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| Your essential source for the latest East Midlands construction news |
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End of an Era for the Housing Corporation
The creation of a new national agency for housing and regeneration brings an end to the Housing Corporation’s 43 year history. The much anticipated merger of the functions of English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation, along with some work areas of the Department for Communities and Local Government, was announced by the Communities secretary, Ruth Kelly, in parliament on 18 January 2007. The resulting agency, to be known as ‘Communities England’, will be established later this year, with an annual budget of £4 billion. The new agency’s key responsibilities will be delivering decent homes, housing market renewal, private finance initiatives, housing growth and urban regeneration.
For further details visit http://www.housingcorp.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.9733
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Climate Change and the Government - What you Need to Know
seismic shift. No longer able to ignore the science behind global warming, the report not only forced government to confront climate change as an environmental issue, but also put a social and economic cost on our inaction.
With the ultimate imperative for action, that of economics, there is a need to understand what change entails and what it means to you.
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East Midlands NTI - New Technology Initiative
Do you work in the construction industry and need help developing the technical side of your business?
If you meet the following criteria:
- not more than 250 employees
- a balance sheet of not more than £30m approx. or an annual turnover of not more than £34m approx.
- not more than one quarter owned by a company or companies that do not comply with the above requirements (some exceptions may apply)
and you are based in one of the following locations:
- Nottinghamshire
- Leicestershire
- Northamptonshire
- Derbyshire
- Lincolnshire
- Rutland
Then you can apply for a grant to purchase advanced technology equipment. The maximum grant is £10,000 and must be matched by equal funding from your company. Companies can pool grants and share the equipment purchased. What constitutes advanced technology equipment will vary depending on your company's starting point. read more » |
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A Hot Package for Recruitment
HotProspects offers a package to help local employers recruit new graduates.
The programme can put you in touch with graduates with the right skills, pre-screen and help with the selection process. For smes the service is currently provided free, thanks to funding from emda.
A new range of four additional services, costing just £1,000 per package, has recently been launched. These include a ‘Managed Graduate Recruitment’ service which works alongside the HotProspects website, appointing graduates into client organisations and undertaking relevant tasks such as creating job and candidate specifications, structuring and staging interviews and undertaking pre-employment checks.
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Making Competition work for you
A joint Office of Government Commerce and Office of Fair Trading guide relating to competition for public procurers of construction services has just been released. The aim of the guide 'Making Competition work for you' is to spread best practice among organisations responsible for the procurement of public construction projects and to encourage effective competition.
The guide focuses on practical steps you can take, pitfalls you should avoid and risks you can mitigate in order to make competition work for you.
The guide also recognises the risks of suppliers engaging in anti-competitive behaviour, such as bid rigging. It highlights some of the practical steps you can take to mitigate these risks and shows how the Office of Fair Trading can help.
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NHS Trusts Adopting Good practices
Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has broken new ground with the successful financial close of a £333 million hospital PFI scheme - one of the largest PFI projects in the UK.
The five-year scheme, already 50 percent complete, involves the remodelling and redevelopment of the existing City General Hospital site in Derby. It represents the future of 21st century healthcare, bringing together the public and private sectors in a partnership that will allow the Trust to fund and sustain state of the art facilities to serve a population of 600,000 people across Southern Derbyshire.
Work is being undertaken for the Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in accordance with the NHS Plan, which seeks to deliver a health service designed around the patient and fit for the 21st Century.
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National Construction College - NCC is launching a series of pilot sustainability courses
To help the construction industry improve its sustainability credentials and meet the targets outlined by the government, the National Construction College (NCC) is launching a series of pilot sustainability courses.
The college has been working closely with the Environmental Consultancy of the University of Sheffield (ECUS) to develop and deliver the courses. The modules will include an introduction to sustainable construction for site supervisors, sustainability in construction management, a foundation in sustainable construction, as well as a course on on-site management of waste, water and energy.
The series of modules will address different aspects of sustainability and offer trainees the tools and skills they need to enable them to make a difference to the environment, as well as helping them to develop their own careers.
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Scott Wilson drafted in to consult on Bangkok Airport
Scott Wilson has been drafted in by Thai airport bosses after more than 100 cracks appeared in the runways and taxiways of Bangkok’s new £1.7bn international airport.
Suvarnabhumi Airport opened just four months ago to massive fanfare after 40 years of planning and construction. Scott Wilson was one of more than 20 firms that worked on the project .
