Tuesday 19 April 2016

Blacklist contractors pay out another 15-20m

Accidents at Work

Accidents at Work

Unfortunately, accidents at work do happen. Your employer has a responsibility for your health and safety at work. Their duties include:

  • •  providing appropriate training to all staff

    •  warning of tripping or slipping hazard

    •  providing adequate lighting

    •  providing suitable equipment that is well maintained

    Your employer is responsible for the actions of all of their staff.

    If you have been injured at work, you may be able to claim compensation for your injuries. Kent Compensation’s personal injury lawyers will guide you through the claims process and answer any questions you may have regarding your claim. Please do not hesitate to contact us.

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from The UK Construction Blog http://ukconstructionblog.co.uk/2016/04/19/accidents-at-work/

Wednesday 13 April 2016

100 objects that have been sent into space

A tandoori lamb chop, Lego and the remains of the man who discovered Pluto











from Music http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/568477/s/4ee7199a/sc/13/l/0L0Stelegraph0O0Cculture0Cculturenews0C11240A6860C10A0A0Eobjects0Ethat0Ehave0Ebeen0Esent0Einto0Espace0Bhtml/story01.htm

Tuesday 12 April 2016

London’s first timber skyscraper plan put to Mayor

London’s first timber skyscraper came a step closer to reality this week after researchers presented Mayor of London Boris Johnson with conceptual plans for an 80-storey building.

Researchers from Cambridge University have teamed up with engineers and architects to work up plans for a 300m high wooden building integrated within the Barbican.

At present, the wotoothpickrld’s tallest timber building is a 14-storey apartment block in Bergen, Norway.

The proposal presented to the Mayor by Cambridge University working with PLP Architecture and engineers Smith and Wallwork pushes the boundaries to envisage a structure that could be the second tallest building in London after The Shard.

Simon Smith of Smith and Wallwork engineers said: “Timber is our only renewable construction material and in its modern engineered form it can work alongside steel and concrete to extend and regenerate our cities. It is only a matter of time until the first timber skyscraper is built”.

Dr Michael Ramage, Director of Cambridge’s Centre for Natural Material Innovation, said: “We’ve designed the architecture and engineering and demonstrated it will stand, but this is at a scale no one has attempted to build before.

“We are developing a new understanding of primary challenges in structure and construction. There is a lot of work ahead, but we are confident of meeting all the challenges before us.”

 The biggest concern for a timber frame building of such scale is fire, but the team said the proposed building would eventually meet or exceed every existing fire regulation currently in place for steel and concrete buildings.

The research team point to potential benefits, such as reduced costs and improved construction timescales and significant reduction in the overall weight of buildings.

The conceptual proposals currently being developed would create over 1,000 new residential units in a 1 million sq ft mixed-use tower and mid-rise terraces in central London, integrated within the Barbican.

Dr Ramage said: “The Barbican was designed in the middle of the last century to bring residential living into the city of London – and it was successful.

“We’ve put our proposals on the Barbican as a way to imagine what the future of construction could look like in the 21st century.”



from The UK Construction Blog http://ukconstructionblog.co.uk/2016/04/12/londons-first-timber-skyscraper-plan-put-to-mayor/

Monday 11 April 2016

UK’s most considerate constructors get ready for 2016 National Site Awards

UK’s most considerate constructors get ready for 2016 National Site Awards

CCS Ltd logo RGBThe Considerate Constructors Scheme – the national Scheme to improve the image of the construction industry – will be hosting the prestigious 2016 National Site Awards at ceremonies throughout the UK this month (April).

The Scheme will be rewarding the top-performing registered sites that have demonstrated the highest level of considerate construction towards the public, the workforce and the environment.

This year’s National Site Awards apply to registered sites that completed in 2015.

Over 3500 guests from construction sites of all different sizes will be attending award ceremonies during 11-29 April in Edinburgh, London and Manchester.

For the first time, ‘value bands’ are being introduced to enable sites to be assessed based on their project value. The value bands are: Less than £500k; £500k to <£5m; £5m to <£10m; £10m and over.

Out of thousands of registered sites, over 900 have been selected to win Bronze, Silver or Gold Awards. One Gold Award winner per value band will also be given the prestigious title of ‘Most Considerate Site 2016’, with all shortlisted sites for this accolade receiving Runner-up Awards.

Chairman of the Considerate Constructors Scheme Mike Petter commented: “The Considerate Constructors Scheme is privileged to be honouring top performing sites at the upcoming 2016 National Site Awards.

“Award-winning sites have demonstrated exceptionally high levels of best practice in meeting and exceeding the Scheme’s Code of Considerate Practice. This year is the largest-ever awards to date – a true testament to the outstanding achievements being made by Scheme registered sites across the UK”.

