The National Construction College – the training provider for the Construction Industry Training Board, CITB – has just hosted its annual NCC award ceremonies, at regional venues across the UK, in Scotland, South and London, Midlands and the East.

The NASC sponsored the Access category of the NCC Apprentice Awards, and is pleased to report that NASC member companies provided a large number of the nominees for awards in Year One and Year Two Scaffolding, including all three nominees in NCC South and London, and NCC East. There were also NASC member nominees and winners in the Essential Skills Apprentices Award category too.

A former Premier League footballer is hoping to corner the property market after launching his own eco-friendly timber frame housing business.

Ex-Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers captain, Garry Flitcroft, has snapped up 20,000 sqft factory on an eight acre site in St Michael’s near Garstang, which has become the home for Flitcraft EcoBuild timber frame specialists.

Hewitt Construction Consultancy will deliver their 2-day Intensive Training Course on construction claims to construction professionals in London on 24 and 25 September 2014. The consultancy specialises in construction contracts and claims and delivers education training on these subjects under the banner of Claims Class. 

The course is designed to provide those representing both contractors and clients with the knowledge necessary to manage, prepare, present and respond to construction claims in an effective and professional manner so as to achieve their company objectives.

Clark-Drain has recently signed a 2 year solussupply agreement for its range of manhole covers and frames with the National Buying Group (NBG), further strengthening a relationship that has continued for over ten years. 

The contract to supply NBG members includes a range of ductile iron, steel and polypropylene manhole covers and frames and complements a dual supply agreement already in place for its range of linear drainage systems. 

External advice and training could be the answer to resolving the ongoing skills shortage in the construction sector, according to a growing firm of chartered surveyors.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) expert Severn Partnership is urging fellow construction companies to seek external training and support in order to supplement existing skillsets and grow their staff, at a time when the industry is urgently looking for 180,000 more workers by 2018.

COMBISAFE has supplied more than 2,000 units of its safety systems to contractor Dura Vermeer for installation at three developments across the Netherlands – including a ground-breaking new headquarters building for global engineering company Fluor.

Designed by Architectenbureau Paul de Ruiter the new 20,000-square-metre office is currently under construction in the Beukenhorst-Zuid business park at Hoofddorp, close to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. When complete end 2014, it will feature more than 900 workspaces and welcome employees currently working at Fluor’s Haarlem office.

Initially Alan & Alison were novices in their understanding of renewable technologies and essentially viewed them as a means to an end – a way of securing planning permission. However, as we explained the benefits and the ways these technologies could easily be adopted, they greatly warmed to the idea. 

They wanted to have a warm home, hot water and minimal running costs. The prospect of financial assistance, from the Renewable Heat Premium Payment and ultimately the Renewable Heat Incentive, convinced them that the outline scheme would not only provide the comfort levels they wanted but would also be a sound financial investment.

Sika-Trocal, a market leading manufacturer of single ply roofing membranes has launched a new CPD (Continuing Professional Development) seminar aimed at educating architects and specifiers. The new CPD, entitled ‘Effective Design of Single Ply Roofing Systems,’ has been produced by the flat roofing experts at Sika-Trocal.

“We know technology is constantly evolving and it’s imperative specifiers and architects are aware of the benefits of single ply membranes,” commented Shay Casey, Senior Sales Manager for Sika-Trocal.

Construction and building engineering services are living through an era of unprecedented change, according to Andy Sneyd, newly elected president of the Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES).

“Many people believe that the industry, and the part we play in it, will remain pretty much the same as in decades past – but this is a mistake”, Mr Sneyd told his audience at the annual general meeting of the Association.

A strong advocate and example of British engineering, the 15 year established Cornish-based manufacturer, Kensa Heat Pumps, has recently joined a national campaign to champion British industry as part of a major re-brand.

The ‘Made In Britain’ campaign, which sees Kensa sit alongside fellow supporters including VanGuard and Stoves UK, aims to ‘enable customers to identify British made products, supporting & promoting British manufacturing in the UK and overseas.’