Midlands is ‘heart of HS2’

Official Project Partner : HS2 Ltd

During a visit to Birmingham, HS2 Minister Nusrat Ghani, has reaffirmed the Midlands as the heart of HS2.

The Minister has met with apprentices and businesses across the Midlands to see first-hand how they are already benefitting from the jobs, skills and opportunities being delivered by HS2. The visit included discussions with businesses at the Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, where the Minister talked about the vital role HS2 will play in achieving the potential of the Midlands Engine, supporting 100,000 new jobs, bringing major cities, skilled workers and businesses closer together and increasing productivity.

Following this, the minister met with next generation of skilled apprentices being created by Britain’s new railway, visiting the National College for High Speed Rail, where she met with some of the 2,000 apprentices being created by HS2, and learnt how they are gaining the specialist qualifications required to build HS2 and lead the way on future rail infrastructure projects.

While a further visit to Rolls Royce’s Apprentice Academy in Derby, saw her discussing how HS2 will bring businesses, skilled workers and major cities closer together, and the support they can give during government’s Year of Engineering campaign.

The Year of Engineering campaign is designed to help find the 186,000 engineers needed every year until 2024, who will fill all the engineering roles required by the UK. The minister encouraged the apprentices to be role models and help provide one million schoolchildren with an inspiring experience of engineering.

HS2 Minister Nusrat Ghani said: “HS2 is not only the future of our rail network, delivering faster journeys for more passengers and improving connections between some our country’s biggest cities, but is essential for driving forward economic growth and developing the next generation of engineers.

“Birmingham is at the heart of HS2 and already seizing the opportunities that it has to offer. Through the National College for High Speed Rail we are training the engineers of tomorrow, empowering students with the skills and experience needed to gain brilliant careers and drive forward future innovation.

“I also enjoyed meeting with a diverse range of businesses to discuss their vision and how HS2 can help unlock the extraordinary economic potential of the Midlands engine, driving forward jobs, productivity and growth.”

HS2 will not only lead in regeneration of Britain’s railways, but also in regenerating town centres and communities that the railway will run through. Ms Ghani visited Curzon Street station, where she was joined by West Midland Mayor Andy Street to discuss the regeneration of the area. Regenerating the area around HS2 in Birmingham has the potential to create around 14,000 new jobs and unlock 600,000 square metres of new development space across Eastside and Digbeth.

Closed in 1966, Curzon Street will reopen as a new iconic station and Birmingham’s largest building, with seven platforms providing HS2 services initially to London in 2026 and then to the north west, north east and Scotland as the full HS2 network is delivered.

Patrick Twist, Chair of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Business Transport Group said: “The roundtable was the perfect opportunity for the minister to hear the thoughts of local businesses on how the HS2 project will raise productivity levels across the region, improve connectivity with other parts of the country and play a huge role in rebalancing the economy – a key tenet of the government’s Industrial Strategy.

“As someone who grew up in Birmingham, I’m sure the minister was delighted to witness first-hand the renaissance the city has undergone over the last decade and how key infrastructure projects such as HS2 will continue to shape this narrative for years to come.”

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New research shows rail is vital to the UK economy

New economic research, recently published by the Railway Industry Association (RIA) and its partners, has shown that the economic value of the UK rail network is significantly higher than previously thought.

Figures currently used by the government do not take into account the wider rail network, including metro services and catering and retail at stations, which the new research has shown is vital to rail’s contribution and has increased rail’s economic importance.

New figures, from Oxford Economics, show that the UK’s rail system:

• Contributes over £36Bn annually to the UK economy (a greater economic impact than the food, drink and tobacco manufacturing and the chemical and pharmaceutical industries);
• Provides around 600,000 jobs (employing more people than the entire workforce of Birmingham);
• Generates £11Bn annually in tax revenue; and
• Generates £2.20 of income from every £1 spent on the rail network.

The Government is currently using figures that show the UK rail sector employs 240,000 people and has an economic value of rail at £10.4Bn.

On the publication of the report, Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association, said: “The report published today shows that the economic value of rail to the UK is considerably bigger than previously thought. These new figures of around £36Bn GVA and 600,000 jobs take into account the full impact of the rail industry and include areas such as metro services, rail stations and related catering and retail, which are often not included in other studies.

“The implications of this report are clear. The UK rail system should not be seen just as a vital mode of travel – connecting businesses, friends and family, and visitors to the UK – but also as a key industry for the economy in its own right. We urge the Government to consider and use the findings of this report when developing its Industrial Strategy agenda, negotiating trade deals with other countries once we have left the EU, and when promoting our world-class exports offering overseas generally.”

Steve Cocliff, Managing Director, VolkerRail Group – one of the ten supplier partners to the report – said: “We welcome the findings of the report today. At VolkerRail, the work we undertake creates a significant number of job, training and business opportunities either directly or through our supply chain, with a large proportion of the revenue generated feeding back into the local communities we work in. It is therefore very positive to see the economic benefits companies in the rail sector set out so clearly in this research”

Stephen Joseph, Chief Executive, Campaign for Better Transport, said: “Rail is a low carbon and highly skilled industry. This new research highlights just how big a contribution it makes to the economy. There is a very strong case for the Government to build on this strength with a long-term investment strategy, including support for a long-term electrification programme, to promote rail as a pillar of the UK economy.”

 

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Drone developed for Fukushima

Radiation levels over Fukushima can now be tested, thanks to a new drone developed in the UK via NDA R&D funds.

The lightweight RISER drone has been developed by two UK businesses to help investigate hazardous environments where GPS signals cannot reach, it has already been trialled successfully at Sellafield where it has been collecting vital information about the remaining Windscale Pile chimney. More than 60 years after the 1957 fire, the chimney remains highly contaminated.

The drone uses lasers to self-navigate and carries a sophisticated radiation detection and mapping system. Due to the hazardous nature of the building, remotely operated equipment is the only way to establish how the chimney can be cleaned out and finally dismantled.

RISER – Remote Intelligence Survey Equipment for Radiation – combines two separate pieces of cutting-edge technology: drones and radiation-mapping software. Each received Research and Development funding through the NDA and fellow government agency, Innovate UK.

The first technology, Createc’s N-VisageTM radiation mapping software project, was developed in 2009 and received £50,000 investment from the NDA’s R&D portfolio.

In 2012, a number of government organisations decided to invest further funds in a wide range of innovative nuclear projects. This led to the collaboration between Cockermouth-based Createc and aerial systems specialist Blue Bear, from Bedford and the creation of the RISER drone. After a series of on-site trials at Sellafield, RISER was put into decommissioning action.

The NDA’s Head of Technology, Prof Melanie Brownridge, said: “We are thrilled to see RISER put to work in Japan, and delighted that our early-stage support for the N-Visage system enabled Createc to develop its potential further.

“The subsequent collaboration with Blue Bear, again funded by the NDA through an initiative with Innovate UK, led to RISER. This shows the importance of funding innovative ideas through their journey from the drawing board to the market – not just for the NDA’s decommissioning mission but for the wider UK and overseas economy.”

The N-VisageTM tailor-made technology maps radiation with pinpoint accuracy, producing a high-definition 3D picture of contamination, quickly and safely. The technology was first used inside one of the reactor buildings at Japan’s Fukushima-Daiichi plant several years ago, the collaboration has allowed it to be combined with a drone.

The drone, or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), is less than one metre in diameter and navigates using its own internal ‘collision avoidance’ capability. Able to manoeuvre accurately inside complex industrial spaces, data is transmitted to the mapping system and clearly displayed, highlighting areas of contamination.

