Hudson launches new website to encourage apprenticeships

The site aims to provide clear and simple answers to the questions most commonly asked about apprenticeships. Importantly, it helps companies to understand what funding is available and how they can get it. There are various sources of funding at the moment including government grants, extra COVID support schemes (hurry up – these only last until the end of this month), levy transfers and the CITB quango. The site offers practical tips to young people looking for apprenticeships and highlights the benefits of pursuing this path into the construction industry such as the ability to earn while they learn on the job alongside highly skilled tradespeople. David Jackson, Founder and Chairman of Hudson Contract and a former apprentice draughtsman, says: “If you choose a career in construction, the world can open up for you. From bricklaying to joinery and electrical to plastering, these are skills the world needs and once you’ve gained them, you’ve got them for life. “Our clients tell us the landscape for apprenticeships can be difficult to navigate because of the bureaucracy that is involved. In response, we have created an easy-to-use website for young people and employers to take the first step towards starting apprenticeships.” Hudson has gained an in-depth understanding of the issues involved through its role as a leading supplier of business services to the construction industry and its pioneering sponsorship scheme, which has backed 170 apprentices over the last decade. Mr Jackson adds: “I know from my own experience that apprenticeships are the best way to get your first foot on the construction career ladder and whether you’re a 16-year-old school leaver or looking to retrain, we are here to guide you through the process and get your construction career started.” Hudson will be promoting the website nationwide through its client base of 2,500 construction SMEs and the media, colleges and other stakeholders, including the Cross-Industry Construction Apprenticeship Task Force (CCATF). Martyn Price, chairman of CCATF, comments: “We applaud this effort from Hudson Contract, a member of our organisation, to increase meaningful apprenticeships in the construction industry. Now more than ever we must ensure young people have access to structured training."

The KNIPEX Christmas Set: giving can be so easy!

This year, the KNIPEX Cobra 125 and the Folding Knife for electricians in one set will ensure smiling faces around the Christmas tree. It's one of the most important challenges at the end of the year. The right Christmas present brings a sparkle to the eyes of the recipient and a feeling of happiness in the heart of the giver. This year, KNIPEX has a limited edition set in its range. It includes a KNIPEX Cobra 125 and a Folding Knife for electricians, making it easier to choose that perfect gift. With the small KNIPEX Cobra, workpieces up to 27mm can be gripped without slipping, due to the fine adjustment. This tool has 13 adjustment positions. Like all products in the KNIPEX Cobra family, the Mini-Cobra can self-lock to pipes and nuts, so it doesn't slip off the workpiece and all work can be carried out with significantly less effort. The teeth, which are offset against the direction of rotation, enable this effect for perfect, efficient gripping, holding, pressing and bending. There is no need to fiddle around to get the correct opening width – simply place the upper half of the jaw onto the workpiece and slide the lower jaw in position to fix the pliers in place. The Mini-Cobra fits in every pocket and, due to its short length, is also a high-quality versatile tool for do-it-yourself enthusiasts. The second multifunctional wonder in the Christmas Set 2021, the Folding Knife for electricians from KNIPEX, is equipped with a very sharp blade of the highest quality – Made in Solingen. This durable and robust knife is ideal to always have with you for any handicraft situations that might arise. The handle is made of sturdy, impact-resistant plastic and the ergonomic handle shape ensures that it is comfortable to hold and guide. The sturdy blade of the 120mm long knife is made of stainless steel. The tether attachment point at the end of the knife makes this tool suitable for KNIPEX Tethered Tools. The set, packed in limited edition Christmas packaging, is delivered in a high-quality belt pouch that easily finds a place in the drawer, toolbox, car or on the belt of the happy new owner. The belt pouch is made of hard-wearing polyester fabric and can, of course, also be used for other purposes. It is suitable for two pliers up to 150mm in length and equipped with a hook-and-loop fastener, a belt loop and an elastic holder for flashlights, pens or similar.

