How electric vehicle uptake will impact the built environment?

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By 2025, it’s estimated that one in six of all new cars worldwide will be electric. How will this affect the way we construct our built environment and what changes will need to be made to our existing infrastructure in order to accommodate the shift? Building Specifier’s Joe Bradbury investigates:

The last four years have seen a remarkable surge in demand for electric vehicles in the UK – new registrations of plug-in cars increased from 3,500 in 2013 to more than 214,000 by the end of May 2019. There has also been a huge increase in the number of pure-electric and plug-in hybrid models available in the UK with many of the top manufacturers in the UK now offering a number of EVs as part of their model range.

Figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) each month show that electric car sales in the UK have risen dramatically over the past few years. While only around 500 electric cars were registered per month during the first half of 2014, this rose exponentially to an average of 5,000 per month during 2018.

By the end of 2018, almost 60,000 plug-in cars had been registered over the course of the year – a new record. This significantly improved upon the previous record, set in 2017, increasing it by more than 13,000 units. By the end of the year, plug-in cars as a proportion of total UK registrations reached 3.8%, and averaged over 2018 electric cars represented 2.7 per cent of the total new car market in the UK.

The electric car market continues to grow quickly, with more than 164,100 pure-electric cars on UK roads at the end of September 2020 – and over 373,600 plug-in models including plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).

Government are backing the shift towards electric vehicles, with the Department of Transport recently announcing a government boost of £50 million to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), which provides up to £350 towards a charge point, has also recently been expanded to include people in rented and leasehold accommodation, and the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) will also be opened up allowing charities and small businesses such as B&Bs to benefit from funding, boosting access to EV charging in rural areas.

How will this affect our built environment?

The rising number of electric vehicles on our road will undoubtedly have an effect on the built environment. The infrastructure we are all used to would need to evolve with the changing times.

It is to be expected that petrol station numbers will gradually reduce or adapt to provide electric vehicle charging facilities. Coupled with this would be appropriate amenity services for drivers and passengers whilst waiting for their vehicles to charge. (Many major fuel companies are already adapting stations in anticipation of this.)

The service stations, roadside restaurants and hotels that line our motorways are all going to need to adapt to receive large numbers of clientele in electric vehicles and businesses will also need to consider installing charging points on site so that employees can charge their cars whilst they work.

The most notable change to cities will be the addition of charging points. Charging stations will become commonplace on car parks, municipal and multi-storey, private or public, outside supermarkets and restaurants etc. Since many potential electrical vehicle owners don’t own their own garages or driveways, retailers will capitalise on vehicle charging a great way of securing regular, captive customers.

The UK government is also set to introduce new legislation whereby all new-build homes will need to be fitted with electric car chargers. This will have cost and technical implications if all new apartments have to have a charging point with their allocated parking spaces – and of course maintenance and management implications including how the electricity is paid for.

The local electricity infrastructure may very well need to upgrade due to the increased load of multiple electric vehicles charging, pushing development costs upwards and introducing a need for space for electrical equipment.

Needless to say, there will be much work that will need to be done and the construction industry stands to benefit greatly.

 

Speaking to Buildingspecifier Martin Fahey, Head of Sustainability and Mitsubishi Electric commented:

As we move towards a fully electric economy, with everything powered by energy from a renewable source, we will see electric cars become mainstream. This will require not only our homes, but also our communities and workplaces to change so that everyone can easily power their vehicles. It will also mean better power storage at home and at work, and we are already seeing advances in battery technology which will allow storage of energy from PV and from other renewable sources, that can then be re-used to power our lighting, cooking and air source heat pump heating … and of course, our cars.

 

The current limitations of our infrastructure

Unfortunately, analysis suggests that a “patchy” network of charging points is currently preventing British drivers from fully embracing the benefits electric cars, something the government have said that they plan to address going forward.

The RAC have repeatedly stated the current network is the main deterrents for consumers considering a swap to electric cars. Over 35% of local authorities have ten or fewer locations where drivers can plug in their vehicles, with wide variation across the country.

Out of 385 authorities, only three had 100 or more charging locations. Milton Keynes was found to be leading the way with 138, followed by Westminster with 131 and Cornwall with 115. Overall, two thirds of local authorities were found to have 20 or fewer. Only one charging location was identified in Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, North Dorset and Hinckley and Bosworth in the dataset.