 

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The Volvo ECR355E: never short on performance

The new E-Series excavator from Volvo Construction Equipment and supported by SMT GB offers up to a 10% rise in fuel efficiency, significant increase in digging and lifting forces, controllability and ultimate uptime to ensure the highest standard of productivity and performance.  Built on the proven E-Series design, the latest addition is powerful and precise, making the 35-tonne machine the ideal partner for pipe laying, trench-box installation and utility work.

Short swing, big potential

The Volvo ECR355E not only does more with less fuel but also with less effort. For example, the electro-hydraulic system offers a significant increase in both lifting capacity and digging force. With the ability to dig, swing and load more material, the ECR355E achieves greater productivity across a broader spectrum of applications and conditions.

From road construction to heavy infrastructure work, the ECR355E adapts to the job site, thanks to its study design and a long list of standard and optional features, such as the Volvo dozer blade, quick coupler, auxiliary hydraulics and the optional two-piece boom. To better adapt to meet different job specifications, the Volvo ECR355E can be easily transported from site to site, thanks to its compact size. The optional narrow and long undercarriage features can be selected to enhance machine mobility. The ECR355E also features increased hydraulic flow for accurate control in grading and combined operations. The synchronized boom and arm aid ease of movement when traveling and lifting simultaneously, as well as contribute to higher grading quality.

Do more – comfortably

In order to manoeuvre in and out of confined areas of the jobsite, the latest E-Series excavator raises the bar in controllability and operator comfort with a host of new features. Inside the low-noise Volvo cab, customized response modes in the joysticks ensure the machine does exactly what the operator intends.

SMT GB provide a comprehensive range of attachments and customer solutions to support the new ECR355E, maximizing cycle times and productivity. With Volvo’s quick couplers and attachment management system, operators can easily switch between hydraulic breakers, general-purpose buckets, heavy-duty buckets, hydraulic thumbs and the Steelwrist® tiltrotator.

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SMT GB are the exclusive distributer for Volvo Construction Equipment products in Great Britain.

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Improving physical on-site safety by creating psychological safety

In a high-hazard sector like construction, safety and health rightly remain very emotive topics. How individuals think and feel really matters: it motivates them into action, and is therefore closely tied to how a team operates and how tasks are performed. Too often within construction, however, workers don’t feel that the organisational culture – the psychological environment – is safe enough for them to act on these emotions.

Steve Holliday

Despite organisations adopting policies telling employees they should raise safety concerns, there is a disconnect between the theoretical ideal and how this actually works in reality. What’s preventing employees from speaking out and taking ownership, and how do we combat this so that accidents can be reduced?

When it comes to being safe, psychologist Abraham Maslow pointed out that after our first basic needs to breathe, be fed, watered and warm, the next most basic need is physical and psychological health and safety. To fully address physical safety in high hazard workplaces, we need to enable these workplaces to be safer psychologically. Can employees really say what they think, and act to change things? Do they feel secure that they will be supported and rewarded, not penalised?

In recent years, a lot of effort has been made in this area in various construction organisations around the world. They invite site teams and local leaders to understand the choices they make each day on safety, to be more open, and to feel safe to report anything they perceive to be a safety risk.

Whilst this empowerment may have been given, there is often a disconnect when it comes to implementing it in practice by the very people it has been bestowed upon. Organisations need to examine the extent to which this so-called empowerment is actually being lived, even during the most constrained of programme deadlines and complexity of works.

Following any serious near miss, incident or accident, emotions can be high and wide-ranging. These emotions are a very normal set of human responses to events, and so it doesn’t feel unsafe to vent psychologically; whether that’s through anger, frustration and sadness, or determination and conviction. Alternatively, it may be through a discussion of how obvious it was that an incident of that nature would occur, and subsequent feelings of guilt for not speaking out and acting to change things.

Exploring these emotions pre-incident doesn’t always come as naturally or feel as accepted. It’s important to say that being more tuned in to pre-incident emotions isn’t a form of workforce ‘therapy’: it’s about enabling powerful conversations and feedback loops in safety leadership, and ultimately delivering tangible business results.

The existence of different sub-cultures within the construction sector means that this isn’t easy. Once achieved, however, its effectiveness is obvious. On a recent round of multiple onshore wind installation projects, the creation of a more open and responsive working environment, through safety leadership development work, contributed to a 73% reduction in incidents. It completely shifted management culture in the process.

What are the biggest barriers that cause construction workers to suppress their thoughts and emotions when they’re concerned about safety, even when they’ve been told they should be open?

One very dominant theme that comes through is that of power and influence – and the fear of informal blame and subtle judgement from managers. The worry that they’ll be quietly taken off the project for voicing concerns and ‘sticking out’ can be too great a risk for some workers.

On a recent project, one employee who had safety concerns about some practices that were unsafe, or at the very least not at the standard they should be, was reluctant to raise them as the required solution would delay the project by approximately one week. This is despite having confidence in his local supervisor and site manager that they would be supportive. The real fear was being taken off the job by a more senior local manager, who had a reputation for removing people who interfered too much. Real or not, this emotion prevailed.

In this instance, his organisation had a very powerful safety message from all levels, and had already invested in creating an open, safe culture of challenge and learning. Yet in reality, employee perception from the local leadership impact was that efficiency and productivity were more of a business priority – whatever senior leaders said. This signifies a clear contradiction between expectations of behaviour set from the very top, and those set by the people who oversee the day-to-day work.

How do organisations go deeper to really test reality and to make safety leadership even more impactful? And what does exploring emotions at work, pre-incident, actually look like in practice?

The first step is clear – those with power and influence in organisations must work harder to develop Maslow’s psychological safety. This work needs to be upheld as valuable and imperative, starting with them paying attention to their own leadership behaviours, whatever level of a hierarchy they are at.

Directors undoubtedly need to do this – and this is where the majority of existing work has been centred – however, it is crucial that those executing work on a day-to-day basis develop this craft as well. Project managers, construction managers and site managers are the ones with local power and influence, and it is their responsibility to improve physical safety by creating psychological safety.

The second, and more structured, means of promoting openness and testing reality is by creating regular action learning groups, where all the key players in a team, including all key managers, have the opportunity to really examine what’s working in reality, and what needs to change.

In the example of the multiple onshore wind installation projects which saw a 73% reduction in incidents, key leaders from front-line leads to site managers, project managers and directors were held in peer groups for two years. They examined their own leadership behaviour and its impact on safety, as well as other performance measures. This was supplemented with site visits to test this out in reality, with all the key local players.

The aim of this work is to enable speaking up and taking action to become normal pre-incident, in the same way it is following an accident. The core task of leaders is to enable employees to choose to voice concerns when they know something is wrong or unsafe, and to know they can act to change it. Sharing what people think and feel is a vital part of this. This organisational development enables sites to be safe psychologically and, ultimately, physically.

 

Steve Holliday is a director at organisational change consultancy, Lacerta Consulting.

 

 

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Apprenticeship slump shows need for reform, says FMB

Apprenticeships are on the wane, having decreased by more than a third in November 2017 compared to the same period the year previous.

This surprising news, which comes courtesy of the Department for Education’s ‘Apprenticeship and Levy Statistics‘ report, has prompted renewed calls for reform of the controversial apprenticeship levy. Among the dissenting voices is the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

“The disappointing results show a 35% drop in apprenticeship starts in November 2017.” said Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB. “These are not finalised figures, but even allowing for a certain degree of change, this looks like a clear downward turn in new apprenticeships.

