Cutting Concrete Emmissions: New Progress Report Launched at COP29

  • New report highlights decarbonisation action and progress of global cement industry and the required government policies to accelerate net zero progress.
  • Formal call for action from the cement and concrete industry to policymakers around the world to increase their support.
  • Case studies from across the world highlight development of carbon capture, increasing use of alternative energy sources and use of new materials and technology.
  • GCCA’s Cement Industry Net Zero Progress Report 2024/25 on its Concrete Future 2050 Roadmap for Net Zero Concrete launched three years ago.

The extensive decarbonisation work being carried out by the global cement and concrete industry to cut CO2 emissions is set out in a newly published progress report, launched at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The launch of the report includes a formal call to action from the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) and its members for governments and policymakers around the world to help the sector achieve its key decarbonisation goals through implementing key enabling policies.

Fernando González, President of the GCCA and CEO of Cemex said:

“Our industry is engaged in the most significant transformation in its history as we address the most pressing challenge our planet faces – climate change.

“However, to fully unlock our decarbonisation progress in this crucial decade to deliver, we urgently need effective policy support. When policymakers provide the right market conditions and policy enablers, significant CO2 reductions are achievable faster.”

The report calls for the urgent implementation of effective policies which promote the use of municipal and industrial waste as sustainable alternative fuels for cement kilns, as well as using construction demolition waste as recycled raw materials. Other key policies include a change in building codes to encourage the wider adoption of blended cement and concrete products, as well as the establishment of market-driven national carbon pricing mechanisms that incentivise decarbonisation and investment in clean innovation.

Thomas Guillot, Chief Executive of the GCCA said:

“This report shows several great examples of action that is already happening on the ground across the world, demonstrating that an acceleration of our decarbonisation efforts is taking place today where enabling policies exist.

That’s why it’s important that we are in Baku at COP29, calling on all policymakers, governments and anyone with a stake in the built environment to urgently work with us on our net zero mission.”

Three years on from the launch of its net zero roadmap, the GCCA’s Cement Industry Net Zero Progress Report 2024/25 highlights the leading role that the companies across the world are playing in the decarbonisation of this essential global industry.

Among the decarbonisation projects which GCCA member companies are working on, and are featured in the report, are:

Acceleration of Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) which accounts for 36% of the industry’s planned CO2 reductions, according to the GCCA Roadmap. CCUS has taken a big leap forward with, for example, the scheduled mechanical completion at the end of 2024 of the world’s first industrial sized carbon capture cement plant at Brevik, Norway, run by Heidelberg Materials, which will produce net-zero cement at scale by capturing the CO2 at source and storing it safely underground.

Other CCUS plants featured in the report include Buzzi in Germany, CNBM in China, Holcim across Europe, Taiheiyo Cement in Japan, and TITAN Cement in Greece. Publicly announced projects are collated and made available to see on the GCCA/LeadIT green cement technology tracker.

The increasing use of alternative energy sources. Examples include more use of solar power in Ireland by Breedon, Bulgaria by TITAN Cement and in India by UltraTech Cement.

Projects making use of non-recyclable and industrial waste as fuel for cement plants. These initiatives help effectively manage societal waste and support a circular economy. Examples come from Cemex, in partnership with the municipality of Queretaro, Mexico delivering the country’s first zero waste-to-landfill initiative; Huaxin in China; JSW Cement in India.

The development of technology and alternative materials to make low carbon cement. These projects use less clinker – the carbon intensive element of traditional cement production, and make more use of alternative materials, such as calcined clay. Examples include a new low-carbon cement, ECO3, by CRH containing calcined clay and has been used in major construction projects including the landmark 85-metre-high Tilia Tower, near Lausanne, Switzerland; Cementos Argos’s Rioclaro plant in Colombia; in Taiwan, Asia Cement Corporation is now supplying more low clinker cements.

Lower carbon Concrete and circularity, and design and construction. In the USA, the NRMCA 2024 Concrete Innovations Awards went to 10 projects that used innovative product to lower the project’s embodied carbon; Heidelberg Materials supplied 333 tonnes of 3D concrete printing material for the largest 3D printed building in Europe; Molins will recycle 100,000 tons of demolition material from the old Camp Nou, Spain which will be given a second life as raw materials for concrete for the new football stadium for FC Barcelona; Votorantim Cimentos’ Spectra product has been used on a 36-storey project in Brazil to optimise concrete and steel use as well as reduce water and carbon emissions.

