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Shepherd Construction staff are braced for a major round of redundancies as bosses at the firm prepare to rescale the business. Up to 180 jobs could be at risk with the bulk of the cuts focused on back-office staff. Employees were told of the plans late last week and a redundancy consultation exercise is now underway. Mark Perkins, Shepherd’s CEO, said “The executive board is currently reviewing the Shepherd Construction business, with a view to establishing the right scale and platform for future growth and sustainability. “As part of the review, a formal 45 day collective consultation process with employees within Shepherd Construction and the divisional support teams commenced on 1st April, to assess current resources. “We must ensure that Shepherd Construction operates as efficiently as possible to meet …

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Foam Fabricators Soundproofing your home

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According to a new study, the majority of polled young Britons were unable to correctly identify differences between various sectors within the construction industry. ‘Welders’, ‘Glaziers’ and ‘Dredgers’ were revealed as the roles in the construction industry which Britons had the biggest problem identifying. New research conducted by a leading business insurance website in the UK has revealed how well-known different trades within the industry are. Looking to uncover the levels of awareness of the construction industry amongst the general public, the survey revealed that the majority of young Britons today are not sure what different roles entail. The team at www.constructaquote.com polled a total of 2,039 participants, all of whom were aged 18-35 years old, for the purposes of the study. There was an even …

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The Football Association is preparing to pick a squad of contractors to deliver a £200m building programme of new sports changing rooms across the country. The four-year grass-roots community programme will typically involve projects worth between £300k and £1m depending on size and scope of each facility. Under present plans it will invite tenders in June with the aim of selecting contractors to start the improvement programme next April. Before that the FA, together with The Football Foundation and The English Sports Council,  is undertaking a soft market testing exercise and contractors’ day. This will help to judge the best route for procurement and explore the market appetite for delivering the programme using modular buildings, although it remains open to more traditional methods …

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The distinct joint venture business aims to harness Gentoo’s reach into social housing with Newcastle-based Tolent’s project management and construction expertise. The new company Gentoo Tolent is registered at Gentoo’s Sunderland head quarters and began business yesterday. Steve Lanaghan, Executive Director of Gentoo Group said: “Tolent is a highly respected and experienced construction company, with whom we have enjoyed an excellent working relationship. “The joint venture will enable both organisations to share skills and knowledge in different and complementary areas of work. With a number of synergies between our businesses, this partnership will create a sustainable regional business with an enhanced offer to the market.” John Wood, Chair of Tolent said:“This is a great opportunity to boost the strengths of both companies and develop …

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Researchers at a leading business insurance website have revealed that as many as three quarters of construction workers agree with random drug testing whilst on site. Furthermore, the majority of respondents stated that they would feel a lot safer and more secure if employees operated under rules in which they could be tested and dismissed at any point if they were proved to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A leading business insurance website in the UK has decided to investigate random drug testing on construction sites, following recent reports of a legal case won by a bus driver who lost his job after failing a drugs test, when he’d actually done nothing except handle some banknotes contaminated with cocaine. The team at www.constructaquote….

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Thousands of people were evacuated from offices in central London on Wednesday afternoon when a fire broke out in cable ducts under Kingsway in Holborn. Flames shot out of an inspection cover and smoke engulfed the area as 70 firefighters tackled the blaze. Evening performances were cancelled in local theatres as the neighbourhood suffered blackouts. London fire brigade said the fire started in a large service duct which carries electrical and gas cables and water pipes beneath the street. Fire crews were still at the scene on Thursday morning. London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Peter Cowup said: “This has been a technically difficult incident to tackle. “The reason that the fire is still burning is because the service tunnel is hard to reach and although firefighters have been …

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A group of five builders have been selected for a new £3bn framework designed to fast-track development of surplus public land. Bouygues, Glasgow builders CCG, Morgan Sindall, Wates and Willmott Dixon have secured places on the four year Social Infrastructure Development  framework, run by contracting authority NPS. The SID framework will be used to deliver projects that span the public sector, from schools and housing through to police stations and care homes. Mike Britch, Managing Director of NPS Group said: “We already have a pipeline of 16 schemes worth around £300m and expect SID to establish itself as the procurement route of choice for both public authorities and charitable bodies.” It will be used to design, finance and construct social infrastructure projects funded through the development …

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The company officially replaces the Highways Agency next week. The improvements over the first five years of operation include: 112 major improvements, including 15 smart motorway projects providing 280 extra miles of capacity, and resurfacing the majority of the network providing a more accessible road system delivering over 150 new cycling facilities and crossings, including 40 by the end of next year, and cycle-proofing new schemes reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on the network by 40% from the 2010 baseline Graham Dalton, Chief Executive of Highways England said: “The launch of Highways England is an incredibly significant moment for those who rely on England’s motorways and major A roads. “As well as delivering the biggest investment in major roads since the 1970s, there will be fundamental changes to …

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Sheffield city council has unveiled plans for a £480m retail quarter to transform the city centre. The ambitious plan designed by Leonard Design Architects comprises 900,000 sq ft of mixed-use accommodation. This will predominantly by retail and leisure led, but also includes over 200,000 sq ft of residential and office space. Sheffield City Council has been assessing the best way forward for the retail quarter since ending a partnership with developer Hammerson in 2013. It plans to part fund the scheme from the New Deal with Government to use tax incremental financing. Simon Green, Sheffield City Council’s Executive Director – Place said: “This is the right time for Sheffield. “We sit at the heart of the devolution debate; we have an ambitious plan for growth; and we are delivering …

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