Construction workers believe that music improves their mental health 

A new study has surveyed 2000 UK employees and analysed Spotify data to reveal the relationship workers, including manual labourers and construction labourers, have with music while working. Commissioned by Towergate Liability Insurance, the study shows 1 in 2 people listen to music more often since lockdowns began with UK employees believing it positively impacts their office lives. Looking across different industries, the survey featured employees in construction, property, design, creative arts, engineering, manufacturing, finance, banking, accountancy, and healthcare. Benefits of listening to music at work: mental health, focus and boredom Over half (54%) of those surveyed said listening to music at work improves their mental health and happiness, 56% stated it improves their mood and two-thirds said it helps them focus and get work done quicker. Additionally, 43% believe that music helps reduce boredom with the benefits impacting more men (44%) than women (42%). Genre and the way we listen differs across industries  Pop music was found to be the favourite genre across all industries, followed by rock and classical music. This is with the exception of construction where employees favour rock music. The only industry where workers claim listening to music out loud is their preferred method was healthcare, with all other industries preferring to play music through personal headphones. Younger generations benefit most from listening to music  Younger generations are shown to appreciate the benefits of music the most, with 95% of 18–24-year-olds saying listening to music helps them focus and work faster. This is in comparison to 67% of 35-44 years olds who said the same. Music has the greatest motivational impact on 25-35-year-olds (25%) followed by over 55s (12%). Rock music is construction workers motivational favourite   Towergate’s analysis explored playlists on Spotify specifically for those in the construction and building industry to find the top genres, artists and songs that help them get through their workdays on construction sites. The analysis found that rock music was by far the favourite, with 981 appearances, followed by metal with 358, while the top five artists are all rock bands: AC/DC: 84 appearances The Rolling Stones: 63 appearances Led Zeppelin: 63 appearances Red Hot Chili Peppers: 60 appearances Metallica: 50 appearances Previous research by the Office for National Statistics has found that mental health problems are prevalent in the construction industry. With 65% of those in construction and property saying that listening to music at work helps improve their mood, and 27% saying it impacts their happiness, music can play a role in combating mental health issues. The survey provides evidence that a shift in the awareness of clean and safe workplaces will be at the forefront of employee concerns, as 70% of those surveyed said they would be more likely to ask future employers about their health and hygiene policies and implementation before accepting future jobs. "Music and work have always been intertwined,” says Alison Wild, Head of Marketing at Towergate SME. “Most people enjoy listening to the music of some kind, it’s perfectly natural to feel that music must have some sort of positive impact on our work” Alison continues, “Music has many benefits in the workplace, it helps us make the day go quicker, makes us feel good, improves the working environment, motivates us, and therefore helps us get through with otherwise boring tasks. ”Music has always created a sense of togetherness, that’s why many workers turn to it during a crisis. Music can help boost your productivity by putting you in a better mood, combatting stress and anxiety, while we are all working from home. From the survey we conducted, we found that 48% of the public listen to more music while working now than before the pandemic. Furthermore, when questioned, 54% of respondents accredited music for making them feel happier and having a positive effect on their mental health while on the job.”

APCOA delivers the NHS a car park with integrated energy centre

APCOA Parking is excited to announce the opening of a new 729-space multi-storey car park (MSCP) at Northwick Park Hospital which includes an integrated energy centre – the first combined solution of this kind. APCOA managed the complex design and build of the new facility and will operate the car park on behalf of the Trust as part of a new 20-year agreement. The 5-storey MSCP, which replaces a low-density surface car park in the grounds of the hospital, has been designed with a Vertical Circulation Module steel frame and was built in less than a year. The car park incorporates Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology which can support the future use of APCOA’s comprehensive multi-site, self-service online permit management system. To improve environmental sustainability, 30 EV charging points are available, with the capacity to increase in future as required. An 800m² energy centre, architecturally engineered into the footprint of the multi-storey car park, provides capacity for London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust to generate income and achieve environmental improvements. Once the energy centre is fully commissioned over the next 12 months, the Trust will reduce its current energy spend by £1.9m a year. The combination of a state-of-the-art CHP system enhanced by innovative combined air and water sourced heat pumps along with a battery storage system, will also create a smart grid, producing a saving of 2,500 tonnes of carbon every year. Gary Munn, Head of Property and Commercial for London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust says: “This regeneration project has solved a number of problems that were facing the Trust. The new MSCP provides much needed additional, secure parking for staff members, conveniently close to the hospital. The energy centre will both generate income and support our sustainability targets to achieve net-zero carbon emissions. The land sale has realised funds for future investment in our staff and patients from the previously poorly utilised assets and provided an opportunity for our housing partner to develop 1600 housing units, many of which are for low income families in an area of acute housing shortage. “The APCOA team have been great to work with, providing a full package of expertise and on-site skills to successfully guide the project from conception to completion in an extremely short time window that will maximise our downstream benefits.” Kim Challis, regional managing director for APCOA UK & Ireland comments: “I’m really proud of the APCOA team who have worked closely with our client and key supply chain partners to project manage the complex design and build of this amazing new facility. The combination of the pandemic and Brexit created extra manpower and logistical challenges, but we successfully managed these and delivered on time and within budget. “APCOA already has a significant presence in the UK healthcare sector, and this building demonstrates our capability to deliver first class, innovative infrastructure solutions and solve the parking difficulties that are currently experienced by so many NHS facilities.“