“Unfortunately, this is not altogether surprising given the intrinsic flaws in how the apprenticeship levy works. The lack of flexibility in the value of vouchers which large employers are able to pass down the supply chain to smaller subcontractors who work for them is a key issue.

“At present only 10% of vouchers are able to be passed down, however larger construction firms do not tend to directly employ large numbers of on-site tradespeople. This means that there is a real danger that these vouchers are not being spent on training the key skills that the industry so desperately needs.”

It’s a worrisome trend, especially considering the construction industry’s prevailing skills shortage. According to Mr Berry: “In the long term, the only way we will be able to address the chronic skills crisis that is impacting the whole sector is by recruiting and training more new entrants. It is imperative that we make moves to iron out the flaws in the apprentice levy, given that more than two-thirds of small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) in construction are facing difficulties hiring bricklayers. This has increased by nearly 10% in just three months which demonstrates the swift worsening of an already dismal situation.

“What’s more, with the UK set to leave the EU in just over a year’s time, and our access to EU workers in doubt, the next few years will bring extraordinary challenges to the construction industry. It’s only through close collaboration between the government and the construction sector that we will be able to overcome issues such as the skills crisis.”

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Essential flood defence initiative underway in Exeter

A programme of essential construction is to begin in Exeter this April as part of a comprehensive flood defence initiative.

The Environment Agency scheme is being delivered in partnership with Devon County Council and Exeter City Council. Crucially, more than 3,200 homes and businesses will be safeguarded by the end of 2018.

Over a nine week period, new flood defences will be built in the north of the city, necessitating the closure of Station Road near St David’s railway station. Here, two immense gates will be built on either side of the River Exe. When flooding is imminent these gates will close, protecting properties along both banks of the river. The considerable size of the foundations requires Station Road to close however.

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for Environmental Services commented: “This is an essential element of the flood defence scheme and these flood gates will reduce flood risk to hundreds of homes and businesses in the city. Every effort will be made to minimise disruption during the closure of Station Road, but the long term benefits will outweigh the short term inconvenience.”

The Environment Agency is also coordinating its efforts with Network Rail to ensure essential maintenance on a level crossing is carried out in tandem with the flood defence works. This foresight means that there will be no need for a separate closure in the near future.

Richard Cox, Project Manager for the scheme, concluded: “We’d like to thank commuters and others for their patience while we carry out these essential works. We regret that there will be inconvenience and we urge motorists to plan ahead and allow extra journey time. If people have questions regarding the diversion routes or works they can call the Exeter scheme information line on 07769 162338.”

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Highways England and East Midlands Airport commit to Midlands Connect

Official Project Partner : Midlands Connect

Midlands Connect received a boost recently, with the renewal of two Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Both East Midlands Airport and Highways England has each renewed MOUs with the partnership, agreeing to continue to work together to improve transport connections across the Midlands region.

The companies renewed the documents at Midlands Connect’s Strategic Board meeting in Leicester earlier this month.

Midlands Connect brings together 22 local authorities, nine Local Enterprise Partnerships, Chambers of Commerce and partners including airports, Highways England, Network Rail, HS2 Ltd and its sponsor, the Department for Transport. In 2017 Midlands Connect published its landmark 25 year strategy, making the case for targeted investment in regional transport improvements.

The agreement between Midlands Connect and Highways England will see the partnership working to agree joint priorities for the next road investment period (from 2020-2025), as well as longer term priorities up to 2035, aimed at tackling congestion and improving connectivity on the Strategic Road Network.

Strategic improvements under this include the Midlands Motorway Hub study, which is developing a series of interventions to improve traffic and journey times on the heavily congested M5, M6 and M42 around the West Midlands metropolitan area.

The partnership between Midlands Connect and East Midlands Airport agrees to making sure the airport benefits and contributes to improvements to rail and road connections between cities, such as a greater frequency of services to East Midlands Parkway. It also recognises East Midlands Airport’s position as the UK’s largest dedicated air-freight airport and ensures the air cargo industry is represented in a significant way.

Maria Machancoses, Midlands Connect Director, said: “Highways England and East Midlands Airport are vital to the success of the Midlands Connect partnership, and we’re delighted to retain their support. We all agree that by working closely together, we can secure the investment we need to transform the region’s connectivity, and help us compete on the world stage.”

Andy Cliffe, Managing Director of East Midlands Airport, said: “I’m very optimistic for the future of the wider Midlands region and more locally here in the East Midlands. With major developments like HS2 gathering momentum and important works to our motorway network well underway, the foundations for future growth and prosperity are becoming more tangible. But these benefits will only be felt if all organisations with a shared interest in improved transport connectivity work together and can unite behind the goals and outcomes that will make the difference to our region. I’m pleased to demonstrate our support for greater collaboration.”

Catherine Brookes, Highways England’s Regional Director, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Midlands Connect and East Midlands Airport as we carry out a £15Bn Government investment in motorways and major A-roads. As part of this, we’re already undertaking multi-million pound investment on the M1 to cut congestion and improve journey times by introducing smart motorways that are designed to provide more reliable journey times for those travelling to East Midlands Airport. The wider Midlands region is the heartbeat to the strategic road network given its central location and we’re committed to tackling congestion and improving the service we provide to the road users over the coming years.”

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Line of Sight: information security

Put information security at the heart of your business, says Aconex

In the wake of last year’s WannaCry ransomware attack, the fallibility of our systems has been exposed. In total, 37 NHS Trusts were among the many organisations affected, leading the wider world to wonder, ‘Who’s next?’

Steve Cooper is the General Manager of Aconex in the UK and Ireland – now the world’s most widely used online collaboration platform for construction and infrastructure. Here, Steve speaks exclusively to UK Construction Online about attitudes to information security post-WannaCry and the construction SMEs in danger of being left behind.

The UK is experiencing a noteworthy rise in the number of cyber attacks. What makes construction more susceptible than other sectors?

I wouldn’t say construction is any more or less susceptible than any other sector. It‘s an industry that is maturing. The rate of technology adoption in construction has historically been very low, but as this increases and more information makes its way onto the cloud, it becomes a very valuable asset indeed.

As for the individuals and organisations that create viruses, I don’t think they’re targeting a particular industry. They are after whoever they can get hold of.

In light of the recent WannaCry ransomware attack, do you feel there is still a lack of awareness around cyber security?

Absolutely. If you think about the construction industry, we have some very large clients who are mature and sophisticated, and you would expect those companies to be very conscious of the risks around cyber security.

But we also have tens of thousands of smaller organisations whose sole focus is securing jobs and they might not be as aware. What version of a browser are they using, for example, and why should they upgrade to the newest version of that browser? They may not have the governance in place to keep their software up to date. Perhaps they’re unable to afford IT personnel, or they have someone doing it part-time.

Ultimately, there is a lot of naivety around information security across all levels of the supply chain. We at Aconex may deal with a project team comprising individuals from a fairly large organisation, and yet – to a certain degree – information security might not come up. Their primary focus is what kind of functionality they can get.

In your experience, is the construction industry receptive to cyber security?

It depends who you talk to. Obviously, there has been a lot of work by the UK government to educate the industry and we are definitely seeing a higher level of demand around information security.

Some businesses are large enough to have their own people in place, while others employ third-party organisations. In fact, one of the big challenges for the marketplace is that these consultants often have very different interpretations of the standards, meaning we’re faced with a very different set of questions depending on the consultants used. But that’s okay, because the core requirements are pretty consistent.

