Category

There’s a lot to consider when thinking about undertaking a home renovation project:  timescale, budget, planning, logistics, the list is endless and can almost be enough to put off anyone.   But even when you’ve cleared your diary and scheduled everything down to the last second, you’ve got a water-tight plan of action and you have set up stall with everything you could possibly need to hand, there is one thing that many people forget or simply ignore – safety! From the most basic of tasks to the creation of a second home escape at the end of the garden with electricity and running water, there are hazards all around, and it is hugely important to ensure you have the correct protection to avoid an …

Read more »

ERP and CAD – the perfect pairing Enterprise Resource Planning known as ERP, and Computer Aided Design (CAD) are perfect partners because they complement each other’s basic features and functions allowing for a fully integrated approach in industries such as construction, engineering and architecture. What are CAD and ERP’s basic functions? CAD programmes provide early-on solutions for the planning and execution phase of a project. The main industries using CAD include construction, engineering and architecture. Enterprise Resource Planning is focused on the commercial and administrative needs of a company with some aspects addressing the planning and managerial sections. ERP provides an overview of the business as a whole, allowing for complete visibility across different functions and aspects of a business. It can successfully track the workflow …

Read more »

The Government has given Tottenham Hotspur planning permission to build a 58,000-capacity stadium after a public inquiry. Communities minister Eric Pickles has just approved a compulsory purchase order made by the London Borough of Haringey, which will enable the Northumberland Development Project to continue to proceed. More than 95% of the 3 hectare site has been acquired by agreement and work has already begun on the first phase of the redevelopment plan. The order was requested to allow the final phases to proceed and follows a public inquiry. The redevelopment proposals have had far reaching support from local MPs, the London Mayor’s champion for Tottenham and the chairman of the Independent Tottenham Taskforce. Spurs said the announcement “was a very significant step” and now hope to be able to …

Read more »

New figures released by the Government show it has smashed its target to roll out project bank accounts on centrally funded jobs. Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office, said that £5.2bn worth of government construction projects are now being paid through project bank accounts. Maude said: “As part of our long-term economic plan this government is reforming public sector construction and helping develop a more efficient and competitive industry that will lead to more jobs and better value for taxpayers. “To win the global race, we must support the smaller suppliers which are the lifeblood of our economy. We’ve beaten our target on project bank accounts but we will keep pushing ahead to ensure suppliers of all sizes are treated fairly.” The 2011 Government …

Read more »

A plumbing and trades tutor from South Gloucestershire has launched a new skills academy to cater for the growing need for trained construction workers. With an emphasis on quality training, small class sizes and one-to-one tuition, Shane McCallum and his wife Nikki have set up the new South West Construction Academy. Based in a 1,600sqft converted barn in the prestigious setting of Eastwood Park in Falfield, the South West Construction Academy will begin by offering a range of plumbing courses, providing a mixture of distance learning and on-site learning and intensive training. Mr McCallum’s business plan is aimed at attracting 36 adult students in the first year, before looking to attract school leavers in year two. Eventually the plan is to broaden to other trades …

Read more »

Measured surveys Nationwide and Europe! Mobile CAD Surveying Solutions Ltd  can accommodate either a simple single property floor plan for a domestic or private customer to a complete schedule of buildings including whatever type of data collection the customer requires for a commercial customer. If you are an Architects or Surveyor and you require fast turn around building surveys, please give us a try! we currently work for dozens of architects and designers around the UK, where they haven’t the capacity or staff to handle their own surveys or where they just require someone to make sure the job is done right and first time. Currently we are working on many Commercial surveys around the country, with a number of domestic and Dimensional Property Surveys around …

Read more »

The London construction market is now so strong that contractors can “pick and choose” schemes they bid for. Steve McGuckin, UK managing director of consultant Turner & Townsend, said: “The days of builders bidding for every sniff of work are gone. “The confidence in London is now so strong that contractors are able to pick and choose their projects. “Tender prices are still competitive, but with input costs starting to creep up this may not last forever.” McGuckin was commenting on latest official construction figures which have been revised up to show 1.5% growth during the first quarter of the year. That is more than double the original 0.6% estimate by the Office of National Statistics. McGuckin said: “With such a big upward revision to the …

Read more »

Revised tenders for Google’s King’s Cross HQ contract are not due to be submitted to the internet giant until the New Year. The Enquirer understands that contractors bidding for the job are working to a January 2015 deadline to submit new tenders. The value of the contract has also doubled to £600m as Google radically alters the designs for its new UK flagship. BAM Construct were named preferred bidder on the original £300m contract last March. The contract race was then re-opened  after Google instructed architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris to rework the scheme. The re-bidding means original rival bidders Carillion and Skanska are back in the race with BAM. Bidders are now looking at the New Year for the race to begin as the construction …

Read more »

More than 300 subcontractors and suppliers of failed cladding group Astec are unlikely to see a penny owed to them. The latest creditors’ report from administrator Deloitte reveals that the three main businesses Astec Projects, Astec Group and Concept Design (Interiors) owe unsecured creditors £12.2m. Of this sum, £7.3m is owed to suppliers and subcontractors, with a further £2.8m owed in intercompany debt. Deloitte estimates that when they took over on 11 April this year around £1.7m was being held by clients and contractors in retentions. A further £5.6m due for work in progress is now unlikely to be recovered. Administrators said that they expect to be able to pay Barclays Bank from sales of property proceeds but have warned there is precious little …

Read more »

HSE inspectors are starting a fortnight-long crackdown on sites exposing workers to unhealthy working conditions. More than 500 deaths a year are caused by silica dust exposure Inspectors will be looking in particular at respiratory risks from dusts including silica materials and exposure to other hazardous substances such as cement and lead paint. The inspectors will also have manual handling, noise and vibration in their sights as they make unannounced spot checks this week and next. For every fatal accident in construction, it is estimated that a worker is at least 100 times more likely to die from a disease caused or made worse by their work. In 2012/13, 39 construction workers were killed. But more than 500 deaths a year are due to silica exposure alone. HSE Chief Inspector of …

Read more »