Construction National

NHBC names UK’s best housebuilders

NHBC, the UK’s leading new home warranty and insurance provider has announced the winners in the first round of its flagship competition dedicated to recognising site managers who achieve the highest standards in house building.

Nearly 450 UK site managers have won a Quality Award in the first round of NHBC Pride in the Job Awards 2019, representing the top 3% of the sixteen thousand site managers entered. Being selected as one of the UK’s top site managers is testament to their commitment to delivering quality homes for residents.

Read more: NHBC names UK’s best housebuilders

Hands off my crane

Brady Corporation has launched the new Pendant Control Safety Cover, an innovative Lockout/Tagout solution that enables complete access control to crane and hoist pendant buttons for increased worker safety.

Increased worker safety

The new Pendant Control Safety Cover can completely cover a wide range of crane or hoist pendant controls to prevent anyone from pressing any pendant buttons before removing up to 4 padlocks. Padlock keys can be held by supervisors or workers operating outside crane operator view to avoid undesired use of the crane or hoist. Accidents and severe injuries resulting from collisions with hooks or crane cargo can be avoided, and worker safety can be increased with the Pendant Control Safety Cover.

Read more: Hands off my crane

ASFP announces Firex International Workshops

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) will be hosting a series of Practical Workshops and Lunchtime Lectures each day at Firex International on 18-20 June 2019 at ExCeL London. The Workshops and Lectures will be offered in a special presentation area within the ASFP Passive Fire Protection Zone on stand FX 228. 

The focus for each day will be on a different aspect of construction, with two ASFP Practical Workshops delivered by the Association and its members:

Read more: ASFP announces Firex International Workshops

Inspirational line up to speak at Safety & Health Expo 2019

Safety & Health Expo is delighted to announce its line-up of inspirational speakers set to entertain and inform at ExCeL London on 18-20 June – not long to go now.

The event will host presentations from a rugby legend, a sporting icon and an expert reporter, whose diverse experiences can provide key lessons for health and safety professionals. The speeches will take place across all three days of the event.

Read more: Inspirational line up to speak at Safety & Health Expo 2019

New Mountsorrel concrete batching plant

There are positive noises coming out of the construction industry in and around the Leicestershire county with a plethora of exciting new developments currently in-running.

The encouraging signals have been reinforced by Mick George Ltd, one of the major construction firms in the region who have installed a brand-new Concrete Batching Plant at its Mountsorrel site to serve many of these commercial projects and local tradesmen, including the new Leicester City Training Academy. 

Read more: New Mountsorrel concrete batching plant

Mick George lands Personality of the Industry

The Tip-ex Tank-ex Awards took place last week at the Royal Hall, Harrogate and was attended by individuals, teams and businesses shaping the tipper, tanker and bulk haulage industries. 

A previous winner of the main Tip-ex accolade, Mick George Ltd were back among the awards, this time specifically recognising the driving force behind the brand, Mick George himself.

Read more: Mick George lands Personality of the Industry

Safety & Health Expo – the main event for 2019

18-20 June 2019, ExCeL London

Safety & Health Expo 2019, the UK’s biggest event for health and safety professionals, opens its doors at ExCeL London on 18 June for three days of product launches, business, learning, networking and debate.

The exhibition, together with its free-to-attend CPD-accredited seminar programme, is a global hub for the profession, with products and solutions stretching across PPE, site safety, hazardous materials, hygiene, lone worker safety, training and more.

Read more: Safety & Health Expo – the main event for 2019

Schools not preparing leavers for technical careers

School leavers are rarely well-prepared for apprenticeships or careers in the electrotechnical and engineering services sector, according to a new report from The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP), of which ECA is a leading member.

Over half (52%) of employers said that unsatisfactory attitudes and behaviours are the biggest barrier to the recruitment of apprentices. In addition, employers cited a lack of knowledge and qualifications among candidates, and a general shortage of good-quality applicants, as being factors in their inability to bring in the people they need. (see figure 1 in notes to editors)

Read more: Schools not preparing leavers for technical careers

Keeping SMEs on track as British Steel goes into insolvency

by Steve Noble, COO at Ultimate Finance

Rescue talks between the Government and Greybull, the owner of British Steel, have collapsed, with headlines highlighting the terrible impact the insolvency will have if a new buyer isn’t found. Whilst the Government continues to consider an alternative plan, 5,000 jobs are directly at risk while 20,000 more depend on its supply chain.  The knock-on impact to the local area will also be significant. 

Read more: Keeping SMEs on track as British Steel goes into insolvency

Global optical manufacturer to open new facility in the region

USA based Thorlabs Ltd, a leading worldwide designer and manufacturer of photonic tools will shortly see work commence on its purpose-built 10,335m2 UK headquarters based at Lancaster Way Enterprize Zone, Ely.

More than familiar with the territory, local firm Mick George Ltd has been contracted to imminently undertake enabling works on behalf of MJS Projects.

Read more: Global optical manufacturer to open new facility in the region