The Department for Transport says 80% of charging is done at home, but for drivers who do not have access to off-street parking access to charging points is essential.

 

A collaborative solution?

Lympstone resident Joel Teague recently launched Co Charger, a new platform enabling those who do have electric car chargers, whether motorists, businesses or community buildings to share them with neighbours who don’t.

“Five years ago a neighbour in Lympstone convinced me, a card-carrying petrol head to get an electric car,” explains Joel. “The car arrived but my charger was delayed and I found myself giving that same neighbour a few quid to use their charger once a week until mine arrived. It led to a lightbulb moment where I thought of all the people blocked from getting an electric vehicle because they live in a flat or terraced house and don’t have anywhere to charge. It prompted me to launch Co Charger, a ‘matchmaking’ app connecting hosts with a charger with neighbours who want somewhere to charge, helping to create cleaner, greener neighbourhoods and fight climate change. Most importantly, it also means that those who would love to have an electric car will finally be able to buy one – confident in the knowledge that they can charge reliably and economically with a local host.”

The Co Charger app is free to download and there are no subscriptions. Hosts can be private individuals or any organisation with an electric charger, such as a community centre, church hall or doctors’ surgery.

Joel concluded that “easy access to EV charging should be for everyone – not just homeowners with driveways. Previously motorists in rented accommodation or in rural areas might have felt unable to transition to an EV, but this is a significant step towards ensuring that no-one is ‘locked out’ of the electric vehicle revolution. But this levels the playing field and recognises the importance of leaseholders, tenants and small businesses in helping their neighbourhood to go electric.”

“It’s great to see the government backing the installation of more charger points in rented and leasehold accommodation and in the car parks of small businesses. What can make these schemes even more effective is if a proportion of those charge points are shared – enabling
Motorists who live in flats and terraced houses to buy an electric car.”

By 2025, it’s estimated that one in six of all new cars worldwide will be electric.

In summary

A few short years ago it was almost fashionable to mock the warnings of where global warming might take our environment. Those who called for action were laughed off as fanatics with nothing better to do. However a new and worried generation now regards those once laughed at, not as fanatics but realists.

As a result the momentum for action to prevent is growing, almost equally in proportion to the fear that it may be too late for prevention.

Globally in 2018 transportation was responsible for 21% of carbon emissions and 15% of that could be immediately attributed to road vehicles. Not surprisingly the new reflection on the state of the planet is driving the market for electric vehicles and as it does, so increases the need for available power sources for the new green machines.

China has the largest population in the world and perhaps as a result, is also the biggest producer of carbon. It is a strange juxtaposition to note that in terms of its market take up of EV’s, whilst it is nowhere near as great per capita as in other major countries, its provision of public charging stations has a ratio of one charging point per 9 vehicles, beating every country with the exception of the Netherlands.

If one chooses to take a positive spin on this factor it could be viewed as a willingness to prepare for the coming of the electric vehicle age. If that is the case should we look closer to home at our own provision, currently running at a ratio of one charging point per 32 vehicles, more than three times that of China.

Our vehicles are a further extension of the convenience evolution that has become part of our everyday lives, an evolution with the prime benefit of time saving, but what practical use are electric vehicle’s if we have to hang around a public charge point, in line with 32 other vehicles and then wait another hour or more for the delivery of a charge that will get us to our destination? Perhaps the answer will be in preparation, and to that end would it not be sensible to build in charging points at the construction stage of all new homes, in the same way that we site a kitchen sink or any of the other modern home essentials.

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VORTICE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

KEVIN STEARMAN, VORTICE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

FOR LONDON AND SOUTH EAST

 

Reading-based Kevin Stearman has joined VORTICE as Project Development Manager for London and the South East.  Kevin, whose background in Commercial, Domestic and Industrial ventilation is extensive, will be responsible for supporting architects, specifiers, developers and contractors as they specify and install the right products for their projects.

 

At a time when good ventilation has been recognised as having a crucial part to play in the nation’s health, Kevin’s expertise will be valued as he brings VORTICE products to market.

 

National Sales Manager Paul Gunner said: “We welcome Kevin to the team.  We have several new products developed to help in the fight against Covid-19 as well as our wide-ranging portfolio of existing ventilation and heat recovery systems.”

