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Last updateThu, 09 Apr 2026 9am

Broker appoints new director to head up vendor sales

Financial services broker, Midlands Asset Finance (MAF), has continued its growth after hiring a new Director of Vendor Sales.

Covering the whole of the UK, David Cowe will oversee MAF’s vendor strategy and Supplier Partnership Programme that allows suppliers to provide finance to their customers. 

Joining from Econocom UK Technology Finance where he spent 14 years as a senior account manager, David is originally from Stockton-on-Tees and has also previously worked for Lombard and HSBC.

Read more: Broker appoints new director to head up vendor sales

Local firm to kick-start huge new global facility in Cambridge

Having been granted Section 6 planning permission in 2018, works on a new 200,000 sq.ft research and development headquarters to host major technology companies is set to get underway on units 1-21 Cambridge Science Park.

Local construction firm Mick George Ltd will shortly commence bulk-earthworks for the project on behalf of principal contractor SDC Builders Ltd.

Read more: Local firm to kick-start huge new global facility in Cambridge

Powerproject XV available today

Elecosoft, the design, build, maintain software specialist, has today released the highly anticipated Powerproject XV, designed for use by planners and project managers across the whole spectrum of the planning and construction management sector. 

A completely refreshed user interface, Powerproject XV was created for the sophisticated project planner, enabling them to visualise plans in 4D with realistic real-time project simulations. It assures the quality of schedules with the Schedule Quality Check functionality, while allowing planners to communicate effectively across teams with better control over the presentation of their plans.

Read more: Powerproject XV available today

ASFP launches online passive fire protection training course

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection has launched a new e-learning course designed to equip installers or new entrants to the sector with a basic knowledge of passive fire protection and its role in the overall fire strategy of a building.

Consisting of 13 short online videos, each of around 10-15 minutes in length, the ASFP Introduction to Passive Fire Protection is also ideal for all those involved in building maintenance or follow-on trades such as electricians or plumbers who may damage existing compartmentation and fire resisting walls in carrying out their work.

Read more: ASFP launches online passive fire protection training course

NASC publishes annual safety report

NASC members recorded 113 accidents and injuries on site during 2018 – equating to one incident for every 150 operatives. 

The figure was revealed in the NASC 2019 Safety Report, which documents and analyses accident and injury statistics for its full contracting members in the previous calendar year.

The 113 injuries recorded means that more than 99% of all NASC member operatives – a total of 16,645 employees – went through 2018 accident and injury-free. There were also no operative fatalities last year, for the sixth consecutive year. 

Read more: NASC publishes annual safety report