In other cases, we aren’t asked a single question about information security, and so we play educator to those organisations, helping them understand what they need and what they should expect from their systems. We make sure that they have their own information security policies in place.

Central to the success of WannaCry was the amount of outdated software still in use. Windows XP was the operating system of choice for several NHS Trusts despite repeated warnings over security. Do you think the same is true of the construction sector? Are we relying too much on redundant software, and what alternatives are there for companies struggling to cover the cost of an expensive new suite of packages?

The industry as a whole has a lot of internally developed platforms that do niche jobs or use niche applications from small vendors. Those applications may well be sitting on an operating system that doesn’t have the correct patch on it, whether Windows XP or something else. The use of out of date software is probably quite prevalent in our industry, though that’s just my personal opinion. It’s the nature of the industry that we live and work in.

In terms of cost, there are various funds and grants available in the marketplace. Sometimes you don’t need to spend tens of thousands of pounds – £500 to £2,000 might do the trick for a lot of small businesses. But while the UK government can help bridge those gaps, you must have the awareness first before you can solve the problem.

It all comes back to education. If people aren’t aware that there is a severe risk to their data, then they are not necessarily going to do anything about it. If you’re an owner of a small business, for example, you will have a hundred things on your to-do list. But information security only becomes a priority once you actually suffer from a cyber crime – that’s the problem.

What advice would you have for construction firms looking to shore up their online defences? What practical steps can business owners take in the immediate future?

They have got to place information security at a high level within their organisational governance. That’s really quite an obvious thing to say but it also has its challenges. A lot of organisations – even those considered successful, with hundreds of employees – are run by engineers, not technologists. Somehow you’ve got to get that skillset into your business and it’s not always appropriate to bring consultants in, because people with that skillset tend to be quite expensive. They know what value they deliver and charge appropriately.

Perhaps this is an opportunity for an apprenticeship. Young people coming out of schools are technology-aware as far as usability is concerned. They’re probably not very conscious of the technology and information security layer, but they could learn very rapidly.

Ultimately, what would you like the construction sector to take away from the WannaCry ransomware attack? Can this be a catalyst for meaningful change?

The big takeaway is that we are all in the line of sight. You could look at organisations like the NHS and think “that won’t happen to me”, but this could happen to any business, whether large or small.

But how do you get information security onto the agenda, because, to a certain degree, it’s a bit like taking an insurance policy out, isn’t it? There’s no legal mandate; instead, it’s something that you are being advised to do to look after yourself for your business. It’s a choice – but it can be hard to choose information security as a higher priority over something else.

It’s difficult, and it comes back to education and understanding the risks. I’ve said it before, but you tend to find that an organisation that has just suffered from a cyber security breach will put it on the agenda, belt and braces. These organisations don’t risk remaining in the line of sight.

 

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Metro Mayors call for housing funding allocation review

Official Project Partner: West Midlands Combined Authority

Five of England’s Metro Mayors have met in at a summit in Birmingham to discuss the way in which funding for new housing is being allocated.

The Mayors together signed a letter, calling on the Prime Minister to review the funding allocations and consider further investment and devolution for their city regions. The summit was hosted by Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, the University of Birmingham and the Local Government Association.

The letter highlights the specific needs of their regions, such as the need to regenerate brownfields sites and improve the viability of developments where land values are lower than in London and the South East.

The Mayors, who are on both sides of the political coin, agree that the Government needs to review the funding formulae used to allocate housing investment, ensuring that city-regions outside London and the South East do not lose out. The letter argues that investment in housing supply, and skills and innovation in the construction industry, will accelerate economic growth and the re-balancing of the UK economy.

Mayor of Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram, left, Andy Street, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough James Palmer, Mayor of the West of England Tim Bowles, and Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham at the summit.

This intervention comes at a crucial time for many of the city-regions, as they are negotiating “Housing Deals” with the Government, where regions commit to building more homes in return for infrastructure and housing funding.

Mr Street said: “As Metro Mayors, we are in a unique position to contribute to solving the housing challenge for Government.

“Because we each represent and work with several local authorities, we can provide the coordination and direction to accelerate the building of homes in our respective areas.

“But that requires Government to provide the investment and powers so that we can deliver the new homes our regions and the country need.”

Councillor Sean Coughlan, Leader of Walsall Council and Lead on Housing & Land for the West Midlands Combined Authority said: “This region has a large and growing population and there is an urgent demand for new homes.

“The WMCA Land Delivery Action Plan will channel infrastructure investment into unlocking more land for development and speed up the building of new homes and commercial developments, but if we are to achieve this it is important that this region gets a fair funding formula.

“Doing so means we can accelerate development in key growth areas and a range of initiatives that will enable us to work more effectively with developers and enable sites to be developed more quickly.”

 

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Benefits of Vehicle Tracking for Construction Contractors

The challenges of running a construction-contracting company come at you from every angle. You need to juggle jobs across distant locations, properly allocate your staff and equipment, and keep your sites and employees safe. To stay competitive, you must do it all on time and within budget.

Luckily, technologies such as real-time vehicle tracking can help. At its core, vehicle tracking pinpoints vehicles on online maps in real-time or over a defined period, freeing employees to focus on their work without distraction from office staff inquiring where they are and how long they’ve been there. Some solutions also offer functionality such as online timesheets, route reports, driving-safety analysis, and maintenance-tracking tools, leading to a safer and more efficient work environment.

Improved Site and Staff Management

Your equipment and staff are your livelihood. By knowing where they are, at any given moment, you can keep your business running smoothly. Vehicle-tracking can help with:

• Staff allocation – when employees call in sick or a job needs extra hands on board, see exactly where your staff are and reallocate as needed
• Maintenance reminders – avoid downtime due to unexpected repairs by tracking vehicle usage and ensuring maintenance is performed according to warranty and rental agreements
• Vehicle recovery – quickly locate lost or stolen vehicles using GPS-tracking

More Accurate Accounting

With several jobs running at the same time, accounting can be a challenge. You want to ensure your employees are paid fairly and your customers are billed accurately. Some vehicle-tracking solutions can help you do this by automatically collecting data such as shift time, driving time, time at a work site, mileage, and fuel usage (see Figure 1).

Automatic data collection frees your employees to focus on the job, not on filling out paperwork; it helps you ensure:

• Fair fuel and overtime pay – data can confirm whether claims align with miles travelled and time at job sites, reducing false claims while also reassuring employees that they will receive the pay due to them without having to fight for it
• More accurate billing – data on how long your employees have been at various job sites can help ensure accurate billing and help resolve billing disputes

Smarter Bidding

Over time, tracking data provides a better picture of how long certain types of jobs typically take and cost. Not only can this help you optimise staff and equipment allocation, but it can also help you bid smarter on new projects, keeping your business competitive without underquoting.

Safer Job Sites and Travel

Many vehicle-tracking solutions also offer tools for digging down into the details of a vehicle’s routes travelled and driving metrics (speed, acceleration, braking, idling)—key factors influencing both safety and costs.

If your employees travel long distances to work sites, tracking data can help confirm they are getting proper rest before resuming work. If they are meant to stay within a defined work zone or onsite overnight, geofencing functionality can help ensure the proper guidelines are followed.

Using vehicle data, driving can be scored and training programs can be established to track, or even incentivise, better driving. Safer driving will not only reflect well on your brand within the local community, but it can also help reduce costs. For example, insurance costs may be reduced due to fewer violations and accidents, while fuel costs may be reduced through improved driving habits, such as less speeding or unnecessary idling.

