Construction National

Strokes of brilliance: painting technician earns runner-up accolade

A Gravesend based lecturer has been named as runner-up in a prestigious national award for their work inspiring the next generation of professional painters and decorators.

North Kent College’s Painting and Decorating Technician Joe Love took second place in the Painting and Decorator Mentor of the Year category, run by paint supplies company Purdy.

Read more: Strokes of brilliance: painting technician earns runner-up accolade

Offshore wind farm project empowers learners at Constructionarium

Students from the College of West Anglia (CWA) last week took part in a groundbreaking educational initiative, actively constructing a scaled replica of an offshore floating wind turbine at Bircham Newton, Norfolk. Developed by Constructionarium (a specialist in scaled hands-on construction experiences) and funded through the New Anglia Growth Fund, the project, AngliaZero, now stands as a trailblazing achievement and is believed to be the world's first of its kind educational tool.

Read more: Offshore wind farm project empowers learners at Constructionarium

ASFP announces the 2023 PFP Award winners

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection announced the winners for its 2023 Passive Fire Protection (PFP) Awards on 23 November at the Association’s Awards Dinner at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in London.

ASFP Managing Director Mike Ward was joined by guest speaker, comedian Hal Cruttenden, to present the awards to each worthy winner.

Read more: ASFP announces the 2023 PFP Award winners

CHAS calls on construction businesses to take mental health pledge

CHAS, the leading provider of risk prevention, compliance and supply chain management services for clients and contractors, is joining partner Causeway Technologies to ask construction businesses to pledge greater support for mental health. CHAS has also committed to developing new tools for assessing mental health provisions within construction supply chains and will work to establish these as a standard element of the prequalification process. 

Read more: CHAS calls on construction businesses to take mental health pledge

ASFP launches its Competence Framework

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) has launched its Competence Framework, a free library of information, which defines activities specific to passive fire protection (PFP) across the building lifecycle, providing a benchmark for competence for all PFP activities.

The Competence Framework forms the first step on the ASFP’s Competency Pathway, which aims to support the industry in adopting a unified approach to building, evidencing and promoting competence across the PFP sector. Working with other organisations, the ASFP has developed the Framework to specify what competency in PFP looks like. It brings together content developed by the ASFP and industry groups in a free, easy to use website, which is open to all.

Read more: ASFP launches its Competence Framework

ScaffEx24 launched at NASC’s AGM

National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) are thrilled to announce the launch of ScaffEx24, a pioneering Scaffolding and Access Conference and Expo, set to take place at the Belfast International Conference Centre on November 29th, 2024.

This free to attend conference and exhibition addressing the dynamic needs of the UK scaffolding and access market, such as training, design principles, products, safety and meet the buyer, will be a huge hit. NASC. ScaffEx24 aims to bridge the gap by providing an inclusive space for members and non-members alike, fostering collaboration between scaffolding clients and providers; offering unparalleled insights into the scaffolding and access sector. 

Read more: ScaffEx24 launched at NASC’s AGM

NASC unveils Enhanced Member Charter

National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) is pleased to announce that it has updated its membership charter to reflect the latest developments and best practices in the scaffolding industry. The new charter aims to provide increased inspection on the quality of the scaffolding produced and is being presented to its membership at the AGM.

Central to the new charter is an unwavering commitment to quality scaffolding works that strictly adhere to NASC's published guidelines and best practices, extending this rigor to members' yards. The charter places a renewed emphasis on employment and personnel standards, ensuring that all operatives, regardless of their employment method, receive the same level of support and treatment as those directly employed. This approach promotes flexibility and quality employment for both contractors and operatives.

Read more: NASC unveils Enhanced Member Charter

Rain doesn’t stop play for golf fundraiser

Arriving at Murcar Golf Club amidst blue skies and benign conditions, 17 golfers were welcomed to the 2023 XL Global Group charity golf day in high spirits.

Generously supported by a number of the Group’s supply chain partners; Siemens, Daniel instruments, JBD Tritec and FPS, participants from a wide range of industry sectors competed alongside XL Group staff for a number of prizes.

Read more: Rain doesn’t stop play for golf fundraiser

Sortera announces the appointment of its UK Managing Director

Sortera is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark McCleery as its UK Managing Director.  A leader in waste management and the sale of residual products from the building and construction sector in Northern Europe, the Swedish company entered the UK sector in June 2022 with the acquisition of O’Donovan Waste Disposal, followed by the acquisition of GBN Services in June 2023. 

Read more: Sortera announces the appointment of its UK Managing Director

New prize sets a supreme target for hands-on construction scholars

Future generations of construction leaders were today given a major incentive to accelerate their careers – by playing a firsthand part in transforming their chosen industry.

Thanks to a groundbreaking initiative formed between the steel certification authority CARES and Constructionarium, students about to embark on engineering and construction courses are eligible for a prestigious new award – ‘The CARES Supreme Scholar’ – plus funding to support their studies.

Read more: New prize sets a supreme target for hands-on construction scholars