian McGrath, elaborates on the company’s capabilities. “This broad range of services, coupled with our ability to deliver quality

Stimulating its staff has, consequently, been among the top priorities on MSL’s agenda. The company conducts its Training Needs Analysis review at a senior management level periodically, so that it can identify any skill gaps or shortages that may exist in any role in the business. Then, MSL develops a training plan for its people to bridge these gaps. “By doing this, we are able to maximise performance from personnel and encourage their development,” Brian points out. “What is more, promotional opportunities are appointed internally wherever possible. On occasion, this can mean identifying skills gaps or shortages in a potential internal candidate and addressing these through the implementation of a training plan.” Together with investing in staff development, MSL has also directed substantial financial resources to the creation of a dedicated BIM/Design department within the company, as well as to the purchase of a new development site adjacent to its location. Brian details: “We are now capable of producing our own isometric fabrication drawings, as opposed to depending on the client to issue them. Another significant investment of ours was the

acquisition of the new facility that will extend our modular and high-purity capabilities to meet growing market demands.”

Pharma projects Earlier on, we listed the industries served by MSL and even at first glance, one can conclude that some of these are inherently hazardous. This being said, the contractor has for a long time taken an uncompromising standing on safety, which has resulted in two million hours without a single lost-time accident over the past five years. For its efforts, the company was awarded the National Irish Safety Organisation (NISO) Higher Distinction Award in October 2018. The last few years have seen the steady growth in two particular sectors MSL operates within – namely, pharmaceutical and life sciences. Owing to their traditional resistance to global economic turbulence, these two industries have gone from strength to strength in Ireland and the initiation of new projects have allowed MSL to compete for and win new business in the area. “I would single out two projects for Dublin-based pharmaceutical clients that challenged us to a degree that led us to employ the full extent of our capabilities,” says MSL’s Projects Director, Dave

projects on-time every time, has made us an integral link in our clients’ supply chain. We view the high esteem, in which they regard us, as vital to our ongoing success.” In order to deliver this level of service quality, however, MSL needs to ensure that it has a skilled workforce at its disposal in the first place. “Indeed,” Brian affirms, “we have an excellent mix of young, talented engineering professionals and experienced, proven achievers that drive the company forward.”

profile: MSL Engineering Ltd

“In terms of the equipment installation, all 230 items were installed by MSL, including three 40-tonne boilers, cooling towers, chillers, compressors, vessels, tanks, exchangers, pumps, and vendor-supplied skids,” Dave notes. “All craneage lift studies, method statements, and risk assessments for the lifts, and installation of the equipment were also completed by MSL.”

Challenging scheme

Ronan. “We executed both of them concurrently from mid-2016 to mid-2017 and their combined value was 30 million euros. It was during their implementation that we deployed our BIM/Design department for the first time and its presence was an important aspect of our winning bid for the projects. The department was then quickly put to the test with the workload for both programmes, but, much to our delight, it rose to the challenge successfully.” In the first project – for a new biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility for Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals – MSL was first awarded the main mechanical contract for the new production building, but upon its successful completion, it was also entrusted with the construction work for an admin building and an R&D building. “A total of 1500 isometrics were drawn from the client-issued 3D model. These were logged, priority-sequenced, engineered, fabricated, NDE-approved, and transported to site over a 40-week fabrication period,” Dave explains. “The workshop element consisted of fabrication of carbon steel, stainless steel, and high-purity pipe and tube ranging in sizes from 15mm to 200mm diameter. The fabrication consisted of approximately 25,000 weld inches.

“The production building scope of work also included ten pipe rack modules. MSL designed and 3D-modelled the steelwork and pipework for these using BIM software prior to producing fabrication drawings, fabricating, assembling and shipping to site for installation by our site team,” he continues. “Finally, the on-site mechanical scope of the site works included the installation of the ten pipe rack modules, in addition to the installation, supporting, testing and commissioning of carbon steel, stainless steel, high-purity, copper and plastic pipework, HVAC duct work and associated equipment, new process, and clean room equipment. The craneage, scaffold access, NDE, painting, insulation, and passivation associated with the piping and equipment were also part of MSL’s scope.” As regards the second contract for the central utilities building (CUB) at a new facility for Alexion Pharmaceuticals, the work delivered by MSL was similar in nature to that of the previously-discussed project. The isometric fabrication drawings produced were 1250, while the pipework ranged in sizes from 15mm to 350mm diameter, and the fabrication consisted of approximately 40,000 weld inches.

By the end of this year, MSL is expected to complete another flagship project. It was late in 2018 that the company was awarded the Main Mechanical Package for Project Trinity BT in the AbbVie Ballytivnan facility in Sligo. The scope of the scheme includes the construction of a high containment conjugation, formulation, sterile fill, and lyophilisation facility for antibody drug conjugates (ADC), which is designed to handle highlyhazardous substances requiring nanogram containment levels. Dave discusses the job: “The location of the new ADC suite is within the existing AbbVie Ballytivnan facility, which poses its own challenges in terms of managing health and safety and on-site co-ordination during construction. Thanks to our Safety Management System, though, we can meet these challenges head on. “MSL’s scope involves the supply, fabrication, installation, testing, and commissioning of 12,000 metres of utility and process pipework. This includes carbon steel, stainless steel, and high-purity pipework. We are also managing the craneage, scaffold, NDE, degrease and passivation, painting, and insulation scopes of work. Further, we co-ordinated the installation of the new cooling towers, waste collection vessels and numerous items of process and clean room equipment,” he adds.

Plans for expansion “We are strong believers in early engagement with the contractors and we have been involved in 3D model constructability reviews from the beginning of this project. As the scheme is due for completion later this year, MSL is already in the system handover phase. Utilising cloud-based software for progress reporting and QA/QC documentation generation and handover has enabled us to smoothly transition into this stage,” Dave updates us on the progress of the project. Aiming to grow its position in Ireland and expand into new markets, Brian McGrath, the Managing Director is also hoping that, in the future, MSL will capitalise on the success of the projects it has completed in Europe. He concludes: “Our

overreaching priority is to maintain the standards laid down by the original founders 40 years ago. Hopefully, we will all still be around in 40 years’ time and MSL will continue to grow and prosper.”

MSL Engineering Ltd www.mslengineering.ie Services: Mechanical engineering contractor