 

In his spare time Kevin enjoys football as a supporter of Reading FC as well and enjoys watching Sci-fi films.

 

 

Vortice website

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Celebrating STEM career diversity in construction

British Science Week, which in 2021 takes place this week from March 8 to 13, celebrates the broad range of jobs and careers available in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) industries and promotes STEM to younger generations by providing activity packs and school projects. While children learn the core sciences, like biology, chemistry and physics as part of the curriculum, many are yet to understand how to apply the knowledge to real life situations. To support British Science Week, Harjinder Randhawa, Laboratory Supervisor at Finning UK & Ireland, discusses his lesser known, but important, role in fluid analysis.

 

While the typical picture of the construction industry is of operators in hard-hats at work on the job site, a lot of science and engineering goes on behind the scenes. Similarly, the traditional picture of a laboratory — white lab coats, goggles and test tubes — is not always the reality, a large amount of research and data analysis will take place outside of the lab environment. My role ties together the two — monitoring the condition of construction equipment using laboratory techniques. The aim is to reduce wear and tear on equipment and avoid unexpected repair costs.

Condition monitoring facilities, like Finning’s fluid analysis lab in Leeds, test oil and other fluids from vehicles ranging from excavators and buses, to lifeboats and racing cars. These laboratories carry out techniques including particle count, particle quantification, gas chromatography (GC) and analysis of trace metals, to monitor the condition of the fluid and the equipment it was taken from and report back to the customer, while suggesting proactive steps to take to optimise the life of both.

Though condition monitoring labs usually only test the oil and report the data to customers, employing lab technicians and diagnosticians who have science and engineering backgrounds can give a more comprehensive picture to the customer. Diagnosticians can point out specific issues with the equipment, such as a faulty bearing, and explain the different levels of severity to the customer, rather than making them decipher the data themselves.

Equipped with a strong understanding of fluid and equipment condition, construction businesses can plan in proactive maintenance to prevent costly breakdowns. Consider this example. An excavator in a quarry has not had its oil regularly checked and a buildup of residue has caused the engine to fail 70 metres underground. The breakdown causes unexpected downtime and reduces the productivity of the workforce, as additional workers and equipment are needed to help pull it to the surface and take it off site to be fixed. Regular oil sampling will help identify any faults that need addressing and allow the site manager to fix them proactively, saving time and money.

Lab technicians and diagnosticians who carry out fluid analysis have a varied and vital role in keeping the construction industry running. British Science Week is a great event for busting the stereotypes of STEM careers, sharing the behind the scenes of different industries and encouraging young people to consider STEM in the future. Chemistry skills learnt in school can easily be transferred into a lab technician role, and I hope future generations will consider it as a possible career choice.

If you or someone close to you might enjoy a career in fluid analysis, apply for our newly launched Laboratory Technician Degree Apprenticeship programme here.

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ROBOTS IN CONSTRUCTION – Watch the Video

What Robotic automation may offer the construction sector in the future:

 

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International Women’s Day – Ladies in Construction

A recent report has revealed the three factors holding women back when seeking their first job in property are unequal growth opportunities (17%), bias in the workplace (33%) and lack of female role models in the field (29%).

In recognition of International Women’s Day – with this year’s theme being “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a Covid-19 world” – Property Investor Today will provide an insight to the numerous women making their mark in the property industry throughout the week.

Today, we focus on the world of construction. Whilst much has changed within the construction industry over the years, women still represent just 15% of the property and construction workforce. However, the tide is beginning to turn.

 

Revealed – what it’s like to be a woman in construction

Suzanne Luscombe, female director of sales and marketing at housing association Notting Hill Genesis, began her property career 19 years ago, and has worked for a number of well-known developers.

Suzanne Luscombe, director of sales and marketing at housing association Notting Hill Genesis.

She explains: “I have been in the property sector for as long as I can remember, doing all sorts of roles. I love everything that housing associations are able to offer the community and am delighted to have utilised my 11 years of private sector experience focusing on the customer journey.”

The 36-year-old joined Notting Hill Genesis in 2019 as the head of sales and quickly transitioned to the director of sales and marketing, covering everything from private sales to shared ownership, which she describes as busy, but great fun.