Route and speed data can even be used to exonerate employees who may be subject to false claims. Imagine an employee is accused of speeding down a narrow lane or clipping a parked car’s mirror, when in fact the vehicle wasn’t even on the road at that time.

Location pinpointing can also provide peace of mind to employees as they venture into new, and sometimes dangerous, locations. For example, if an employee doesn’t turn up when expected, the vehicle can be located and assistance sent in case of accident or illness.

Finding the Solution for Your Needs

Despite its benefits, adopting vehicle-tracking technology may still seem daunting to an overworked business owner. Luckily, solutions are available that are both easy-to-use and reasonably priced.

One provider—Quartix—has delivered real-time vehicle-tracking and telematics solutions for over 16 years. Nearly 10,000 small to mid-size businesses have chosen Quartix because it offers:

• tiered pricing options that let them select the level of functionality they need
• shorter contracts that don’t require multi-year commitment
• contracts that do not auto-renew
• customer service by experts invested in their success

To learn how Quartix can help you better serve your business, your employees, and your customers, visit www.quartix.net or email enquiries@quartix.net.

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Amey secures Carillion rail contracts

Amey Rail Limited has been awarded a significant number of Carillion’s Network Rail contracts, following the company’s liquidation.

The news from Network Rail over the successful transfer will provide reassurance to many in the rail industry, as well as continuity for numerous projects around the country.

Amey has taken over key contracts across the network, including IP Central Panel work for East Coast mainline and Midland Main Line, Crossrail (Old Oak to Paddington Area), Plain Line Track Renewals and the North West Electrification Programme.

This sees Amey further develop its presence in the rail sector, where it is already one of the leading suppliers to Network Rail.

The transfer of these contracts brings good news for many of the Carillion employees working on and supporting Network Rail projects, with the sale likely to safeguard over 700 jobs. Continuity and security is also bolstered for the rail industry supply chain.

Matthew Steele, commercial director, Network Rail said: “This is a positive step for the industry, ensuring the delivery of a number of major rail projects across the country whilst safeguarding an expected 700 jobs and the wider supply chain. We look forward to working with Amey to enable a smooth transition and ensure the ongoing safe working on our sites.”

“We do recognise that this has been a very unsettling period for the employees of Carillion and would like to thank them for the continued commitment to the delivery of these projects. We remain focused on the transfer of remaining projects and employees to new arrangements over the coming weeks and months.”

Chief Executive of Amey, Andy Milner said: “We are excited to be taking on these rail contracts that form a key part of Network Rail’s vision for the country’s modernised rail network. With a deep understanding of these operations, we are perfectly placed to become the new contractor for these projects. This will mean that our rail business will grow significantly, as we support Network Rail to deliver critical milestones. We look forward to welcoming the employees to our business, and further strengthening our relationship with Network Rail.”

 

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Lendlease lands HS2 Euston role

Official Project Partner : HS2 Ltd

HS2 has confirmed Lendlease will be responsible for constructing the line’s gateway to London through its Euston development.

Lendlease has been appointed as Master Development Partner (MDP) by the Secretary of State for Transport and Network Rail. The company behind the 2012 Athletes’ Village and the new International Quarter, gateway to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will lead the planning and development of Euston. They will work with GLA and LB Camden to develop a 54 hectare masterplan, which is expected to unlock up to 1,700 new homes and 19,000 jobs around the wider station site with sustainable mixed-use developments, once station construction is complete.

Welcoming the appointment, HS2 Minister Nusrat Ghani, said: “Confirming Lendlease as our intended major partner is an exciting and important moment as we drive forward the regeneration of Euston. We are setting out a strong vision for creating new homes and jobs, stimulating economic growth and building a modern development that will match the ambition and scale of HS2.

“Crucially, as we build Britain’s future railway we will ensure that communities are at the heart of our plans and share the transformative economic benefits on offer.”

HS2 Chief Executive Mark Thurston, said: “The arrival of HS2 gives us a unique opportunity to transform the wider Euston station site, opening up the station to the surrounding community with new streets and public realm as well as opportunities to unlock thousands of new jobs and homes, anchored around a common masterplan vision.

“It was great to see such a strong competition and I’m pleased to welcome Lendlease to the team. Their experience of delivering some of the world’s most challenging transport and development projects will be vital as we move forward with this exciting new phase in the story of Euston station.”

David Biggs, Managing Director Network Rail Property, said: “Network Rail has a successful history of creating great places and we’re excited to use this expertise to work with stakeholders, landowners, and our new development partner to establish a visionary masterplan for Euston.

“Like our award-winning work at nearby King’s Cross, which attracted £2.2Bn of private investment including new offices, jobs and homes, we will work to transform Euston station to meet modern needs and act as a catalyst for wider regeneration. With this transformation and the arrival of HS2, Euston station quarter will become a new thriving London destination which meets the needs of passengers and local communities.”

Lendlease are already working on a masterplan for International Quarter London, at the gateway to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Development of land here intends to create some 25,000 jobs centred around some of the best transport connections anywhere in the country. Like Euston, the development of the Olympic Park shows how infrastructure investment can help areas live up to their full potential, delivering new jobs, homes shops and leisure opportunities. In the six years since the Games, the area has been transformed, with new neighbourhoods created and work ongoing to integrate the new development into the surrounding community with new streets, public spaces and leisure facilities.

Lendlease worked with a broad consultant team including Prior and Partners, Grimshaw, Arup, BIG, AHMM, Haworth Tomkins, Asif Khan and AECOM.

Dan Labbad, Lendlease Chief Executive Officer International Operations, said: “We are proud and excited to be selected as preferred bidder to deliver the Euston OSD in partnership with HS2, Network Rail, London Borough of Camden, GLA and wider stakeholders.

“We believe this is a fantastic project in a key area of London which will provide opportunity for all and act as a catalyst for wider UK growth.”

The appointment of Lendlease as MDP allows for a coordinated approach with Network Rail, and a unified approach to long-term development, which could unlock up to 4.84 million square foot of development space.

Jules Pipe, London’s Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills, said: “Euston has the potential to be much more than just a transport hub, and we look forward to working with Lendlease to make it into a real public space, which benefits local people, drives business growth, and unlocks some much-needed housing.

“As one of our capital’s main stations, it must seamlessly connect HS2, national rail, the Tube and, in the future, Crossrail 2.”

The new HS2 station will be designed with input from local communities, using best practice principles from stations around the world, and guidelines and specifications endorsed by an independent panel of leading architects and designers.

The project will include a new interchange with the London Underground, combining Euston and Euston Square for the first time and including provision for a future connection to a potential Crossrail 2.

HS2 Ltd recently announced a shortlist of bidders in the running to build the station, and appointed Engineers Ove Arup & Partners, working with Grimshaw Architects, to take forward the design. The main construction phase is due to begin in 2019 with the first HS2 services arriving in 2026.

Don’t forget to visit HS2 Ltd at UKIS 2018 to discuss their procurement opportunities: Book now.

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Home Building Fund supports Shropshire Homes

SME developer, Czero Developments, are currently developing the first custom build project in Shropshire, supported by the Home Building Fund.

Homes England has agreed to provide development finance to support Czero in the creation of nine serviced plots for custom build homes. The scheme, which already has six of its nine plots reserved, will be delivered at Lavender Bank in Bishops Castle, Shropshire.

