Construction National

VM Elevators secures CHAS Elite certification

VM Elevators, a leading independent lift and escalator specialist, has achieved CHAS Elite certification, reinforcing its commitment to safety, quality, and compliance. The award strengthens the company's ability to secure large-scale contracts, simplifies the pre-qualification process, and enhances its credibility in a competitive industry.

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Construction project presses home the advantage of using Hoist & Winch

To ensure the safe, effective and efficient transfer of plant equipment into the basement energy room of a new residential tower block in London, a major construction project leveraged the advantages of appointing Hoist & Winch Ltd as its supplier of turnkey lifting equipment. Tasked with meeting the requirements of a technically challenging brief, Hoist & Winch demonstrated why it has become the nation’s go-to solution provider of high-quality lifting systems.

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The new Central Digital Platform: What you need to know

The government is set to launch its Central Digital Platform (CDP) in February 2025, aligning with the introduction of the Procurement Act 2023. Contrary to some misconceptions, the CDP does not replace the need for supplier prequalification, but it is being billed as a significant step in modernising public services, streamlining procurement activities, and opening new opportunities for suppliers, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Ian McKinnon, Chief Product Officer, Veriforce CHAS shares what you need to know. 

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What does the Procurement Act 2023 mean for Social Value?

With the Procurement Act 2023 set to 'go live' in February 2025, Ian McKinnon, Chief Product Officer at Veriforce CHAS, explores the background of Social Value and where it fits in relation to the Act.

As many businesses can evidence, Social Value has become a core component in public sector procurement over the last ten years. Yet, while Social Value is far from a new concept, its integration has proved slow. Hampered by a lack of clarity around its definition and measurement, it has been left open to interpretation.

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Seven issues affecting the construction industry in 2025

The construction industry is navigating a period of significant change, shaped by new government initiatives, regulatory shifts, technological advancements, and global challenges. These factors are creating both obstacles and opportunities for growth. Ian McKinnon, Managing Director, Veriforce CHAS (pictured), highlights some critical issues that will define the sector in 2025 and outlines how industry players can adapt.

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Veriforce CHAS collaboration fuels fleet expansion and operational growth

KM Group, a multi-award-winning leader in construction, civil engineering, and utility infrastructure services, has been enjoying steady growth, supported by its CHAS Elite CAS SSIP certifications. These awards highlight KM Group's commitment to safe and responsible operations, making onboarding new clients faster and easier. However, with this growth comes practical challenges, particularly the need for more vehicles to support their expanding team.

Previously, KM Group sourced its fleet of around 50 light commercial vehicles (LCVs) from multiple suppliers, which was time-consuming, costly, and logistically inconvenient. As the company continued to expand, it became clear that they needed a more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective solution for acquiring vehicles.

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New study confirms heat pumps vastly outperform traditional heating systems

A groundbreaking study analysing real-world performance data for heat pumps across the UK has revealed that both Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs) and Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) deliver substantial efficiency gains over traditional gas and oil boilers, with GSHPs offering even greater long-term performance advantages.

The report, “In-Situ Heat Pump Performance - Analysis of Ofgem Data 2017–2022”, funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC), and the Ground Source Heat Pump Association (GSHPA), assessed data from over 1,700 heat pump installations monitored between 2017 and 2022.

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York Handmade wins major award at the brick oscars

The York Handmade Brick Company, one of the leading independent brickmakers in the country, has won a major honour in the prestigious 2024 Brick Awards.

York Handmade, based at Alne, near Easingwold, in North Yorkshire, triumphed in the Craftsmanship category for the company’s work on 5 St Frederick’s Place in the heart of City of London.

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Don’t let poor signal derail your project: including mobile signal boosters in tenders

If you’re in the process of tendering for a commercial construction project and want to make sure that the end result provides future tenants with a strong mobile signal across the area, you should be aware that there are steps you can take to prioritise this from the start. Planning for the need of a should be done from the early planning stage of your project, this allows relevant cables to be laid in advance of any finished walls or ceilings. Allowing contractors to not just complete cable runs when it’s cheaper to do so, but he will already be running cables in trays without obstructions, fire walls or other impediments to cable runs.

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GSHPA welcomes government's commitment to heat pump sector

The Ground Source Heat Pump Association (GSHPA) applauds the UK government's recent announcements aimed at bolstering the heat pump industry and advancing the nation's green energy objectives.

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