But last week airport operator Airports of Thailand was forced to close the west runway and make emergency repairs, diverting flights to a former US B52 bomber base. Further temporary repairs are still needed and capacity remains drastically reduced with 11 of the airport’s 51 piers unusable because of the cracks.
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NHBC Responds to DCLG Zero Carbon Development Consultation
NHBC, the leading standard setting body and home warranty provider for new home construction in the UK has said industry must engage in the consultation phase on the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) zero carbon development document.
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MPs Lambast £900m PFI Hospital Fiasco
• Report urges rethink on NHS building programme
• Scheme abandoned after £15m and five years' work
The government will be urged today to rethink its controversial NHS building programme with the publication of a report which makes sweeping criticisms of the disastrous attempt to build a super-hospital in London. A watchdog group of MPs says the collapse of the £900m scheme in Paddington Basin was the result of incompetence, appalling planning, local staff who floundered and were out of their depth, and a lack of clarity from the Department of Health.
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Design4Life - Low-Carbon Design CPD series gets underway
Around 30 construction practitioners from across the region attended the first EMDA-sponsored Design4Life one-day CPD workshop at the Jubilee Campus Building, Nottingham on January 17th. The first in a series of CPD days running throughout 2007, this workshop focussed on the fundamentals of low-C design, from target setting and client briefing to the effects of the building form on energy performance. Delegates were drawn from a wide range of professions, including architects, building services engineers, project managers and cost estimators, whose feedback was excellent, with many signing up for the next event on the 14th March. This event will take place at the Jubilee Campus and is entitled Low-Carbon Technology Design Options. The workshop will focus on integrated building fabric and services strategies, and will take an in depth look at renewable energy technologies and their relevance to Part L compliance. All D4L workshops cost £95 (plus a 30% discount for multiple bookings) and include lunch and a tour of the building. For further information, go to http://www.D4L.org.uk/ or contact EMCBE on 01509 225800. |
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Energy Ratings Exposed
Are you a property developer or owner of industrial or commercial buildings in the East Midlands?
Do you know the legislation is changing and it may impact on your assets?
Would you consider buying an 'E' rated fridge for your home? The answer would be No, because since the energy efficiency rating scheme was introduced there is no market for fridges below a 'C' rating.
When the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive becomes mandatory it brings with it energy ratings for buildings. The average rating in the UK is likely to be an 'E'.
Find out what this could mean for you at the Energy Ratings Exposed event on the morning of 23 March 2007 at Loughborough Innovation Centre. The morning will include an overview of the implications with interactive workshops and concluding with a buffet lunch.
As part of a major new study in the East Midlands the impact of energy ratings on commercial and industrial buildings is being evaluated. To get involved come along to the event or complete one of the questionnaires being distributed around the region.
For more information contact EMCBE on 01509 225800 or info@emcbe.com
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Sustainability ‘Speak’
Some UK statistics:-
- The construction industry in the UK is responsible for nearly a third of all industry related pollution accidents.
- Demolition and construction are responsible for creating 21% of all the hazardous waste produced in the UK each year.
- Demolition and construction waste represents 19% of total UK waste production per annum, or, approximately 100 million tonnes of a total of 526 million tonnes per annum.
- Approximately 70 million tonnes p.a. is recycled as ‘low grade’ construction products, with 30 million tonnes going to landfill each year.
- In April 2007 the Landfill Tax will rise to an average of £24 per tonne, so 30 million tonnes will generate circa £720 million in tax for The Chancellor each year.
- The actual cost of taking a tonne of waste to landfill in April 2007, inclusive of tax, will be circa £39 per tonne, so 30 million tonnes will cost the construction industry £1.17 billion each year.
- Over 80% of all construction materials use natural resources.
- The construction industry in the UK uses over 420 million tonnes of natural resources each year.
- About 10% of the annual national energy consumption, which is equivalent to about 214 million tonnes of oil (or 346 million tonnes of coal), is used in the production and transport of construction products and materials.
- The energy used in constructing, occupying and operating buildings, represents approximately 50% of ‘greenhouse gas’ emissions in the UK each year, which is equivalent to approximately 330 million tonnes of CO2.
- Approximately 13 million tonnes of demolition and construction waste is material delivered to sites each year, but never used.
- The construction industry produces 3 times the amount of waste produced by all UK households each year.
There is, clearly, plenty of scope for improvement on all fronts! |
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Cogent and Union learn join forces to close industrial skills gap
unionlearn, the TUC's learning and skills organisation, will join forces with Cogent Sector Skills Council (SSC), by signing up to and endorsing the Cogent Sector Skills Agreement (SSA). This follows close collaboration with Amicus, Prospect and the TGWU to develop the industry-backed agreement, which sets out the key training and development interventions for the Cogent industries.