The development fund will allow Czero to deliver the necessary infrastructure such as roads, drainage and utilities, to deliver serviced plots for purchasers. Plot purchasers will be able to customise their homes under a design code agreed alongside the Planning Permission, before either commissioning Czero to build the home or employing their own contractor.

The development is the first in the county, with Shropshire Council being one of only 11 local authorities that has been granted Custom Build ‘Vanguard’ status by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Simon Linford, Director of Czero, summed up the advantage of the Home Building Fund: “Homes England uniquely understands the custom build model and the role it can play in housing delivery, particularly on smaller sites like Lavender Bank. The Home Building Fund has met a real need with this form of lending.”

Chris Raybould, Senior Manager at Homes England, said: “The Home Building Fund is specifically designed to support small builders and custom builders as well as larger builders and developers. Given that custom build schemes remain scarce in number, Czero Developments had found traditional development finance difficult to obtain so we are pleased to have been able to work with them to help make this project a reality.”

Homes England’s Home Building Fund helps unlock or accelerate the delivery of residential and mixed-use housing developments.

 

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UK Rail Research and Innovation Network

In a ground breaking partnership between the rail industry and Higher Education, the UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN) has been launched.

UKRRIN has been established following a successful £28M bid to the Higher Education Funding Council for England to create rail Centres of Excellence, backed by commitment from the rail industry to invest more than £60M in research, development and innovation activities at these Centres over the next ten years.

The partnership will deliver four world-class Centres of Excellence covering rolling stock, infrastructure, digital systems and testing, giving the industry access to purpose-built world leading facilities and skills in a range of areas to support research, development and innovation for new technologies and products.

In order to maintain the UK’s position at the forefront of rail technology, the centres will help deliver new products and technology to the market at an advanced rate, supported by industrial partners, using advanced purpose-built development, simulation and testing facilities.

Key objectives of UKRRIN are:

• Support and build UK rail sector capacity and capability to develop, deliver and deploy new technologies;
• Deliver a step change investment in rail innovation through a world-leading network of UK- based research and testing centres;
• Radically increase UK rail productivity and performance by delivering transformational innovations and accelerating its uptake;
• Develop new strategic relationships with the small – medium sized enterprise supply chain, rail industry and wider transport sector.

Jo Johnson MP, Rail Minister, says: “We are investing in the biggest modernisation programme of our railways since Victorian times, delivering what passengers want – more frequent trains and quicker and more comfortable journeys.

“In doing so, we are utilising a range of new technologies across the network and Britain is now at the cutting edge of digital signalling, high speed transport and railway infrastructure.

“New centres of excellence, bringing together experts, universities and the wider rail industry will be essential in achieving our ambition to get all diesel-only trains off the track by 2040 as well as delivering the advanced railway network that passengers deserve.”

Professor Clive Roberts, Director of the Birmingham Centre for Rail Research and Education at the University of Birmingham, commented: “UKRRIN gives universities and rail industry partners the opportunity to shape the global future of railways. This launch is the official beginning of an innovative partnership, and we look forward to reinforcing the UK as the world-leading centre of rail innovation.”

Jo Binstead, Head of Innovation at Siemens Rail Systems and Chair of the UKRRIN Steering Group, said: “The launch of UKRRIN marks a ground-breaking partnership for innovation in UK rail and a step change in industrial research investment. By bringing together leading UK universities and industry, we can ensure that developments being made through academic research can be commercialised to deliver transformative changes across our railway network.”

David Clarke, Technical Director of the Railway Industry Association said: “The Railway Industry Association (RIA) is proud to be a key supporter of the establishment of UKRRIN, a new initiative that will bring universities together with the supply chain in a new collaborative partnership, in order to spur innovation in the sector.

“UKRRIN will bring together some of the UK’s leading academics with businesses who work every day on the railway – with the potential of unlocking innovations that could radically change our rail system, to the benefit of passengers and freight services. We look forward to seeing what this powerful partnership can do in driving new thinking over the next ten years.”

 

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Barratt builds on success

Barratt Homes has announced its half year results, showing a strong performance and growth from the UK’s leading housebuilder.

Completions are already up on 2016, with 7,324 plots completed and sold; leading to good growth in profits which jumped 6.8% to £342.7M. Barratt credits the performance with strong customer demand leading to confidence in the market.

2018 marks Barratt’s 60^th anniversary, and company is proud to have remained at the forefront of British construction, boasting more NHBC Pride in the Job Awards for site management than any other housebuilder, for the 13^th consecutive year. Barratt’s commitment to customer service has also led to it receiving National Supreme Award in the Large Builder category for its site at Forest Chase, Leicester.

Commenting on the results David Thomas, Chief Executive of Barratt Developments PLC said: “With good consumer demand, a healthy forward order book and a robust balance sheet, overall we have had a strong first half and we continue to deliver against our operational and financial objectives.

“As the UK’s largest housebuilder, we enter our 60th year increasing our housing output, creating jobs and supporting economic growth across the country.

“Having built more than 450,000 homes since 1958, Barratt remains focused on quality, design and industry-leading customer service while delivering homes the country needs.”

The report has also revealed Barratt’s plan to open a new division in Cambridgeshire, reflecting the high demand in the region. Over 50 jobs will be created in the next three years, with hundreds more supported in the supply chain and local contractors.

It is through this commitment to delivering quality homes that Barratt is investing in its award winning apprenticeships, helping to train the housebuilders of the future in the very latest methods of construction.

Increasing volume and efficiency will be a priority for the company in the coming years, and further investment is being made into the researching and trialling the latest developments, as Mr Thomas explained: “We are also implementing a number of key initiatives in terms of improving efficiency and growing volumes in the future. In addition to building around 1,270 homes during FY17 using timber frames, we have completed trials of light gauge steel frames and large format blocks with positive results. These provide similar benefits to timber frame, such as increased build speed and reducing our reliance on certain traditional construction methods. We continue to trial various new offsite technologies, including offsite concrete garages and offsite ground floor foundation systems. We are also researching and applying smart technologies to better understand the needs of our customers in the future.”

 

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UKIS 2018: Moving a nation

The UK’s Leading Infrastructure & Supply Event

The UK Infrastructure Show taking place at NEC, Birmingham on Tuesday 17 April, is a must-attend event for those working in all areas of infrastructure. Register today for FREE!

UKIS 2018 provides participants with a unique opportunity to engage, connect and collaborate with a vast array of key projects, decision makers and influencers representing all areas throughout the supply chain.

The latest National Infrastructure Pipeline features over 720 projects and programmes across transport, housing and digital to fire up the nation’s infrastructure, and UKIS is delighted to be working with some of these major project partners in HS2, Transport for London, Tideway, Horizon Nuclear, Consortium Procurement, West Midlands Combined Authority, Procurement For All and Midlands Connect.

Recognising that infrastructure is involved in many projects, UKIS 2018 will feature a variety of zones to reflect the major investment arenas in infrastructure.

The first of these is Moving; the UK is a nation on the move, new roads, bridges, tunnels and public transport infrastructure – including large-scale projects such as HS2, Crossrail 2 and the Transpennine Route Upgrade – aim to make travel easier and faster and reduce its impact on the environment. In the next five years around £30Bn will be spent on major new rail projects and upgrades to existing lines, with a further £10Bn spent on new roads.

While London, the Midlands, and North of England dominate spend, investment in road, rail and air is happening across the UK. It’s not only construction firms that benefit from this spend, but also the businesses that support them.

Crossrail, Canary Wharf

The Moving Zone at UKIS 2018 will cover some of the biggest transport infrastructure projects in the UK, as well as focusing on the regional opportunities available through Transport for the North and East West Railway.

