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A three-year foundation degree course in kitchen design at Buckinghamshire New University has been given the official go-ahead. Scheduled for the autumn, the bespoke course has been developed in conjunction with a panel of industry experts, primarily for those currently working in the industry. Delivered in partnership with the KBB NTG by kitchen industry experts, students will work on a comprehensive range of modules to cover aspects of materials, technology, sustainability, culture and design in order to develop critical and imaginative responses to kitchen design. Students will also learn about the technical and legislative contexts of kitchen design and will be supported through close contacts with industry partners. “In the UK there are more than 2,000 manufacturers supporting 5,000 kitchen retailers, so as independent kitchen design firms …

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A Shrewsbury College student studying Brickwork has just competed in the SkillBuild National Final and has been selected as one of the top seven bricklayers in the country. Ryan Stevens who is completing his Apprenticeship NVQ Level 3 in Brickwork at Shrewsbury College is hoping to represent the UK with his skills, is pictured with some of his work. Ryan Stevens, 19, of Shawbirch, Telford, is just completing his NVQ Level 3 Apprenticeship at Shrewsbury College, having started in the 14-16 programme and completed his Levels 1 and 2. Although he didn’t win any prizes when he competed at the NEC SkillBuild National Final in November, judges were so impressed by Ryan’s expertise that he was chosen as a potential candidate to represent the UK at bricklaying after getting a high enough score …

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Postcard campaign to mark National Apprenticeship Week Sanctuary Group is using a postcard campaign to launch a series of activities for this year’s National Apprenticeship Week, taking place from 3 – 7 March. The leading housing and care provider has long recognised the positive impact that apprenticeships have for the individual apprentice, the organisation employing them and the wider industry, and is supporting more than 600 apprentice placements through its £750m development programme to build 5,000 new homes across the UK. Each apprenticeship offers a vital first step towards a career in construction for the young apprentice, while at the same time ensuring that the building industry has the range of trained people it needs in the future. The postcard campaign has been devised by Sanctuary to highlight these factors during National …

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Court of Appeal ruling gives high street landlords more protection in administrations Computer game retailer Game will have to pay £3m to a collection of Britain’s biggest landlords after it lost a landmark legal case about unpaid rent. The ruling by the Court of Appeal closes a legal loophole that meant companies could avoid paying rent for three months if administrators were appointed shortly after the quarterly rent day. Businesses in administration will now have to pay rent on a “pay as you use” basis, with rent classified as an administration expense. A consortium of property companies including Land Securities, British Land and Hammerson claimed they missed out on millions of pounds in rent when Game called in administrators in March 2012. Landlords have claimed for years …

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Using standard and bespoke Lego bricks, mini-figures and themed accessories, Weston Homes has built the first children’s bedroom dressed entirely in Lego products. Weston Homes has created the world’s first Lego-themed children’s bedroom. The brightly-coloured room, which has been created entirely out of red, black, yellow and grey Lego bricks, is on show at the company’s marketing suite for its Silverbrook development of 73 family houses in the village of Markyate in Hertfordshire. The bedroom also features a host of Lego-themed merchandise, including a Lego lamp and Lego alarm clock. According to Weston Homes founder and chairman Bob Weston, themed rooms are set to become a popular trend among housebuilders. “Linking in with brands such as Lego, Star Wars, Disney or other children’s …

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Construction companies are being urged to visit more schools in a bid to make a career in the industry more attractive to youngsters. The CITB is leading the charge for a more pro-active approach from contractors following a damning report which found young people were being advised they were “too clever for construction” CITB Chairman James Wates said: “Our industry has to compete with many others for future talent. “That means that we must be in the thoughts and choices of pupils making decisions at school – not as they’re about to leave or have already left. “We can’t leave this to existing careers advice because we need to reach teachers in order to reach pupils. “Teachers need to be made aware of what training and careers construction …

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British construction output rose modestly in the last three months of 2013, official figures showed today led by the greatest expansion in the building of new housing since the start of 2008. Construction output rose by 0.2 per cent in the three months to the end of December, significantly down on the 2.6 per cent seen in the previous three months but stronger than the 0.3 per cent fall in construction reported in the preliminary GDP data for the same quarter. Britain’s economy grew by 0.7 per cent in the three months to December an initial estimate by the Office of National Statistics showed last month. However it said the upward revision to construction output would not be enough to impact GDP. The upward revision to the construction data was helped by…

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THE newly appointed head of a multi-million pound centre has promised it will have excellent teaching and the best facilities to educate the next generation of scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians. Peter Alstead, aged 51, will lead the £4.1 million Bolton College’s STEM — science, technology, engineering and maths — centre, which is currently being built next to the town centre campus and is the first centre of its kind in the North West. Mr Alstead will oversee the development of the centre, which is due to open this spring, as well as taking charge of the motor vehicle, engineering technology and water engineering sections. He said: “We want to ensure that our students experience excellent teaching and learning enhanced with the best facilities. “This will enable …

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An All Terrain crane slipped off the road near Nantes, in France on Wednesday causing a road closure and a cut to the the local electricity supply. The crane a five axle Liebherr from Mediaco’s depot in Nantes was travelling along the D 744 between Moncoutant and Cerizay to the south east of the city, when it ended up in a ditch and resting against an embankment. Thankfully no one was injured in the incident. The crane slipped off the road into a ditch and embankment Two larger cranes were sent out from the branch to rescue the stricken machine, which also required the overhead power lines to be cut off, and all was cleared up by mid-morning yesterday.

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Workers at a World Cup stadium in the Brazilian city of Manaus are threatening to go on strike after a third worker died during the construction of the venue. The Arena da Amazonia stadium in Manaus, Brazil, pictured during construction in December 2013  A 55-year-old Portuguese worker was killed on Friday while disassembling a crane. He is now the third person to die at the venue in less than a year. Construction of the stadium, which is due to host England’s opening game against Italy, is already behind schedule.

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