“I was always going to have a career in property sales, that has been my passion,” she adds. “But in particular, I wanted to sell people their dream. In my job I get to help people onto the property ladder whether that’s a personal purchase or an investment – it’s extremely rewarding.”

With her family in the property business, Luscombe grew up surrounded by the industry. Her passion for selling property took flight after she achieved well above asking price for her grandfather’s home that her family inherited.

Although she doesn’t have any formal qualifications in the property field, Luscombe explains how studying business and IT GNVQ’s helped her to understand profit and loss as well as making margins on things, which set her up well.

“I started my career at an estate agency and within three months I ended up in Land and New Homes which gave me the insight into making surplus on units, build costs and the construction process. Because of this I know the industry inside out, I don’t regret not going to university or achieving official qualifications in the field. For young adults thinking of starting a career in property, there are many routes to choose from, apprenticeships are a fantastic way to learn on the job.”

Discussing her experience of being a woman in construction, Luscombe reveals that at the beginning her career, construction was very much a man’s world.

“The industry has changed massively since I began my career, specifically over the last five years. I always joked that I was in a man’s world! I was very young when I began working in sales, at that time the men were seen as builders and sales was very much a female role. I quickly learnt to assert myself and make sure I spoke up in meetings, I was very much overlooked in some of the bigger meetings I had to attend and that was very disheartening.”

“When I went onto site during the early stages of my career everyone would stare as though they’d never seen a woman before! Thankfully, this has changed a lot in recent years. I worked for one housebuilder who had a policy that everyone was equal, if any comments were made about women being on site the person involved would be disciplined, this was a great step forward in achieving equality in the industry.”

For Luscombe, being a woman in construction has been a challenge at times. She explains: “Being a woman was a disadvantage in construction, the men in the industry didn’t want to help me learn or grow my career. Now, I have proved myself and am respected by men, it has taken a long time. I had some great female role models and mentors in the industry, and I wouldn’t be here without them.”

Discussing how construction could be better promoted to young girls, Suzanne concludes: “I would definitely recommend the house building industry to young women and girls. It has the biggest set of wings you can imagine. From mansions to flats, the variety of different tenures, planning and sales or after care there is so much to get involved with. Promotion around careers in construction needs to be better, it’s not just building and house sales.”

“There’s so much more involved, if people understood the conveyance process, housing associations and the vast variety of the industry I think there would be more interest from young women. As a whole, there is still progress to made, but it’s not so much a man’s world anymore.”

Harnessing female talent for 2021 and beyond

Annabel Le Lohe, a senior planner for housebuilder Storey Homes, discusses how the industry is and her experience in construction.

Annabelle Le Lohe, Senior Planner at Storey Homes

The 25-year-old explains how her education aided her in her chosen occupation. “I’ve always shown a keen interest in how villages, towns and cities expand and meet people’s needs. From 2013-2016, I studied Human Geography at Sheffield Hallam University, before going on to do a Master’s specifically in planning.”

“With Geography, you learn how populations interact with their surroundings, how a location caters for the daily needs of its inhabitants, as well as the ways in which we can protect and enhance the environment. Applying these concepts to something like planning seemed like a very natural transition for me. My job could best be described as balancing the need for homes, infrastructure and green space.”

After completing her Master’s, Le Lohe worked in planning for a consultancy and then joined Storey Homes in January 2020 to learn more about the different aspects of construction.

 

 

Speaking on how the industry is changing towards women, Le Lohe comments: “I’ve been lucky in the respect that I haven’t had many hurdles to overcome as a woman in this industry. In the past, I have had to deal with preconceptions though. Being the only young female in a room filled with men has given way to some stereotyping, and it has come as a surprise to the attendees that I am there to offer expert advice, rather than as someone’s assistant.”

“Since joining the industry, however, I have seen significant changes, and dealing with these assumptions is no longer a frequent problem I experience. Whilst I appreciate that the property and construction industry is still somewhat male-dominated, it is definitely working hard to achieve more of a balance between genders.”

She continues: “There are some really strong female-led communities within the field itself, such as the ‘Women in Construction’ group; a not-for-profit organisation that promotes gender equality in construction, as well as the ‘Women in Planning’ group, which I’ve been part of on a regional and national level. The key aim for the Women in Planning group is to mentor and empower women, as well as cover various topics – such as female-led architectural projects, and how they differ from intrinsically ‘male’ designs.”