 

Source: World Cement

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Inside Air NZ’s Biggest Build:  Hangar 4 will be the southern hemisphere’s largest single-span timber roof


Air New Zealand is months from moving into Hangar 4, which, once completed, will become one of the world’s largest single-span timber arch hangars.

Standing ten storeys tall and nearly as wide as a rugby field, the hangar—which will eventually house the airline’s Auckland-based maintenance fleet—will be long enough to fit a Boeing 777, Dreamliner 787 or two single-aisle A320/21 jets and close the doors behind them.

Choosing wood over steel and concrete, due to its strength and flexibility, the build, now about 80% finished, can move up to 300mm in extreme conditions, with construction crews now working around the clock to build the hangar’s 10,000 square metre concrete slab, honey-combed with pipes and tunnels for power, electronics, and drainage.

Designed by NZ-based Studio Pacific, it includes 1,200 cubic metres of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) and cross-laminated timber (CLT), all supplied by Xlam, with the 98-metre structure, set to become the largest single-span timber arch hangar in the southern hemisphere and the first to achieve a 6-Star Green Star rating.

The laminated veneer lumber (LVL) and cross-laminated timber (CLT) hybrid timber arch spans 98 metres. (Image Credit: Renders supplied by Global Pacific Architecture and Air New Zealand)

Speaking to the NZ Herald, NZ Strong pre-construction and innovation manager Jimmy Corric said the timber building is already attracting global interest. Its span is believed to be bigger than another wooden hangar built in Tillamook, Oregon.

And while the Auckland hangar will use steel in the front arches to make a rigid frame for the 80m-wide fabric doors that drop from the roof, the 100% wooden ones in the bulk of the building only use steel in their base plates.

Mr Corric has crafted a scale model of a truss that stands in NZ Strong’s onsite headquarters, and he uses it to explain the process:

“Timber and geometry do what they do best. It can wobble about in the breeze, it is a seismic structure. You either make these really rigid structures that constrain everything or you have structures that move a little bit that allow things to give.”

Wood Central understands that the LVL is made by Nelson pine, shipped to Hunter Laminates in the city, where it is glued into five 25m sections per truss, shipped to Auckland, and then to Xlam in Mangere, where the CLT from Australia is joined to the section before it is taken to the hangar site.

Lying on the concrete slab, the sections are then joined – hundreds of 250mm long screws are used and driven in by grunty battery tools. The finished trusses are erected using New Zealand’s largest crawler crane, usually used to put up wind farms. The 38-tonne trusses are stood up to 85 degrees by the crane and then manually winched upright by workers on two towers standing next to them.

Next comes the roof, made from ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene) cushions filled with air, providing insulation and resistance to wind. The ETFE cladding system is secured using aluminium extrusions and inflated at low pressure to maintain its structural integrity. It is designed to have high corrosion resistance, which is important given the area’s proximity to the sea.

The hangar is part of a new Air New Zealand campus at the Auckland Airport

According to Brendon McWilliam, Air New Zealand’s General Manager of Aircraft Maintenance and Delivery, the new hangar will replace older hangers that date back to the 1960s – as part of a push to future-proof the airline’s maintenance operation for decades to come.

“It’s really a great hanger that allows us to be future-focused for our maintenance staff with doors that shut, protecting in all weathers. It’s sustainable and it’s really built around the future of where we want our maintenance to go.”

“The question we’d ask ourselves is, ‘What does maintenance look like in 50 or 60 years?’ We’re in the cycle now where things are evolving so fast. We had to really think and focus around what’s underground – are we going to be running hydrogen, and do we have electric aircraft?”

Mr McWilliam said using wood fits the airline’s sustainability goals and provides lots of clear space: “We don’t have posts or pillars that we have to work around—it gives us a nice blank canvas.”

Last year, Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran, who took over the airline at the start of the pandemic, said the new campus will consolidate the entire airline under one roof for the first time in generations.

“We’ve spent the last two years looking at how we can set ourselves up for success as we revive our airline,” he said last year ahead of the campus’s ground break. “We know we work best when we work together, and we have plenty of underutilised space at the airport campus to make that happen.”

Significantly, the airline opted to refurbish its hangar facilities for a cost-effective brownfield redevelopment rather than secure a new greenfield site.

