Construction National

Investment and innovation boosts half year results at Mobile Mini

Mobile Mini, a leading hirer of portable accommodation and secure storage containers, with its global operations based in Arizona and UK headquarters based in Stockton on Tees, has announced an increase in half year revenue to £28.9m, for the period January to June 2016 for its UK business.

Read more: Investment and innovation boosts half year results at Mobile Mini

See how much you can save with new RHI calculator from Finn Geotherm

Consumers looking to switch to renewable heating can easily see how much they might save, thanks to a new Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) calculator from renewable heating expert Finn Geotherm.

The innovative RHI calculator has been created within Finn Geotherm's new website. To obtain an illustration of the savings and government incentive available for renewable heating, consumers simply need to log onto www.finn-geotherm.co.uk/rhi-calculator and enter details on the premises they wish to heat and its current heating system.

Read more: See how much you can save with new RHI calculator from Finn Geotherm

Service team travels to the moon and back to support customers

Developing a good company reputation is normally built on providing excellent customer service, and engineers at Bull Products have certainly gone the extra mile this year. The company has calculated that they travelled 636,000 miles in 2015, more than enough to go to the moon and back!

As leaders in fire site safety equipment, Bull Products provides comprehensive servicing of all its equipment supplied to give customers both peace of mind and compliance with all the relevant regulations. A key part of this process is Bull’s automatic servicing schedule, which is there to remind customers when equipment is due for annual servicing.

Read more: Service team travels to the moon and back to support customers

Mobile Mini's thoughts on Brexit: "Keep Calm and Carry On".

Regardless of whether we personally favoured “remain” or “leave”, many of us will have felt a sense of shock as we woke up to the news on 24th June. The enormity of the decision only struck home to many on that morning, all the more so as it was largely unexpected. Most pollsters, most commentators and even the bookmakers were all predicting a remain vote.

As always when faced with something unexpected, the markets reacted badly, with both the stock markets and pound tumbling in the immediate aftermath. It’s understandable that many businesses are feeling concern over the future, especially as so many uncertainties remain. When will we trigger Article 50 and start the formal process of leaving the EU? How long will the exit negotiations take, and what form will Britain’s future relationship with Europe take? Will restrictions to freedom of movement in Europe impact on the current skills shortages in construction and other industries?

Read more: Mobile Mini's thoughts on Brexit: "Keep Calm and Carry On".

CPA releases new cathodic protection guidance

The Corrosion Prevention Association (CPA), one of the associations that comprise the Structural Concrete Alliance, has released two new guides to help newcomers to the industry and those with overall responsibility for structures to understand available cathodic protection (CP) systems and how they work.

Technical Note 11: Impressed Current Anodes for the Cathodic Protection of Atmospherically Exposed Reinforced Concrete summarises the anode systems currently commercially available in the UK,detailing the main features of each system including their installation, typical application and performance. 

Read more: CPA releases new cathodic protection guidance

Young roofers to compete on national stage

From April to July, roofing apprentices from around the UK demonstrated their skills at regional heats to gain a place at this year’s SkillBuild Final, taking place on the 17th-19th November, at NEC Birmingham.

The competition, organised by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC), saw fifty-five competitors taking part in one of eight heats, which were overseen by three judges, Matt Timby, Simon Dixon and Bob Coutts, who’s vast experience of roofing competitions range from a past SkillBuild winner to a recognised mentor for the international competition: World Championship for Young Roofers.

Read more: Young roofers to compete on national stage

Charity car treasure hunt for the Lighthouse Club

Nationwide Traffic Solutions are excited to present their first Car Treasure Hunt on the 17th September 2016 where all proceeds will go to their chosen charity for this year – The Lighthouse Club. 

The event is £10 per car to enter and will commence from their Kirton Lindsey office where entrants will receive their packs for the day. The packs include everything entrants need to help them navigate their way through the treasure hunt. After the treasure hunt entrants will be directed to a secret location where there will be live entertainment, food and drink, raffles and more! Fun for all the whole family!

Read more: Charity car treasure hunt for the Lighthouse Club

Structural Concrete Alliance holds its first Practical Demonstration Day

The Structural Concrete Alliance is to hold its first Practical Demonstration Day at The Vinci Technology Centre, Leighton Buzzard on Wednesday, 21 September 2016.

This free CPD event is designed to provide delegates with an opportunity to meet the professionals first hand and witness interactive demonstrations of key repair, protection, strengthening and sprayed concrete techniques. 

Read more: Structural Concrete Alliance holds its first Practical Demonstration Day

All creatures great and small benefitting from renewable heating

An expanding veterinary practice in Norfolk is benefitting from heating and hot water at reduced energy bills, thanks to a ground source heat pump installed by the renewable heating experts Finn Geotherm.

Hannah Kelly, owner of Wood Farm Vets, started the practice in 2014 to care for large and small animals. Initially, Hannah ran the practice from her home, a farmhouse in Wymondham, South Norfolk, but rapidly outgrew the premises. 

Read more: All creatures great and small benefitting from renewable heating

NASC re-joins the Access Industry Forum (AIF)

The NASC has re-joined the Access Industry Forum (AIF) – the UK’s leading platform for principal trade bodies and federations in the work at height sector, with effect from 1 July 2016. 

The NASC was previously a member of AIF, but parted company four years ago. However, following the successful introduction of benchmark NASC industry guidance TG20:13 ‘Good Practice Guidance for Tube and Fitting Scaffolding’ in 2014, and publication of the updated SG4:15 ‘Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Operations’ in 2015, formal discussions with AIF have been back on the agenda.

Read more: NASC re-joins the Access Industry Forum (AIF)