Construction National

Health and sustainable development go hand-in-hand at college's Wellness Centre

An exciting new sport and wellness centre under development at New City College Epping Forest will provide state-of-the-art fitness facilities for students and the local community, as well as contributing to making the campus greener.

Designed by architects at Scott Brownrigg and delivered by Neilcott Construction, the new building, in Borders Lane, Loughton, will not just be good for health and wellbeing – it is designed with environmental sustainability in mind.

Read more: Health and sustainable development go hand-in-hand at college's Wellness Centre

Common Assessment Standard and PAS 91 become best practice for procurement

Contracting Authorities in the public sector must prepare to assess their supply chains using the Common Assessment Standard (CHAS Elite) or PAS 91 (CHAS Advanced) following the release of Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 03/23 which updates the Selection Questionnaire and replaces PPN 08/16.  

The changes, which come into effect from 1 April 2023, mean that contractors looking to win public sector contracts will need to show compliance not only with SSIP and health and safety requirements but with a broader range of standards as covered in the Common Assessment Standard (CHAS Elite) and PAS 91 (CHAS Advanced) accreditations. 

Read more: Common Assessment Standard and PAS 91 become best practice for procurement

MODULHAUS™ crowned Innovation of the Year

Following a year of unprecedented growth and success in 2022, leading innovators in offsite modular solutions - VOLUMETRIC™ are celebrating after being crowned ‘Innovation of the Year - Wellbeing' winners, at the 2023 CIBSE Building Performance Awards.

The VOLUMETRIC™ team picked up the trophy for SOLOHAUS™ in the MODULHAUS™ range. Designed to help overcome the homelessness crisis, these single person modules offer a safe, independent and innovative interim housing solution which helps former rough sleepers find the stability they need before making the transition to a permanent home.

Read more: MODULHAUS™ crowned Innovation of the Year

O'Donovan launches its ReUse Hub

A new initiative called the ReUse Hub has been launched by industry leader and innovator, O’Donovan Waste. Headed up by trailblazer Jacqueline O’Donovan, the new initiative ensures that sustainability sits at the heart of the O'Donovan ethos and further demonstrates its commitment to reaching a circular economy by encouraging people to think differently about waste. The new hub is designed to encourage the reuse of what would have otherwise been waste. O’Donovan continues to promote the waste hierarchy to the maximum as they generate inventive ways to help increase reuse and work towards their target of net zero emissions by 2035.

Read more: O'Donovan launches its ReUse Hub

ASFP to hold regional seminar in Leeds

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) is holding a regional seminar on Tuesday 14th March 2023 at Leeds Headingley Stadium. The event, which runs from 10am-3.30pm, will explore best practice in design and installation of Passive Fire Protection (PFP).

Read more: ASFP to hold regional seminar in Leeds

Leeds College of Building principal takes skills investment case to Westminster

Leaders from across West Yorkshire have been speaking with MPs at Westminster as part of a national campaign to bring skills to the forefront of the government’s agenda.

Principals from Leeds College of Building (the only specialist general further education construction college in the UK), Leeds City College, Keighley, Bradford, Kirklees, Shipley and Calderdale colleges, joined hundreds of leaders from across the country in calling for fairer funding, a right to lifelong learning, and support for local skills shortages.

Read more: Leeds College of Building principal takes skills investment case to Westminster

Burnley College seven times finalist in prestigious education awards

Proud staff and learners at Burnley College are celebrating after reaching the finals in an outstanding seven Educate North Awards – the premier education sector awards in the North of England.

From its pioneering work in the new Esports sector to its exceptional performance in the teaching of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM), it’s an unrivalled achievement after a year of record-breaking results, too.

And the College has been shortlisted in two of Educate North’s premier awards categories – FE College of the Year and UK Apprenticeship Award.

Read more: Burnley College seven times finalist in prestigious education awards

New WOW project set to ‘raise a barn’ in 24 hours

Women and non-binary people are invited to play an integral part in the first WOW - Women of the World Festival to take place in Leeds during the city’s Year of Culture. 

‘The WOW Barn’ will be a new temporary event space on Cinder Moor in Woodhouse, Leeds, and the project team are on the lookout for women and non-binary people from across West Yorkshire to help literally raise the roof – building the structure from the ground up in a true city spectacle over 24 hours. 

Read more: New WOW project set to ‘raise a barn’ in 24 hours

A change of leadership at the ASFP

This month sees a change of leadership at the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP). Current ASFP CEO Steve Davies is stepping down to take up a new challenge with Corrosion Resistant Products Ltd, a division of Indutrade. The ASFP’s Business Manager Mike Ward will be taking over as the Association’s new Managing Director.

Read more: A change of leadership at the ASFP

Jacqueline O'Donovan named as Business Leader of the Year

Jacqueline O'Donovan, the trailblazing managing director of O'Donovan Waste has done it again and has been honoured at the inaugural Business Post Global Irish Diaspora Awards in London. Known for being a disrupter and innovator in the construction and waste sector, not only in the UK but in Ireland and the USA, Jacqueline was awarded the Business Leader of the Year title at the glittering event.

Read more: Jacqueline O'Donovan named as Business Leader of the Year