“We hope that this will help map women’s career pathways, as well as provide them with inspirational female leaders to look up to. We’re encouraging men to involve themselves in these groups, and many have taken that important step. We also hope to expand and target schools and colleges to help encourage young girls to consider construction, property and planning as a career.”

When asked how and why young women should consider construction and property as a career, Le Lohe says there is certainly a place for women in construction.

“My advice to young women who are interested in the industry would be that there are so many different areas that contribute towards a project from conception to delivery; including site management, planning, technical, and community engagement – and there is a tangible sense of accomplishment when you look at something and realise you were integral to its creation.”

“Being a female in this industry comes with some significant advantages. I think women offer an alternative, or, perhaps, additional perspective to a building project and place-making, which I think is essential when creating homes that cater for the needs of today. In any industry, there is room for men and women to work alongside each other and try to understand the other’s needs. Each can bring something different, but equally important to the table, and construction is no exception.”

From receptionist to customer services administrator

Sophie Marks, a female employee at luxury homebuilder Millwood Designer Homes, offers her advice for women looking to pursue a career in construction.

Sophie Marks, Millwood Designer Homes

The 23-year-old joined Millwood in October 2019 as a receptionist, before being promoted to a customer services administrator. She comments: “After finishing a history degree, I started working for Millwood as a receptionist, before being moved into customer service last year. I love being the first port of call for customers when they need answers to queries; it’s a very personable job, and I’m enjoying doing something I never thought I would be doing when I first joined Millwood!”

“As a receptionist, you don’t necessarily need to know much about the construction industry whereas in this role, I need to be able to respond to homeowners straight away with answers. This has meant I’ve had to learn a lot about the technical process of housebuilding, and that has really sparked my interest in a career in the industry.”

Marks says although more women are getting involved in the housebuilding industry, it is still a male-dominated sector.

“I feel that women bring a different way of looking at things, especially to the design process, and they may think of including certain features in a home that are different to a male point of view. There are so many different pathways into construction and so many different roles within it, you don’t just necessarily have to work on site building the houses.”

She adds: “I think more needs to be done to teach girls that construction is a great career path for both men and women; I went to an all-girls grammar school, and there wasn’t any mention of construction as a potential career. Girls should be encouraged that housebuilding is a really interesting profession with lots of different opportunities; just because typically boys have gone into it, it doesn’t mean that they can’t too.”

“It’s so important in all areas that women get the same opportunities as men, and that girls are told about careers that are typically male-driven. I didn’t even consider going into construction until I got this job, and now I am really interested in it.”

She concludes: “Millwood is a fantastic company to work for as it has a really diverse workforce, and women are just as respected as men both on site and in the head office – we even have a female project manager, something which is very rare in this industry. I’m really looking forward to growing more with the company and continuing to learn about construction, and the process of building our homes.”

 

Source: Property Investor

 

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Cladding Funding, Welcome but not enough

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP), the UK’s leading association for the passive fire protection sector, is supporting calls for greater funding to address identified fire safety failings in tall buildings. The move comes following the Government’s announcement of its five point plan to address unsafe cladding issues and the defeat in Parliament of an amendment to the Fire Safety Bill, which sought to prevent fire safety and cladding remediation costs falling on leaseholders.

While welcoming the announcement of additional funding for cladding remediation on tall buildings, the Association believes the scheme does not go far enough since it offers no assistance to pay for other identified fire safety failures, such as problems with fire doors and other compartmentation measures.

The Government’s five point plan to address unsafe cladding issues, announced by Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick on 10 February, included an additional £3.5 billion in funding for the removal and replacement of cladding on buildings over 18m in height; and a loan scheme for leaseholders to pay for remediation in buildings between 11 and 18 metres, with a maximum repayment of £50 each month. It also included plans to introduce a developer levy which will apply to developers who seek permission to develop certain high-rise buildings in England. However it makes no mention of funding to rectify other fire safety defects.

ASFP CEO Niall Rowan declares:

“The ASFP believes that money should be made available to cover all identified defects and not just cladding. While there is some degree of discussion over whether the statutory guidance regarding cladding is clear or not, there is no such argument about the requirements of compartmentation that are included in Approved Document B and the national equivalents in Wales Scotland and Northern Ireland.

