Construction National

Survey shows major building sector unfazed by Brexit

New poll finds building services sector confident following EU referendum result, but that it prioritises Single Market.

The building services engineering sector - which makes up 40 per cent of the UK’s construction and maintenance industry - believes it will successfully weather the outcome of Brexit over the next few years. That's according to major new survey findings from the Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA), the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) and Scotland’s trade association for the electrical industry SELECT.

Almost half of survey respondents (46 per cent) believe Brexit will have a positive impact on their company in just five years’ time, with less than one in five (19 per cent) saying it will have a negative impact. (23 per cent said it would have no discernible impact). However, the largest contractors in the survey (with over £20 million turnover) are slightly less optimistic about the short term business prospects than smaller contractors.

Read more: Survey shows major building sector unfazed by Brexit

Finance provider doubles staff in 12 months

A number of key appointments at specialist financial services broker Midlands Asset Finance means the company has doubled its staff to 15 in the past 12 months.

The firm, which is run by husband and wife team Dave and Sue Chapman, has experienced year-on-year growth since it was founded in 2009, which has led to the firm increasing its employee headcount and purchasing its own premises, just off junction 28 of the M1 motorway.

Read more: Finance provider doubles staff in 12 months

Landmark installation delivers heating and passive cooling for RAGT Seeds

Renewable heating expert Finn Geotherm, has completed a landmark installation for leading European agricultural plant breeder RAGT Seeds in Cambridgeshire, to deliver both heat and passive cooling with significant energy savings.

RAGT's initial brief was to reduce the heating costs for its six glasshouses, which are used for developing new crops. LPG had previously been used to heat the glasshouses which, with a U value of around six, meant the boiler was in constant use in winter, leading to issues with fuel supply and heat distribution as the system couldn't keep up with the heat being generated. RAGT needed a new system to work with its existing grow tubes.

Read more: Landmark installation delivers heating and passive cooling for RAGT Seeds

NASC launch new membership certificates in three tiers

The NASC has created new membership certificates for its three tiers of membership – full contracting, full non contracting (hire, sales and manufacturing) and information only members.   

The colourful new certificates have a professional appearance and carry a brief explanation setting out the requirement for achieving and maintaining compliance with NASC membership status, along with a statement that NASC member companies are expected to comply with confederation standards.

Read more: NASC launch new membership certificates in three tiers

Supacord – protecting our future, one school at a time

Heckmondwike FB, the leading specialist in heavy contract fibre bonded carpets and carpet tiles, has worked with over 26,000 schools to provide tailor-made carpets suited to their specifications. With the recent RIBA survey confirming innovative products and strong materials – like Heckmondwike’s Supacord – positively impact teacher and pupil morale, soft-furnishings are becoming an even more important part of school renovations and should be prioritised at the start of any new project.

Following the release and review of RIBA’s˟ survey looking into the impact on performance pre and post re-design, the research shows that both teachers and pupils reap the benefits when it comes to a thoughtfully designed building. The design of an education building, or rather the poor design of it, has been linked to peer on peer bullying, low performance and a decline in teacher morale. And, with secondary school places due to go up by an estimated 105,000 by 2025˟, good design is needed to suit all demands.

Read more: Supacord – protecting our future, one school at a time

Rainclear add innovation in cast aluminium gutter sealing online

A new gutter sealing system called, Metseal, which means you no longer need to use messy silicone to make Cast Aluminium guttering watertight is available to buy on the Rainclear website along with all your guttering components, downpipes and fittings.

In conjunction with Metex, Rainclear have developed a dry-jointing gutter sealing kit to give a watertight seal on traditional half round cast aluminium gutters. They are expected, when installed in accordance with the included instructions, to last as long as the system they seal (and longer than the traditional silicone alternative, the thickness and coverage of which can vary and that also needs to ‘set’ before it becomes watertight). Rainclear, the UK’s largest online retailer and stockist of rainwater systems, are confident their customers will benefit from this innovation, the Hydrostrips for Cast iron have been a popular replacement to silicone for over half a decade, and Metseal now offers the same solution for cast aluminium. Rainclear are offering Metseal packs at an introductory ‘half price’ offer for September.

Read more: Rainclear add innovation in cast aluminium gutter sealing online

AMI Group plays a starring role in Demolition TV episode on plant theft

Plant tracking specialist AMI Group has appeared in a special edition of Demolition TV focused on the theft of construction and demolition equipment. AMI Group was invited to appear after being identified as one of the companies spearheading the fight against plant theft and at the forefront of the recovery process.

Demolition TV is the first TV show for demolition professionals and episode 4 highlights that the theft of construction plant still remains a huge problem in the UK, with an estimated £1 million of equipment stolen from construction and demolition sites each week. 

Read more: AMI Group plays a starring role in Demolition TV episode on plant theft

Electric ‘Shock’ as Mick George Ltd venture out

The ‘current’ cannot be stemmed as the power surge at Mick George Ltd continues, with the construction supplier business more traditionally recognised for its Earthworks and Demolition based contracting services, now engaging within the Mechanical and Electrical design, installation and maintenance industry.

Providing services to the contracting industry for 35 years, Mick George Ltd carry experience and a strong brand reputation in support of the launch.

Read more: Electric ‘Shock’ as Mick George Ltd venture out

NICEIC celebrates 60th anniversary since inception

This August marks an important milestone for NICEIC as it celebrates the 60th anniversary since its first inception.

The UK’s leading voluntary body for electrical contractors was officially incorporated on August 10 1956. The National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting as it was first known , started out with 3,500 contractors on its roll.

Today, it has more than 19 000 Approved Contractors and an additional 9,000 domestic installers – making it the UK’s largest and most recognised voluntary body within the electrical industry.

Read more: NICEIC celebrates 60th anniversary since inception

Safety & Access Ltd are celebrating 25 Years of supporting industry

The day features input from CISRS and NASC, industry stakeholders and one of the largest principal contractors in the UK. 

There will also be trade stands, demonstrations and attractive offers and incentives.

If you would like to attend please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for a formal invitation.

Read more: Safety & Access Ltd are celebrating 25 Years of supporting industry