Vimpex Fire-Cryer graduates at Swansea University

Vimpex Fire-Cryer Voice Enhanced Sounders have been installed on link bridges between buildings at Swansea University, to increase the protection of staff and students should there be a fire alarm, by delivering clear messages and ensure a fast, efficient evacuation. Swansea University has eight colleges spread across its two campuses which are located on the coastline of Swansea Bay. It currently has 20,375 undergraduate and postgraduate students who come from over 130 different countries. Following a fire risk assessment carried out by the University that identified the sound of the fire alarm not reaching all parts of the campus, it was decided to install voice enhanced sounders on link bridges between University buildings to ensure staff and students would evacuate as quickly and effectively as possible, should there be a fire emergency. Vimpex Fire-Cryer Voice Sounders were specified because they offer a simple, fully synchronised and cost-effective voice evacuation solution. Whether retro-fitted into an existing installation or as part of a new system design, they can be fully integrated into the fire alarm system and work on a conventional two-wire bell circuit. They can be fully synchronised and have a low current consumption allowing simple replacement of existing sounders and bells. Fire-Cryer Voice Sounders can be programmed to produce bespoke messages and tones specifically designed for each location, and is the only voice sounder system available with a range of discrete ceiling mounted voice sounders through to high output IP66 voice sounders. Established in 1994, Vimpex is the UK’s leading independent manufacturer and distributor of Fire Detection, Alarm and Evacuation products and accessories. The company produces and distributes a range of high quality Evacuation, Signalling and Building Infrastructure System products - both Vimpex manufactured and supplied by the company’s manufacturing partners. Swansea based Plexus fire & Security has nearly 40 years experience,  offering clients unparalleled levels of quality and expertise In all aspects of installation, service and maintenance of Electronic Security, Access, CCTV and Life Safety Systems.

Wiser extends product range to offer complete home heating solution

The intuitive Wiser heating control system has been enhanced with the much-anticipated introduction of the Wiser Underfloor Heating Controller and Electrical Heat Switch, providing heating engineers with a go-to solution suitable for all types of heating configurations. With the launch of the Wiser Underfloor Heating Controller and Electrical Heat Switch, and introduction of the new dedicated heat pump setting, Wiser can now be used with any type of heating system. These new additions are an integral part of Wiser’s development into a full smart and sustainable home system and as part of this transition, the Wiser app has now been renamed Wiser Home. Part of part of Drayton’s Green Premium range, the easy-to-install Wiser Underfloor Heating Controller and Electrical Heat Switch allow homeowners to simply control both electric radiators and underfloor heating via the Wiser Home app, in addition to the standard radiators that most will still have in their homes. Via the user-friendly interface, homeowners have complete control on the entire heating system all in one place. Wiser Underfloor Heating Controller The Wiser Underfloor Heating Controller is modular in design and can be integrated into all heating systems and configurations. Not only does the controller offer both heating and cooling functions, it also offers the flexibility for zoning. Each controller has the capacity to control up to six zones, which can be operated on separate schedules when paired with a room thermostat. With the possibility to be integrated as part of an existing Wiser system or set up as part of a new installation, getting set up and connected to the Wiser Hub is a quick and easy process on the Wiser Home app. Additionally, to make installation easier than ever, the unit can be tested without being connected to the Hub and can be commissioned without Wi-Fi. Wiser Electrical Heat Switch The Wiser Electrical Heat Switch has a 16A relay for electrical heating and, because it is hard wired, can act as a range extender for the entire Wiser Home system. Also set up easily through the Wiser Home app, the switch is compatible with electric radiators and towel rails, electrical underfloor heating, plinth heaters and infrared panel heaters. Remi Volpe, Managing Director at Drayton, says: “This is an incredibly exciting time for Wiser Home, as we take yet another step towards making this a full home management system that will be able to meet the needs of buildings in the future. The introduction of the Wiser Underfloor Heating Controller and Electrical Heat Switch means that not only have installers got an efficient and reliable solution for these types of jobs, but also ensures homeowners can have greater control over mixed heating systems for the highest level of efficiency. “Additionally, the new dedicated heat pump setting on the app comes at a crucial time for the heating industry, as more heating engineers start to up-skill in fitting this renewable heat solution and customer demand rises with the launch of Government grants. As such, it was imperative that the Wiser Home system could be integrated with a heat pump solution in order for customers to reap the benefits of a more sustainable and efficient heating system.”