“We have more space than we need in the Auckland CBD and are already paying for a precinct at the airport that has more than enough space to meet even our most ambitious growth projections,” he said. “With building costs increasing and our CBD leases ending, this is the time to get started on the work to bring our people together.

“The way people work has changed – this is our opportunity to set up a world-class hybrid work environment with cutting-edge digital technology so our people have the right tools to build on our history of innovation and deliver great experiences for our customers.”

 

Auckland Airport opts for a massive timber subfloor over concrete

The new hangar comes after Wood Central, in September, revealed that a major domino in Auckland Airport’s NZ $2.2 billion upgrade—its first for 50 years—has fallen into place, with Hawkins – one of New Zealand’s largest construction companies – signing off an NZ $800 million contract to build the terminal building.

The massive build will see Hawkins install over 600 steel pikes 35 metres into the ground, strong enough to support more than 6,000 tonnes of steel, concrete and timber, which will be used in the terminal subfloor.

“Building in a live operating airport environment is no small task, and while we’re focused on minimising the impact on travellers as much as possible, we know change is disruptive, and we thank travellers for their patience as the build progresses,” according to Ms Hurihanganui, who said the new terminal will “deliver a functional design that is simple and cost-efficient and focused on doing the basics well for customers.”

Designed with a simple and robust exterior structure made of tray-profile steel, Auckland Airport has concentrated its efforts on the interior of the new terminal, delivering a functional design with sustainability elements, such as all-electric heating and cooling and low-carbon materials.

With a single aircraft pier, the interior design employs a river-like circulation path for travellers – inspired by the tidal harbour, volcanic stone fields, and manga surrounding the airport. Timber accents and a cost-effective mix of durable carpeted and rubber flooring create a relaxed feel for travellers:

‘Choosing wood for the sub-floor instead of concrete reflects a preference for low-carbon materials and supporting sustainable aviation.’

Auckland Airport’s Chief Customer Officer, Scott Tasker.

By Jason Ross, publisher, professional in building and construction

Source: Wood Central

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Over-reliance on technology – not the answer for energy efficient buildings

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David Connacher, Marketing Manager of West Fraser, discusses how inhabitant behaviour is integral to a building’s success and performance

 

People spend 80-90%* of their time indoors so internal spaces and environments are incredibly important to quality of life and wellbeing. They can affect mental health and may trigger allergies; even the fact of being too hot or too cold can influence productivity. Frustratingly, understanding the relationship between buildings and those that occupy them is not an exact science.

While poor indoor air quality and overheating are well known problems, architects, designers and M&E consultants cannot necessarily predict patterns of occupant behaviour. Building users are fickle and often override or even tamper with the devices and components installed to make systems work effectively. This can range from the simple act of adjusting thermostats or air condition controls to disconnecting devices that they perceive to be noisy or wasteful of energy, such as MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery) systems. Poor performance also results from maintenance being neglected, for example, ongoing servicing and filter cleaning. 

An over-reliance on technology to solve inherent building design issues is not the answer when it comes to creating healthy and energy efficient buildings. While fabric first principles must always be at the forefront of building design, they must also be coupled with the education of building owners and occupiers, especially when focusing on reducing energy use.

Paradoxically, the belief that we are being efficient tends to lead us to consume more energy. The knowledge that lightbulbs are low energy often means there is far less incentive to turn them off, so the overall energy used is little different from before. This idea that increased energy efficiency results in increased energy consumption is widely accepted and is dubbed the Khazzoom-Brookes postulate. At its extreme, people may put the money saved on energy in their home towards overseas holidays involving flying – hardly the most sustainable option.

*LINK

CLICK HERE to find out more about West Fraser’s support for architects

and to access useful downloads on the architects’ page

CLICK HERE to visit the West Fraser Website

or for further information, call 01786 812 921

 

 

 

 

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How can Scotland re-establish its building stone industry?

 

British Geological Survey research, commissioned by Historic Environment Scotland, reveals an opportunity to re-establish the Scottish building stone market in order to maintain the country’s historic buildings.

For centuries, Scotland’s identity has been closely linked to its stone-built heritage. Historic buildings provide not just a tangible link to the past, but are also a huge draw for millions of tourists from around the world – a vital source of income for the local economy.

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) cares for more than 300 monuments and buildings of national importance across Scotland, which need to be protected for everyone’s future enjoyment and education. Maintaining these structures is an exercise that requires engineering expertise, highly skilled artisans and access to materials that will mirror those that were available at the time of construction.