Visitors to the ‘Moving’ zone will receive supply chain opportunities and vital information from some of the largest transport projects in the UK. The interesting agenda features talks from Jonathan Spruce Interim Strategy Director, Transport for the North, who will discuss the development of a long-term infrastructure pipeline for the North.

Transport Focus, will turn the agenda to the customer, looking at why, and how, the transport sector can put its users first. Anthony Smith, CEO of Transport Focus, will discuss why measuring satisfaction matters.

The Moving agenda will be rounded off by Dominic Baldwin, Alliance Director at Network Rail, who will discuss East West Rail – Phase 2 (Bicester to Bedford/Milton Keynes to Aylesbury) and the opportunities available here.

All in all, the Moving agenda covers crucial information for suppliers to understand infrastructure opportunities across the UK and which solutions will be most valuable.

Infrastructure is the foundation upon which our economy is built, and the UK Government remains determined to deliver better infrastructure across the UK to help grow the economy and improve opportunities. With a national infrastructure pipeline of over £600Bn in projects to be completed over the next ten years, the infrastructure industry represents a significant opportunity for businesses of all sizes.

Don’t forget to visit UK Construction Media at UKIS 2018 : Book now.

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Tideway hits Greenwich milestone

Official Project Partner : Tideway

Work at the Greenwich Pumping Station, a crucial segment of the Thames Tideway project, has reached a key milestone.

Greenwich Pumping Station is one of a number of site across London that will be used for the construction of the Thames Tideway Tunnel, the 25km super sewer being constructed to tackle the problem of sewage pollution in the River Thames.

Work is being carried out at the existing operational Pumping Station site, where a connection tunnel is being constructed through to Tideway’s Chambers Wharf site. Contractors have recently begun the diaphragm walling for the tunnel, in preparation for digging the tunnel shaft.

Jim Avant, Tideway’s Delivery Manager, announced: “This has taken more than a year of planning and really hard work by the team. It’s a huge milestone for the site and we’re excited to get started on the next stage of construction.”

This point in the contract is a pivotal transition point between site set up and diaphragm walling. A diaphragm wall is a concrete structure inserted in the ground and used to maintain an excavation open, an essential part of digging a tunnel shaft.

This will not be the only milestone achieved at the Greenwich site this year, expected works include the erection of an acoustic enclosure adjacent to the DLR, where work can be completed inside to prevent noise disruption to residents and businesses. It will allow for 24-hour construction, meaning excavation for the shaft can be completed quicker.

Once completed London’s super sewer will stop the millions of tonnes of untreated sewage that flow into the Thames each year. Tunnelling is set to start later this year.

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Wales stems flood risk through SUDS

The Welsh Government has released a water strategy for Wales highlighting the importance of introducing sustainable drainage methods.

In launching the strategy, Minister for Environment, Hannah Blythyn highlighted how Wales has moved towards more sustainable methods of dealing with rainwater, thus reducing the risk of flooding, protect water quality and contribute to communities’ sense of place.

The Welsh Government’s Water Strategy for Wales sets out its aspiration for sewerage and drainage infrastructure for both waste water and surface water to be well managed and maintained in an integrated way. In order to achieve this, the Welsh Government wants all new developments to incorporate effective sustainable drainage systems (SuDS).

The SuDS approach aims to deal with rainwater using techniques such as infiltration and retention that mimic runoff from a site in its natural state. SuDS schemes slow down the flow of water and remove pollution, typically using combinations of installations such as permeable paving, soakaways, green roofs, swales and ponds.

The Welsh Government believes SuDs projects not only help with flooding, but provide a range of benefits for society and should be incorporated into all projects.

Between 2010 and 2015, the Welsh Government supported Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, developed a series of SuDS projects, known collectively as ‘Rainscape’. One of the largest of these is at Stebonheath Primary School, Llanelli, which uses a range of SuDS methods to divert or reduce the flow of rainwater to the sewerage network. These include permeable paving, water butts, planters, increased numbers of trees, grass and plant, and a large swale.

Stebonheath Primary is the first school in Wales to have a surface water removal scheme retrofitted into its grounds. The scheme has been used as an educational opportunity to enable pupils to understand more about water resource management.

Speaking during a visit to Stebonheath Primary, Hannah Blythyn said: “Surface water flooding is a serious problem and a major cause of flooding. The Rainscape project, which I have seen today is an innovative and sustainable approach to dealing with rainwater, which reduces the risk of flooding and water pollution, while also providing a wide range of community benefits.

“It was great to hear how the pupils get involved in the design and ongoing maintenance of the Rainscape features. I was particularly interested to hear how they have been educating their parents on the benefits of the project. This, in turn, has led to a better understanding in the community about the subject of drainage, which, I think it’s fair to say, is not usually a conversation starter.”

“Sustainable drainage schemes help to reduce surface water flood risk, protect water quality and improve the local environment. We want to make them a requirement across Wales for all new developments and I am grateful to everybody that responded to our recent consultations.”

 

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Mace appointed to Stevenage town centre regeneration

Mace has been selected as the successful contractor for the £350M regeneration of Stevenage Town Centre.

Stevenage Borough Council has appointed Mace to undertake the first phase of this exciting and ambitious programme, with construction expected to start next year.

Fighting off competition from three other national developers, Mace has secured the scheme which will see some £350M of private investment brought into the town. Mace won for a plan that not only celebrates the heritage of the New Tow, but brings it into the 21^st century.

The first phase will see the western side of the town centre developed, where the council offices, Plaza, bus station and several surface car parks are currently located. The regeneration will see new shops and homes brought into the centre, with a bespoke central venue for a library, exhibition space, health services and council offices. It will also create a new linear park, and food and drink space with bars and restaurants in the heart of the town for people to enjoy.

Cllr Sharon Taylor, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council, said: “This appointment makes large-scale regeneration of our town centre a reality. Mace’s scheme will complement the development already underway – most notably in Park Place – providing new spaces, facilities and homes in the centre of Stevenage and a boost to our local economy with the potential for hundreds of new jobs and training opportunities for local people. The commitment of the council, our partners, local businesses and the property sector specialists that have helped us reach this milestone all demonstrate Stevenage’s significance as a local and regional centre.”

Cllr David Williams, Leader of Hertfordshire County Council, said: “I am very supportive of Mace’s imaginative and impressive scheme. The involvement of some of the planning and property world’s leading players in drawing up the plans gives me confidence that they will be truly transformative. I also welcome the experience and strong track record that Mace will bring to this important regeneration initiative. What’s good for Stevenage is good for Hertfordshire.”

David Grover, COO of Development at Mace, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen as the development partner for this exciting landmark opportunity to transform Stevenage town centre, and deliver new homes, shops, jobs and other fantastic benefits for the town and its residents. We are looking forward to working closely with the council, local businesses and the wider community to develop our joint vision and will bring forward proposals for consultation in 2018.”

Andrew Percival, Chair of Stevenage First, said: “Today’s exciting announcement is the result of more than two years of work by the Stevenage First partnership to develop a robust framework for the future of the town centre. Mace are proposing an exciting and carefully considered scheme that will give Stevenage a modern, vibrant central area where people can live, work and play. The proposed investment by Mace demonstrates their significant confidence in the future of the town, reimagining the New Town concept whilst maintaining clear links to Stevenage’s unique heritage.”

