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CBI figures show order books are full and firms are ‘ramping up production to meet demand’ Manufacturing order books are at their fullest since the start of the financial crisis while car production has also leapt ahead, according to the latest figures from CBI. Latest CBI figures show that 28% of firms reported total order books above normal in September, and that 19% said they were below. The positive balance of 9% was the highest since August 2007. This included a 6% positive balance for export orders, reversing a negative in figures recorded for last month. The Industrial Trends Survey of 398 companies also found output growth rose again, to a balance of 18%, the highest level since August 2011. A positive balance of 33% of firms expected to …

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Why WaterJet Cutting is the latest green technology you need to know about WaterJet cutting is a popular way of cutting through a range of different materials, such as, granite, rubber, metal and food. There are two different types of WaterJet cutting, the basic WaterJet cutting process which is used to cut soft materials and AbrasiveJet which is a water yet with added abrasives to make the spray of water more powerful. This is used to cut through hard materials, such as metal and granite. Both of these processes are very useful and are frequently used to in a variety of industries, such as, mining and aerospace when shaping and reaming materials. If you’re planning on cutting materials which are sensitive to high temperatures, WaterJet cutting is …

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LAND surrounding the Silverstone motor racing circuit is set for major development after a £32 million deal that will see the construction of warehousing, hotels and a technical college. Owner the British Racing Drivers’ Club has completed a 999-year lease deal on the Silverstone industrial estate and development land around the circuit (marked in orange) on which planning permission has been granted. Commercial property company MEPC has paid £32 million for the lease. The payment will enable BRDC to pay off its loans from Lloyds Banking Group and Northamptonshire County Council. BRDC chairman Stuart Rolt said: ““We have every confidence that their vision for our land will see the realisation of a high-quality development, which will add to the ever growing status of Silverstone as a …

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Official figures showed output growth for the industry of 2.2 per cent in July compared with the previous month, 2 per cent up on the previous year, raising hopes that it will fuel faster expansion of the wider economy between July and SeptemberThe volume of new orders is estimated to have jumped 19.8 per cent between the first and second quarter. Housing recorded its fastest growth in orders for nearly three years while in volume terms the £4billion worth of orders placed is the highest since 2007. Investec economist Phil Shaw said the ­construction rebound was coming from a very low base, with output running 14.1 per cent below its pre-crisis peak in early 2007, but added: “The clear message is that the recent renaissance in the sector is not just …

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Lancaster-based company and chamber of commerce member Askam Construction has been awarded a £3m-plus contract by the city’s university to refurbish Bowland Tower – one of its most distinctive and original buildings. Local suppliers have benefitted from multi-million pound investments by the university in new buildings and services over the last ten years. And the university has pledged to use local businesses where possible. Bowland Tower is located at the heart of Lancaster University’s campus and is a well-recognised part of its arhitecture. At 14 storeys high, the popular upper floors give spectacular views over both Morecambe Bay and the surrounding fells. Opened in 1968, the striking feature is now to have a complete make-over, with more than £4m being invested by …

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You may have started your farm off as a small hobby that you wanted to try out for a bit of fun and now realise you actually enjoy it and would like to expand, however there are certain things you need to do and purchase before you can look to create that expansion. Have You Got The Space – Remember expanding your farm means you need to have adequate space to house the additional animals and the land to be able to grow your crops. If you haven’t got this space you may need to think about moving to a place with more space or hiring out some extra land. Housing Your Animals – Whether you are looking to purchase more cows, sheep or other cattle, or …

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Preston-based Eric Wright Construction, a division of the Eric Wright Group, has delivered the second phase of a redevelopment project to form a combined secondary and primary school at St Mary’s Catholic College in Blackpool. In a bid to modernise the school, a phased demolition and refurbishment of the existing school has taken place – costing £22.8m – to create a new 1,220 place secondary school and sixth form. The changes to the secondary school will give students access to new facilities including cutting edge science and computer labs, 40 contemporary classrooms and a brand new fitness suite equipped with state-of-the-art exercise machines. John Wilson, managing director of Eric Wright Construction said: “We are really proud to have successfully delivered the second phase of …

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Construction union UCATT has welcomed the key findings of the Armitt Review.  The review, commissioned by the Labour Party and written by John Armitt the former chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority, recommends that an independent cross party commission should be established to advise on major infrastructure projects. The Commission would agree on strategic infrastructure projects and would support long term Government planning decisions. Steve Murphy, General Secretary of UCATT, said: “The Armitt Review’s key findings are very important. If implemented they will reduce the short term thinking which is too often taken when considering construction projects.”

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A new report from jobs site Reed has revealed that the construction sector is the leading industry when it comes to creating new employment opportunities. The monthly job index revealed that there has been a 16 per cent increase in jobs vacancies year-on-year. Availability of construction jobs has seen 67 per cent year-on-year growth and three per cent growth when compared to the previous month. Chairman of the jobs group James Reed said that the sector is “leading the charge” in the UK employment market. The construction industry is always on the lookout for skilled workers, especially with a number of specialist professionals expected to retire in the next five-to-ten years. Government initiatives such as Help to Buy has also stimulated the industry, with more …

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The reason for safety procedures: 7 examples of why they are important Health and safety procedures, whilst at times seeming excessive and tedious, are extremely important to modern day businesses. Safety procedure are put in place to keep employees and customers safe within the workplace, and by extension, protect the company from liability claims. Here are 7 reasons why health and safety regulations are important to both employers and employees: 1. Reduce personal injuries Safety procedures are primarily in place to prevent accidents. They cover everything from ensuring wet floor signs are put out, to guidelines for the correct use of machinery. Because companies with high accident records are considered an high risk by insurance companies, having comprehensive safety procedures in place can save a business money. 2. Less damage to …

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