“We welcome the Government’s five point plan to address cladding issues and believe the proposals outlined in the Building Safety Bill will go some way to improve quality and competency within the design, construction and inspection helping to prevent defects from arising in the future. However, we believe that the remediation of identified fire safety failures in existing buildings that are not the fault of the leaseholders or building owners concerned should be supported by appropriate funding.”

 

Website: www.asfp.org.uk

 

 

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One year. Three topics. Countless innovations.

Schüco UK is using a dramatic online format to introduce its new products and its vision for the future. The Schüco Innovation Now (i.NOW) launch event will take place at 10.30am on Wednesday 24th March and is free to attend. The i.NOW online platform will be unveiled directly after the event.

The multinational building envelope specialist has traditionally used the BAU trade fair in Munich to present its innovation strategy. With the cancellation of all such events, Schüco has embraced the potential for online activities, dedicating its considerable resources to delivering a first-class broadcast experience.

With live introductions and a question and answer session with Schüco UK product specialists, the event will introduce customers and specifiers to the latest products from the world-class innovation team.

Well-designed fenestration has never been more topical as building designers and occupiers focus on the urgent need to create healthy indoor environments that actively support wellbeing. i.NOW will expand on that theme, illustrating how the building envelope can and should make its contribution.

Pete Temprell, Managing Director, Schüco UK says, “We always look forward to BAU and are disappointed not to have the opportunity to meet friends, customers and colleagues from across the industry there this year. Instead, however we would like to invite people to join us on an exciting new virtual journey.

“Following the success of our virtual Excellence Awards 2020 we decided if you can’t come to us, we’ll come to you! We’ll introduce our sustainable system solutions for windows, doors and façades in relation to the topics of healthy building, smart building and secure building throughout 2021.”

The i.NOW launch event will focus on subjects such as ventilation, indoor air quality, noise pollution, and the increasing regulation around thermal performance, light and solar gain.

To register for your free place visit www.schueco.uk/inow

 

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UBER FOR ARCHITECTURE EXPANDS

Scottish architect and entrepreneur Danny Campbell, 30, founded Hoko in 2019. Picture: Elaine Livingstone

A Glasgow-headquartered start-up described as the “Uber for architecture” has expanded across the UK under ambitious growth plans

 

Hoko Design has opened six studios as part of its expansion following a £400,000 investment and a record month for the residential architectural business.

Scottish architect and entrepreneur Danny Campbell founded Hoko in 2019 as he looked to disrupt the industry by creating a “one-stop-shop” client experience for homeowners seeking to improve their living spaces with the help of architecture and design experts.

The process features “cutting-edge” technology including virtual reality and a full interior design service to help clients realise their interior design visions.

With more than 450,000 UK home planning applications decided each year, the fledgling firm has designs on becoming the household name in residential architecture. The expansion around the UK is the next stage in that plan.

The expansion has helped the firm to a best-ever month in February, placing it on target to be working on 1,000 projects nationwide by the end of the year.

The six new studios mean that the business now covers the north of Scotland, north and south London, Bristol and the south west of England, Birmingham and the West Midlands, and Brighton and the south east – all in addition to the firm’s headquarters in Glasgow.

Campbell, founder and chief executive, said: “The Hoko mission has always been to provide the perfect home remodelling experience for homeowners.

“The traditional architecture process can be complicated, inaccessible, and out of line with advances in customer experience in other industries.

“As news of our success spreads, we have seen rising demand for our brand of residential architecture across the UK, particularly during lockdown, and these new studios in these six areas provide the perfect platform to service that demand.

“The six new additions to our team of talented architects working nationwide to deliver Hoko’s streamlined one-stop shop experience, customer experience. Working with a fantastic network of local suppliers and tradespeople, we are able to take the hassle out of home improvement, and deliver the highest quality projects from start to finish.”

There are now ten Hoko project architects working around the UK, each of whom benefit from the opportunity to earn unlimited pay made up of a competitive base salary and then 30 per cent commission on every invoice.

Aiden Junor, one of the new architects, who will be based in Inverness, said: “The response to our expansion has been excellent, and already we are working with dozens of new clients.

“It’s a privilege to be part of such a forward-thinking business, which is seeking to make positive, client-focused changes to an industry that needs a refresh. It’s a great place to work, and clients love the work we do.”