A host of leading industry figures presenting at each award ceremony include Chris Blythe, Chief Executive, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB); James Wates, Chairman, Construction Industry Training Board (CITB); John Slaughter, Director of External Affairs, Home Builders Federation (HBF); Paul Everall, Chief Executive, Local Authority Building Control (LABC); Bill Hill, Chief Executive, Lighthouse Club; Simon Carr, National Chair, National Federation of Builders (NFB); Willie Watt, President, the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland and Peter Simpson, Director of Partnerships, Which? Trusted Trader.

In 2015 Berkeley Homes’ Roman House project was awarded the prestigious title of Most Considerate Site. This residential development in the Barbican area of the City of London went far over and above standard requirements to demonstrate exceptional levels of best practice across all areas of the Scheme’s Code.

Go to Twitter @CCScheme #ccsawards for the latest news from the awards ceremonies which are taking place between 11-29 April.



from The UK Construction Blog http://ukconstructionblog.co.uk/2016/04/11/uks-most-considerate-constructors-get-ready-for-2016-national-site-awards/

Tuesday 5 April 2016

Ray Charles: 25 essential songs

Martin Chilton picks the best of jazz and soul legend Ray Charles











from Music http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/568477/s/4ebb11b2/sc/17/l/0L0Stelegraph0O0Cculture0Cculturepicturegalleries0C10A8438980CRay0ECharles0E250Eessential0Esongs0Bhtml/story01.htm

Monday 4 April 2016

40 YEARS FOR WATSON BATTY ARCHITECTS

Watson Batty Architects is celebrating a major milestone as it turns 40 this year.  The Leeds established practice welcomes the anniversary with a string of new business successes and new recruitment drive to increase its teams in Leeds and Loughborough.

Last year Watson Batty unveiled a new brand image as it announced impressive plans for business growth and targets to almost double its current £4 million turnover over five years.  It is currently on track to achieve that with a continued average growth of 20% in recent years.

Peter White, Managing Director at Watson Batty Architects said, “We are thrilled to celebrate 40 years in practice.  Over this time, we have delivered many projects to be proud of and established long term client relationships, over 20 years in some cases for the likes of Wm Morrison Supermarkets and Royal Mail, which is testament to our versatility and ability to engage new practices.

Indeed, during its 40 years Watson Batty has created over 1 million sq ft of retail space across 19 stores for Wm Morrison Supermarkets, delivered 3.2 million sq ft in mail centres for Royal Mail, designed 4,000 new homes and supported 20,000 new school places in the UK.

White continues, “With our roots firmly established in the North we are in a fantastic position to leverage the Northern Powerhouse movement and we are in fact engaging with some very significant urban planning projects.  However, our growing office in Loughborough has expanded our existing networks in the South, giving us extended national coverage and the ability to leverage our professional services by sector rather than geography.

“With a team of 50 people we continue to invest heavily in developing our expertise and technological capabilities. To support our growth plans we will pursue more widespread sector expertise covering commercial, industrial, distribution, education, leisure, residential, retail and transport.”

Watson Batty Architects is a future focused business offering architectural, interior design and master planning solutions for all sectors.  It is credited for a number of major public and private sector projects including schools, universities, leisure centres, distribution facilities, residential developments and transport hubs.

It is currently working on a number of significant projects across a varied range of sectors including a dining room and student’s union extension at York St John University, delivery offices for Royal Mail at Nine Elms and Portsmouth, leisure centres for local authorities at Newark and Washington and has recently been successful in supporting Wates Living Space Homes on Calderdale Council’s North Halifax Transformation Project.

Watson Batty has recently invested in using the latest Autodesk Revit software and BIM technology to facilitate 3D modelling, and improved design team collaboration in order to meet the public sector procurement targets for project delivery in 2016.



from The UK Construction Blog http://ukconstructionblog.co.uk/2016/04/04/40-years-for-watson-batty-architects/

Saturday 2 April 2016

100 greatest songs of all time

The Telegraph's rock critic Neil McCormick picks his all-time favourites











from Music http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/568477/s/4eac1474/sc/38/l/0L0Stelegraph0O0Cculture0Cmusic0C116214270Cbest0Esongs0Eof0Eall0Etime0Bhtml/story01.htm

Friday 1 April 2016

Marvin Gaye: 20 essential songs

As a judge rules over Marvin Gaye's Got to Give It Up, we celebrate the soul singer











from Music http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/568477/s/4ea4ecd6/sc/38/l/0L0Stelegraph0O0Cculture0Cmusic0Crockandpopmusic0C10A7243690CMarvin0EGaye0Ebest0Esongs0Bhtml/story01.htm

20 best summer songs

The heatwave is upon us! Here's the perfect soundtrack to a sunny background











from Music http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/568477/s/4ea5ef2d/sc/26/l/0L0Stelegraph0O0Cculture0Cmusic0Crockandpopfeatures0C10A1872970Cbest0Esummer0Eand0Eheatwave0Esongs0Bhtml/story01.htm