For the first time in 25 years, the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) is holding a major event in London which will provide a platform for discussions about the future of rural areas and their growing connection to urban environments.

The Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI), is a unique partnership between the University of Gloucestershire, the Royal Agricultural University and Hartpury College. It is the largest specialist rural research centre in the UK, having expertise in all aspects of research in policy and planning for the countryside and the environment of the UK, Europe and further afield.

The NASC is supporting the 2015 ‘Open Doors Weekend’campaign, organised by the UK Contractors Group (UKCG), the Scottish Contractors Group (SCG), the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and Sector Skills Council, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS).

Talk.build, a new social media network, developed exclusively for the UK construction industry, was officially launched today Thursday December 4th. It will be totally free to use for anyone involved in the building business and offers a massive range of functions and benefits for both individual users and companies.

The new network, launched by TTK, the special projects division of CFA, one of Britain’s leading construction based marketing organisations, fills a major gap in the social media market providing a real choice for individuals and companies frequently unwilling to use other more established portals.

All PAL Cards (Powered Access Licence) issued by the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) for training on or after 1 January 2015 will be machine-readable, i.e. Smart PAL Cards. This move aims to improve site safety as Smart PAL Cards may be used to ensure that only trained operators can use mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) and mast climbing work platforms (MCWPs) on site.

The Smart PAL Card is marked by a wireless icon and has a chip embedded in it. The data stored on the card, such as the operator name, number and categories trained in, is also printed on it, which means that the Smart PAL Card can still be used as a standard version.

Northumbrian Water (NW), like all water companies, has to be able to handle and respond to a variety of different circumstances and customer related incidents during the course of its operations. Following various sewer flooding incidents within its region NW is delivering a project to improve its customer service by streamlining the management and investigation processes surrounding such occurrences.

Whilst on-going works and scheduled maintenance operations continue to be undertaken by out-sourced contractors, NW is in the process of streamlining its reactive operations by ensuring that its own in-house response teams do not just have the capability to clear blockages and cleanse sewers but also have the added ability to carry out CCTV surveys and create industry standard structural and service condition reports.

NHBC has today announced the appointment of Ian Craston, Group Investments Director at RSA Insurance Group, as a non-executive Director of its Board.

Ian will also chair NHBC’s Investment Committee which oversees the UK’s leading new home warranty and insurance provider’s portfolio of investments.

Boningale Nursery, one of the UK’s largest nurseries and environmental horticultural specialists has released the third edition of its unique ‘Plants for Wildlife’ catalogue for architects and contractors keen to maximise their BREEAM ecological credits.

As the only UK nursery that produces and supplies both traditional nursery and green roof planting stock, Boningale’s ‘Plants for Wildlife’ catalogue is a must have guide for contractors and specifiers involved in planning and drawing up landscaping schemes for building developments. 

Security Solutions, a division of ASSA ABLOY UK, the global leader in door opening solutions, has secured a contract to supply products for Birmingham Dental Hospital & School of Dentistry – the UK’s first new integrated dental hospital and school for nearly 40 years.

The development is seen as highly strategic for the city, being a key element of the new Edgbaston Medical Quarter and further enhances the city’s reputation as a hub for Medicine, Learning and Life Sciences. 

Sika’s new £2.5million research and development center in Preston, UK, was opened on 26 November, 2014 by HRH Duke of Kent in an official ceremony to mark the occasion.

Following the acquisition of Liquid Plastics and Incorez in 2009, Sika has continued to invest in this area of its business to support the development of technologically advanced liquid roofing membranes and new developments in its product technologies - such as the low solvent iCure range. From its Preston site in the North West of England, Sika exports these products all over the world and is leading the field in liquid roof waterproofing.

Haydock based Wetherby Building Systems, the leading provider of external wall insulation (EWI) solutions, has teamed up with St Helens College and invested over £2,000 to provide valuable industry training, knowledge and work experience to its students.

With a widely acknowledged skills shortage in the UK construction sector, Wetherby is committed to helping train the next generation of building professionals and equip them with relevant product and industry knowledge to help prepare them for their entrance into the industry.