The agreement is based on a two-year investigation into skills gaps and shortages, aimed at identifying what training inputs are needed to tackle the skills crisis facing Cogent's industries. Cogent is the SSC for a number of strategically important UK industries: chemicals and pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, and nuclear, petroleum and polymers.
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Fines for minimum wage non payers
The government is getting tough on employers who don’t pay the national minimum wage – currently £5.35 an hour for workers over 22 years old.
Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling’s message has come across loud and clear – employers who don’t pay the minimum wage will face fines of £200 for every worker they have underpaid.
Employers already have to pay back arrears they owe to employees and those who refuse to pay up will now be penalised.
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Nominations open for Apprenticeship Awards 2007
The 2007 Awards were launched by the Minister for Skills, Phil Hope MP at the RSA in London on Thursday 7 December, where he unveiled a photography and film exhibition entitled 'Apprentices: Today's Future' and officially opened the Awards for entries.'
The Apprenticeship Awards are held annually and hosted by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), who manage and fund Apprenticeships in England.
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New College Nottingham appoints new Head of Construction
New College Nottingham (ncn) is delighted to announce the appointment of Kevin Gowdy as Director of Construction. This is a key role in terms of investing in the Construction industry and will be central to the College’s development of a new £20m construction centre.
Kevin has considerable experience in every aspect of vocational and community education and training – from teaching, to managing large and diverse provision including Construction and Automotive Engineering.
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New Law on Web details for limited companies
Limited companies should take note of a new law that came into effect on 1st January 2007 requiring them to put details of their company on to their website and on email footers.
Details required are company registration number, place of registration and registered office address. A contact email should also be provided as well as VAT number and membership of a trade or professional association.
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Don’t waste money on fuel bills
Even if gales and heavy rain are lashing the country, businesses are being urged to make sure they don’t waste money on high energy bills.
Savings of as much as £1,000 for each employee could be made according to research carried out by Envirowise, the government funded national resource efficiency programme.
Emda, the East Midlands Development Agency, has in place an initiative to help all businesses become more resource efficient by highlighting the issues and providing hints and tips on how to become more energy efficient and save money.
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Markham Vale Environmental Centre
This state of the art Centre at Markham Vale, near Bolsover, has units to let for businesses involved in the environmental technology sector. Each unit has lockable access, roller shutter access, natural air ventilation, access to internal toilets, natural light, wood fuel heating, data points, kitchenette area, free car parking, and reception services including telephone answering. The Centre is a uniquely supportive environment to encourage a cluster of like minded businesses and offers access to the business support network and onsite counselling from an experienced Business Link adviser.
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Lottery Funded Community Buildings programme
Application closing date: 30 April 2007
Minimum grant: £50,001
Maximum grant: £500,000
The Community Buildings programme will give communities the chance to improve their quality of life by funding buildings that are economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. The programme will pay for creating and improving facilities that offer a wide range of services and activities to a broad range of local people. Successful applicants will show that their building will be accessible to as many people as possible and that the local community will be strongly involved in using and managing the building.
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NHBC in Heated debate about Multifoil Insulation
Multi-foil insulations consist of a number of foil layers separated by other materials. The layers are then stitched through to form a quilt-like sheet, the sheet being supplied in roll form. There are a number of multi-foils on the market and the manufacturers’ claims can be very impressive. A multi-foil quilt 25 to 30mm thick, but equivalent in thermal performance to 200mm of mineral wool, appears to be an attractive simple solution when insulating the sloping ceiling of a room-in-the-roof. So where does the NHBC sit on this debate?
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Cast Stone Standards
Cast stone details such as porticos, window heads and cills, string courses and quoins can make a property stand out and transform something plain into something special.
However, as with any building material performing a critical function, it’s important to choose one that meets with a British or European Standard. According to the UK Cast Stone Association (UKCSA), there are around 160 cast stone manufacturers in Britain. Some of them operate without adequate quality assurance or testing regimes and may not be working to proper standards.
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EMCBE - East Midlands Centre for constructing the Built Environment |
Unit 114
The Innovation Centre
Epinal Way
Loughborough
Leicestershire
LE11 3EH
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Contact Us
T: (01509) 225 800
F: (01509) 225 801
E: info@emcbe.com
www.emcbe.com
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