 

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Unite: UK construction facing “skills black hole” following CITB exit

Unite, the construction union, has cautioned that the Construction Industry Training Board’s (CITB) decision to end all direct training by 2020 will create a “skills black hole”.

Last November CITB announced that it would undergo a major restructure. As part of that restructure, the board would cease to provide training directly, instead sourcing other training providers to plug the gap.

In a recent blog post Sarah Beale – Chief Executive of CITB – went further, outlining the ramifications for the construction industry in light of the decision.

“The plans are to exit all direct training by the beginning of 2020,” said Beale, “with the intention to sell these activities ideally as a going concern, where ever feasible… If we cannot sell these activities, then there is a risk that we will need to discontinue and close some business areas.”

In Unite’s view, much of the specialist construction training undertaken by CITB is bespoke, while the board’s Bircham Newton facility – a former airfield in Norfolk – means that complex training involving heavy equipment, tunnelling, cranes and scaffolding can easily be conducted.

Crucially, the sale of training activities is a complex issue. The way in which CITB training is currently carried out means that loss making courses are subsidised by their profit making counterparts. This “cross fertilisation” is unlikely to interest a private provider however.

According to Jerry Swain, National Officer for Construction at Unite: “This reveals that the CITB has no commitment to ensuring that there are the necessary training facilities available to meet the UK’s construction training needs.

“Much of the direct training provided by the CITB is absolutely unique, if no one picks this up there is a real danger that the UK will not have the necessary skilled workforce to maintain a buoyant construction industry.

“The CITB is in danger of becoming a self-serving, self-satisfying organisation that fails to deliver for the needs of the industry it is meant to serve.”

Unite will now write to the relevant government ministers and their shadow equivalents to raise its concerns about the future of construction training given the CITB’s decision.

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Network Rail unveils Liverpool Lime Street station plans

Transport partners for the Liverpool City Region have made public plans to keep commuters moving during the final phase of Lime Street station’s landmark upgrade.

Lime Street station is midway through a comprehensive transformation following a £340M railway investment for the Liverpool City Region – itself part of the wider Great North Rail Project.

A final eight week phase is now scheduled to take place between Saturday 2nd June and Sunday 29th July. Complex remodelling will bring two newly built platforms into being, along with an extensive programme of signalling upgrades. For commuters this spells trouble however, though Network Rail has pledged to maintain as many services as possible.

During the transformation, the majority of main line routes will begin and end at Liverpool South Parkway where passengers can easily access the Merseyrail network to and from Liverpool city centre. Where rail replacement buses are required, they will be of a high quality with express and stopping options.

According to Martin Frobisher, London North Western Route Managing Director at Network Rail: “This major upgrade, and the wider Great North Rail Project, is part of our commitment to transform rail travel in the Liverpool City Region and across the north of England.

“With passenger figures expected to double during peak periods by 2043, the work is vital to boost station capacity – making room for more frequent, longer trains, with more space for passengers.

“We cannot safely complete the majority of the work while the station is open so have carefully planned it, with our partners, to cause the least amount of disruption to passengers as possible.”

Frank Rogers, Chief Executive of Merseytravel, added: “Completing the upgrade at Lime Street is an important step in modernising rail transport for our City Region and is the first in a number of exciting rail projects which are due to be completed between now and 2020.

“Planning is underway to make sure passengers can continue to get to where to they need to go during this final phase and we will continue to work with Network Rail and partners to make sure up to the minute service information is able to help people plan their journeys in and out of Lime Street.

“Once completed, the works will enable Lime Street to handle an additional three services per hour and this increase in capacity will generate very significant economic benefit for the entire Liverpool City Region for many years to come.”

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New bridge opens as part of UK’s biggest road infrastructure initative

The A14 Integrated Delivery Team – comprising Balfour Beatty, Costain and Skanska – has completed the second of 34 new bridges and structures as part of the UK’s biggest road infrastructure initative.

It’s another major milestone for the £1.5Bn Highways England orchestrated road infrastructure improvement programme. As part of the works a 21-mile stretch of the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon is to be upgraded from two to three lanes in both directions, while a brand new 17-mile bypass will be built just south of Huntingdon.

The new bridge, which connects Brampton and Grafham in Cambridgeshire, is 50 metres longer than the previous structure in order to accommodate the widened A1 and forthcoming A14 – totalling ten lanes of carriageway in all. The old bridge will be demolished by excavators over the coming week, with any and all concrete recovered crushed and reused elsewhere on the project.

According to Mike Evans, Highways England’s Senior Stakeholder Manager for the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon: “The Brampton Road bridge is an important link for communities living across the A1 and A14 just south of Huntingdon and we are delighted that many turned up to mark the occasion and open the new bridge to traffic with us.

“Now that the new bridge is opened we can get on with demolishing the old bridge and continue building the new A1 and A14 carriageways at this location and keep to the project’s challenging timetable to open the new A14 to traffic by the end of 2020.”

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Cyber Security in Construction

Cyber attacks and privacy threats are now a high-profile concern across all sectors, regularly dominating the headlines.

No business is immune to cyber criminals and hackers. The UK construction industry is exposed to cyber threats such as ransomware, phishing, hacking, computer viruses and more. UK Construction Media spoke to Rajesh Patel, B2B Manager UK & Ireland at Buffalo Europe, about the trends construction companies need to be aware of.

The challenge of digitising construction

The industry has always been known to be a hands-on sector: building infrastructure, mining, supply of products and more. Nowadays, most if not all companies store personal data all the time. And not only for marketing purposes – in all industries companies store such data somehow.

Construction firms are continually collecting data and using cloud applications as a way to manage projects, for example holding information on its client base and on current, past and future projects, including addresses and payment details. Though storing data in the cloud can be handy, it can be challenging – especially with concerns over where the security accountability lies.

One of the key challenges the construction industry faces is the constant battle against cyber criminals. There is always a new cyber threat happening and cyber criminals looking for weaknesses and loopholes where they can attack. British construction firms’ security and operations teams are under an enormous pressure in multitasking between managing the company’s infrastructure while detecting and preventing cyber attacks.

Furthermore, criminals and hackers are often attracted to targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) due to the data collections such companies hold, which may be more vulnerable. No matter how big or small a business is though, cyber criminals will always be after sensitive and personal data, making the construction sector an obvious target.

Keeping the supply chain secure

Construction firms must recognise they are as much at risk as firms in any other sector as construction contributes enormously to the UK’s gross domestic product (GDP), making the industry a highly valuable target.

This means the construction sector needs to comply with the protection of the data it stores. This data needs to be stored systematically and protected from theft and misuse. Furthermore, British construction firms need to start preparing for the new EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which comes into force on 25 May 2018, as it applies to the processing of personal data.

The GDPR contains mainly information about how personal data should be processed and defines the roles of processor and controller of data. It also includes information on how to work with data protection by design and data privacy by default.

The British construction sector needs to be able to meet a GDPR data subject’s rights, which are as follows:

• to be informed about data processing
• to access their data
• to rectify or delete their data
• to take their data to another organisation

Data retention is also an important factor. Some types of data need to be deleted after a certain time period has expired, for example personal data collected in connection with a product purchase and associated warranty.

Additionally, there are other types of data that need to be stored for a minimum amount of time, such as certain financial data. In practice, this means that SMEs need to know where personal data is stored and be able to respond to data requests promptly. Those organisations that do not comply with the GDPR run serious risks in the event of a major systems breach, such as hackers stealing the contents of a customer database. Financial penalties can reach an upper limit of €20 million or 4% of annual turnover, whichever is greater.

 

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