The business has already grown to employ in excess of 30 staff. Hoko said it has also earned the backing of “world-class” investors and board members, Donald Wilson, Graham Campbell and Warren Gee, who see the firm’s potential to be a world leader in its field.

Source: The Scotsman

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SUPPLY CHAIN FOCUS AT OXFORDSHIRE EVENT

Next week, the latest in a series of regional retrofit conferences opens. The Low Carbon Homes online event, hosted by Cosy Homes Oxfordshire, will focus on the key barrier for increasing the uptake of home retrofit – the supply chain.

Low Carbon Homes Oxfordshire, (Tuesday 9th – Thursday 10th March), supported by MCS is staged over three mornings, and includes both speaker sessions and interactive work groups to generate ideas to overcome the supply chain barrier.

Cosy Homes Oxfordshire, as a pilot home retrofit service, has operated for almost two years. During that time, the biggest barrier to scaling up retrofit has always been finding enough trusted and high-quality contractors to deliver home retrofit projects in Oxfordshire – be that installers, manufacturers, electricians, or anyone else in the supply chain.

The recent national retrofit strategy consultation document ‘Greening Our Existing Homes’ published by the Construction Leadership Council indicates that around 500,000 new professionals and tradespeople are needed to tackle this challenge.

“Since the launch of our whole house retrofit service two years ago we haven’t struggled to find homeowners who are keen to retrofit their home. Instead, our main barrier has been finding trusted local building contractors to deliver the work. It’s clear that we need to build up the supply chain for retrofit in Oxfordshire to meet homeowner demand and climate targets.

We need training opportunities to bring new people into the building sector, from apprenticeships to train up the young, to re-skilling programmes to enable those who are unemployed to find work in the retrofit sector (supporting the green recovery from Covid-19 at the same time). There’s also room for innovation and entrepreneurship, bringing new ideas to the plate. That’s why we’ve chosen to host this event in collaboration with Low Carbon Homes, and we’re excited to see the conversations and ideas that come from it.” Tabitha Whiting, Cosy Homes Oxfordshire.

 

Low Carbon Homes on 09-11 March, hosted by Cosy Homes Oxfordshire, is a free-to-attend online event bringing professionals from inter-related sectors together to collaborate and consider the scale of the supply chain challenge, the solutions available and the barriers to overcome.

After Oxfordshire, Low Carbon Homes will be staging further events across the UK. Next is Solent, hosted by Green Tech South, University of Portsmouth.

 

Oxfordshire event

  • Free tickets for representatives from across Oxfordshire and the wider region
  • The online event takes place across three mornings – 09, 10, 11 March (0830-1200hrs)
  • Delegates can view all or selected sessions and meet with other delegates, speakers and sponsors
  • Group work sessions will be staged each day to facilitate thought development among delegates
  • Registration for the Oxfordshire event closes at 4pm, Monday 8th March

 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

 

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Boris moves from Bridge to Burrow

After seeming to support the construction of a Bridge between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, the Prime Minister seems to be leaning more to the idea of under rather than over the dangerous waters of the Irish Sea. In some parts of the proposed route the waters are 1000 feet deep, there is 30 mile long and two miles wide trench known as Beaufort’s Dyke that was used by the ministry of defense to dump unused explosives from the second world war, with no mapping of the whereabouts of the estimated 1.5 million tons of explosives.

The government is now looking to alternatives and has asked chairman of Network Rail Sir Peter Hendy to make recommendations on how to improve transport connectivity between Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England.

According to The Times, Boris Johnson has suggested that the Douglas Junction – built directly under the Isle of Man – would be connected to Belfast in Northern Ireland, Stranraer in Scotland, and Heysham and Liverpool in England.

The tunnel, which could be dubbed Boris’ Burrow, would help ease post-Brexit tensions, after Boris Johnson’s withdrawal agreement created checks for some goods travelling between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

David Morris, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, said: “I saw the proposals in the news over the weekend and they are certainly ambitious.

“I would be interested to see the conclusion of the Sir Peter Hendy report in the summer and see if any of these ideas are a viable proposal.”

A government spokesperson said: “We have asked Sir Peter Hendy to make recommendations on how to improve transport connectivity between Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England.

“His recommendations will be published in due course.”

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