Dickies ‘United By Good Work’ spotlights Über den Tellerrand

Following world wide the launch of the Dickies global multimedia marketing campaign United by Good Work, the brand is now shining a light on a German based community project, Über den Tellerrand. Building upon 2020’s United by Inspiration campaign, which previously championed the dignity of work through traditional artisans and culture-drivers, this fall’s United by Good Work celebrates joy and hope as communities can come together again by shining a light on all of the good work that has been accomplished this year and the good work that is to come. In Berlin, Germany, Über den Tellerrand - part of the social gastronomy movement - has brought individuals and communities together across 35 cities in Germany and beyond via shared interests and diverse activities, mentoring programs, cookbooks and cooking courses. They are driven by a desire to live in a society founded on social cohesion, mutual respect and inclusiveness, and in which all people are treated as equals. At culinary, creative, and sporting events, people from different cultures regularly interact with and get to know and appreciate each other. This sustainable, worldwide, network contributes to the creation of a more open and tolerant society. “We bring together people who have experienced being a refugee and those who haven’t. We do this in a small and humble way, for example we cook together … cooking is a universal language … [we want to show] that it’s possible to create community and start up your own Über den Tellerrand in your town or city” says Über den Tellerrand. [embed]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDjj269aalo[/embed]  

Building safety a ‘ticking time bomb’ if fire cable testing isn’t strengthened

A leading manufacturer of fire resistance cables believes building safety could remain a ‘ticking time bomb’ if product testing for fire cables is not strengthened. For many years, Wrexham Mineral Cables has been calling for more stringent testing standards as it believes too many cables are classified as fire resistant yet are not fit for purpose in real-life fire scenarios. Under current standards, only ‘fire-resistant’ cables greater than 20mm in diameter undergo testing for direct impacts to reflect falling debris and water jet testing on a single test sample. For ‘ENHANCED fire resistant’ cables under 20mm, no direct impact test takes place, and the water test is just a spray test, whilst different stages of each test are carried out on different samples of cable. Wrexham Mineral Cables believes this is putting lives at risk. It comes at a time when London's Fire Commissioner Andy Roe has called for urgent change in the building industry as the number of blocks of flats in London with fire safety failings is now more than 1,000. Whilst a majority of the issues are due to cladding, the remainder have other fire safety defects, and in all of these buildings, LFB has suspended its ‘stay put strategy’. Wrexham Mineral Cables Commercial Manager Steve Williams says testing needs to be strengthened for all fire-resistant cables as part of the construction industry’s wider drive to improve building safety. He comments: “ENHANCED fire-resistant’ cables play a fundamental role in ensuring that emergency and building critical systems are supported in the event of a fire. Not only do they provide early indication of a fire, they keep them safe whilst providing extended time for rescue services to evacuate occupants and ensure critical circuits remain functional for longer periods. This is particularly critical in high rise buildings where evacuation times can be extensive or hindered due to the sheer size of the building. “The tests which construction products are subjected to need to be relevant and relied upon. It is extremely concerning that ‘ENHANCED fire-resistant’ cables most commonly being used in fire alarms, emergency lighting, extraction systems, monitoring systems or even backup generators may not survive fire, water, and direct impact. If this remains the case, building safety will remain a ticking time bomb.” Mr Williams says Mineral Insulated Copper Cable (MICC) is the only fire performance cable that, in historical testing, has survived over 1000˚C, whilst being subjected to direct hammer blows and a full water pressure test using a fire hose. Samples tested have been measured at just 5.7mm in diameter and maintained circuit integrity for over 3 hours. He adds: “We remain committed to raising industry standards. And the only way to achieve this is by introducing a higher classification for such products. The Government’s review of current systems for testing construction products was a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to ensure the safety of buildings. Regardless of size or construction, if a cable is required to function in the event of a fire, each single cable sample must have to pass a true fire scenario test, helping identify those which can survive, rather than simply resist fire.  Ensuring that the tests which construction products are subjected to are relevant and can be relied upon is the only way we can make buildings truly safe.”

