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More than 150 Welsh property professionals from across the country downed their tools and swapped their suits for swimming goggles, cycling shorts and running shoes to raise over £12,000 to tackle male suicide at this year’s Wales Property Triathlon. The annual triathlon, now in its fifth year, organised by family firm Jehu Group, took place in aid of male suicide prevention charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), in a bid to help stop male suicide, the leading cause of death for men aged 20 to 49 across the UK.  Jehu has chosen to support the charity following the loss of a respected and popular co-worker in July of 2016 Staff from the Jehu Group and Waterstone Homes, together with many of their clients including Principality Building Society, Berry Smith and …

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UK Construction Week, the largest gathering of the UK’s built environment community, is set to return to Birmingham NEC from 10 – 12 October. The show promises to be the largest and most impressive yet, with an anticipated 35,000 visitors and more than 650 market-leading exhibitors aiming to showcase the most pioneering products, services and working practices. The construction industry is one of the most innovative industries, with new ways of working, sustainable products, collaboration and continually evolving technologies. UK Construction Week is set to prove this once more with the Innovation Trail – a trail that will bring together the very latest products and services that are changing and will change the way we build. The Innovation Trail will include the latest in Mobile Mapping from Central Alliance. Central…

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A new analysis of government statistics undertaken by a specialist home insurance provider highlights the fact there could be over three million unoccupied homes in the UK at present, with 1.3m properties without the correct home insurance.   As of April 1st 2016, there were 23,928 properties recorded as vacant and owned by local authorities in England. This number has declined significantly since the turn of the millennium, where local authorities in England recorded owning 87,200 vacant dwellings. Of the 24,000 empty buildings currently owned by Councils in England, 3,152 are properties within highly desirable London Boroughs, which have been vacant for over six months and are not currently available for letting on the property market. Figures published in August 2017 by the Resolution Foundation have shown that between the years 2000 and 2014, the number …

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Design and Construction Skills in the Spotlight 4th September 2017: Pupils from eight schools in Northern Ireland have recreated the new AC by Marriott Hotel in Belfast, as part of an immersive Minecraft initiative coordinated by leading UK construction, refurbishment and fit out contractor, Gilbert-Ash, in partnership with Belfast Harbour and STEM Aware. The project was launched to give school pupils an insight into a broad range of careers available to them in construction. The initiative showed them how the technology and skills used in globally popular Minecraft gaming programme can be used in the design and construction of buildings. During the project, pupils built models of the AC by Marriott Hotel using Minecraft, and were also given the opportunity to visit the construction site itself. The …

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Considerate Constructors Scheme reaches major 100,000 milestone   Mulalley celebrates as Network Homes’ housebuilding project is named as 100,000th Scheme-registered site Government praises Scheme’s invaluable role in improving the image of construction The Considerate Constructors Scheme – the national Scheme to improve the image of the construction industry – has reached a major milestone in UK construction history by registering its 100,000th site. The Infrastructure and Project Authority’s Head of Construction, Dr David Hancock, welcomed this achievement and the Scheme’s role in helping to improve the image of the industry. The site registration was made by one of the leading UK’s contractors – Mulalley – for the Chauncey Residential Development in Ware, Hertfordshire. Mulalley are working with housing association Network Homes – a Client Partner of the Considerate …

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The idea of trying to improve the value of your home can be so overwhelming, especially if you watch television shows where the hosts are always doing big, grand projects. But increasing your overall home value doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. You don’t need to add another room or do a complete renovation. By following just a few simple steps, you can dramatically improve the worth of your home and attract potential buyers. Even if you’re not planning on selling your home, these steps can significantly increase your quality of life. Clean The Clutter Cleaning your home can have an exponential effect on its value to buyers. Few things turn a buyer off like a dirty house, while a clean house significantly attracts potential purchasers. …

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Civils Expo, the UK’s leading event dedicated to civil engineering and infrastructure, will once again bring together leading suppliers of the latest technologies, systems and products for the sector when it returns to Birmingham NEC from 10-12 October 2017. Exhibitors already signed up to launch new products, showcase software and provide technical advice include HS2, CEMEX, Breedon Group, Creagh Concrete and Bluebeam. Leading figures from across the industry will also attend the show, such as Crossrail, Heathrow, BAM Nuttall, Kier, Transport for the North and Highways England, where they will debate the industry’s most pressing topics and discuss the challenges and opportunities currently facing the sector. The seminar programme for Civils Expo has been designed to inform and educate visitors about the planning and implementation of significant projects, as …

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Health and safety on a construction site is most closely associated with the use of heavy equipment and hazardous materials. But each year in the UK, there are 1000 slips or trips on worksites that cause fractured bones and dislocated joints. And many of these accidents are caused by a messy and disorganised work environment. So here are four tips for a clean construction site that keeps your staff safe. Safe storage Clients, contractors and suppliers should all be clear about where certain types of materials and equipment are stored onsite and any materials that are flammable or hazardous should be separated and labelled clearly. Large pieces of valuable kit can be kept safely overnight in vandal-safe storage containers but secure portable cases for smaller tools are …

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All 85,000 Construction Related Occupation (CRO) skills cards currently in circulation will expire by the end of this month. The deadline is part of the industry’s drive towards full qualification. The CRO cards cover a host of ancillary construction roles but crucially you don’t need industry related qualifications to hold one. Construction Skills Certification Scheme Head of Communications Alan O’Neile said: “In early 2015, the Construction Leadership Council announced that skills certification card schemes carrying the CSCS logo must only certify those occupations with nationally recognised construction related qualifications, i.e. NVQs or approved equivalents. “The CRO card was issued without the requirement to demonstrate the applicant has achieved an appropriate qualification and as such does not meet the expectations of the CLC.” Many CRO card holders will…

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A raft of building companies are among the latest list of 233 firms named and shamed by the Government for not paying the National Minimum Wage and Living Wage. More than 13,000 of the UK’s lowest paid workers will get around £2m in back pay as part of the government’s scheme to name offenders. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has published the latest list of 233 businesses that underpaid workers. Employers on the list have also been fined a record £1.9m by the government. Retail, hairdressing and hospitality businesses were among the most prolific offenders. Since 2013, the scheme has identified £6m in back pay for 40,000 workers, with 1,200 employers fined £4m. Business Minister Margot James said: “It is against the law to pay workers…

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