NAPIT welcomes long-awaited government strategies

NAPIT welcomes the Heat and Buildings Strategy and the Net Zero Strategy, published on Tuesday 19th October. The much anticipated documents set out a high-level overview of how the UK aims to reach the goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The Heat and Buildings Strategy promises £3.9billion for the decarbonisation of heat within buildings to support innovation and incentivise uptake of low carbon heating systems. It sets out how the Government plans to phase out the use of gas boilers and restrict the installation of new gas boilers from 2035. It announces a 3-year Boiler Upgrade Scheme to support this. The new scheme offers grants of between £5,000-£6,000 to homeowners in England and Wales, to incentivise the installation of low carbon heating systems such as Air Source Heat Pumps, Ground Source Heat Pumps and Biomass Boilers. The upgrade scheme which is set to replace the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive from Spring 2022, aims to encourage households to switch to low-carbon heating systems and it is hoped by Government that cleaner heat alternatives, such as heat pumps, will cost the same to buy and run as gas boilers by 2030. The boost in funding for the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and Home Upgrade Grant is also a welcome step towards decarbonisation, as is the Government’s pledge to develop a workforce pipeline with the skills to meet the requirements of the Net Zero transition. It is pleasing to read the Government’s commitment to work closely with industry to ensure installers have up-to-date, high-quality training and are not undercut by installers who offer low-quality, cheaper installations. Furthermore, it is encouraging to see that the Net Zero Strategy committing an additional £620million to support the transition to electric vehicles. This will support the rollout of the charging infrastructure with a particular focus on local on-street residential charging, and targeted plug-in vehicle grants. Commenting on the release of both strategy’s, NAPIT’s Group Chief Executive, Mike Andrews says: ‘We have been eagerly awaiting the publication of the Heat and Buildings Strategy and the Net Zero Strategy and welcome the direction that these two policies offer the industry. They set out the steps the Government intends to take to decarbonise the way we heat and power our buildings and provide a much needed level of certainty to the wider industry. As is often the case, the devil is in the detail, and whilst the strategies provide very useful oversight of future policy direction, we await further details about how the phasing out of fossil fuel boilers will be realised and what will be done to assist in the upskilling and re-skilling of installers which is needed to deliver the Government ambitions. Installers are set to play a key part in the transition to net-zero carbon emissions. They are the UK’s delivery network, and without a strong, stable, confident, and competent installer base, reducing the carbon emissions in buildings will not be possible. We will continue to support installers to meet the training and certification requirements needed to assist with the decarbonisation of our buildings, whilst continuing to provide feedback from industry on the delivery of these initiatives in order to support the Government in their policy design.’

UK partnership’s smart grid innovation to improve sustainability in India

An innovative smart grid solution developed by two UK-based companies will help provide cleaner, more reliable power to millions of people in the state of Tamil Nadu, Southern India. Enzen and Smarter Grid Solutions (SGS), a clean energy tech company based in Glasgow, are collaborating on India’s first ever Active Network Management (ANM) project for Tamil Nadu electricity company TANTRANSCO. The ANM system developed by SGS will maximise the potential of Tamil Nadu’s extensive wind and solar energy resources. As on January 2020, the state had 14.2 GW of installed renewable energy capacity (higher than that of nations such as Denmark and Sweden), which equates to 43% of the total installed energy capacity of the state. The ANM system will enable TANTRANSCO to perform active real-time, autonomous renewable energy generation control ie. connecting and managing separate devices like solar panels and wind turbines across the grid to ensure they’re being used efficiently and within operational limits. This will stabilise the grid while minimising curtailment ie. when renewable energy is purposefully reduced to ensure the grid remains balanced. The outcome will be a smarter electricity grid in Tamil Nadu which delivers more reliable, efficient power to millions of people, reduces carbon emissions and decreases TANTRANSCO’s operational expenditure, infrastructure costs and technical losses. An example of how Enzen uses best-in-class international knowledge to meet specific customer needs at a local level, the partnership combines SGS’s innovative ANM Starta and Element solutions with Enzen’s previous on-the-ground experience of smart grids in India. The project will pave the way for better management of renewable resources across the transmission network for all state and central TRANSCOs in future. Alan Gooding, Executive Director at SGS, says: “We are delighted to contribute to this ground-breaking development in India’s power grid. The prize of low-cost, quicker and more flexible renewable generation connections and operation will further advance India’s clean energy goals. “Our ANM products are already proven in highly demanding applications in the UK and US, providing a highly secure means of extending renewable hosting capacity and enhancing grid modernisation, decarbonisation and flexibility. We look forward to playing our role in the energy transition in India with our valued partner Enzen and with forward-looking customers such as TANTRANSCO.” Sanjay Neogi, Head of Enzen in the UK and Europe, comments: "We are extremely happy to be selected to implement this ANM solution, the first initiative of its kind in India. Enzen believes in leveraging best-in-class technology from across the globe to meet local needs, and that's why we've collaborating with Smarter Grid Solutions in this way. “We are delivering an innovative solution that addresses the challenge of seamlessly integrating renewable power to the electricity grid in Tamil Nadu. The pilot is an important step in maximising renewable energy uptake by the grid, and realising the full benefit of renewable energy for electricity companies, project developers and communities in the state.”