Scotland’s built environment is intrinsically linked to the ground below it, created from diverse geology extracted from over 3700 quarries. It is this geology and the methods used to quarry, process and build with stone that create a sense of place, from the red sandstones of Dumfries to the grey stone granite of Aberdeen.

A new report, conducted by the British Geological Survey (BGS) and commissioned by HES, has highlighted the increasing opportunity to bring indigenous stone, including sandstone and flagstone, igneous and metamorphic rocks and roofing slate, back to the Scottish market. The opportunities presented within the report highlight the building stones and quarries most crucial to ongoing efforts to maintain these historic buildings for future generations, as well as supporting the potential for new build applications to contribute to Scotland’s transition to net zero.

Researchers found that:

  • the cost of imported stone construction materials has risen by up to 98 per cent since 2015, possibly due to increasing fuel prices and shipping costs
  • the Scottish and UK construction industry is increasingly vulnerable to erratic pricing and market volatility, due to an over-reliance on imported materials
  • increased ranges in stone production locally create a more resilient supply chain and provide assurance of supply
  • 139 disused building stone quarries and 31 quarries that currently only supply crushed-stone aggregate may have the potential to supply a significant proportion of Scotland’s building stone needs

Detail of the stonework at Tantallon Castle, constructed from local sandstone

 

Graham Briggs, materials project manager at HES, said:

“The dwindling supply of local materials to protect fundamental parts of Scottish history is placing unique pressures on those who wish to maintain and protect our traditional and historic buildings.

A renewed Scottish building stone market would not only create rural skilled jobs and reduce carbon emissions, but also improve conservation outcomes for our important historic buildings. With that in mind, indigenous stone suppliers are faced with increased pressures and costs that make them uncompetitive against cheaper imported materials.

The report demonstrates that Scotland is more than capable of being self-sufficient with regard to its building stone requirements going into the future; however, this will require investment and support through innovation in procurement.”

 

The full report suggests how the supply and use of Scottish building stones can be increased in Scotland, including increasing production at active quarries that already supply building stone.

The report also contains a series of three factsheets, which found:

  • over 5 million tonnes of building stone are imported into the UK each year
  • sandstone is the UK’s most imported stone each year
  • roofing slate imports command the highest price – Scotland is particularly vulnerable to this, with no current source of Scottish roofing slate
  • the cost of imported stone has almost doubled since 2015

Imogen Shaw, building stone scientist, BGS, said:

“If Scotland wants to continue to build in its traditional stone, conserving heritage buildings and ensuring new builds are also in keeping with the historic landscape, then action needs to be taken to source more stone locally.

Our latest report is a vital resource for policymakers and potential investors, providing them with a clear snapshot of current supplies that will help them to identify opportunities for growth and better inform investment in indigenous building stone production.”

The full factsheet is now available to read: Development potential for building stone resources in Scotland.

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GROUP EXTENDS ITS REACH WITH ISG ACQUISITION

Jon Dunwell, Chief Executive Officer of the Morris & Spottiswood Group

In a move that will save more than 100 jobs, leading construction company Morris & Spottiswood Group has acquired part of the collapsed ISG group, offering a vital lifeline to the employees and projects operating within its remit.

 

Absorbing the former ISG Cathedral business, Morris & Spottiswood Group– which is a specialist provider of fitout, refurbishment, M&E, facilities management, design and construction services – has significantly extended its presence within the UK, with the addition of offices in Whitstable, Bristol and Huntingdon.

 

Welcoming 111 new colleagues into the business, including the senior management team led by Kevin Dengate, the acquisition will establish Morris & Spottiswood England – a new division within the overall group, which will sit alongside existing businesses Morris & Spottiswood Scotland and Livingston M&E.

 

The move cements Morris & Spottiswood’s reputation within the financial sector by adding a number of major financial institutions to its already established portfolio, as well as strengthening the company’s presence in the retail sector with the addition of two major retailers.

 

Expected to add up to £100 million in revenue across the next 15 months, the acquisition has accelerated Morris & Spottiswood Group’s growth plans and is projected to take the group’s turnover to £265 million – marking an annual growth of 74%.

 

Jon Dunwell, Chief Executive Officer of the Morris & Spottiswood Group, commented:

“The demise of ISG was sad news for the construction sector, causing significant disruption to valued clients and affecting many of our industry peers. We are pleased that as an agile family-owned business we have been able to move quickly to bring some stability to the situation, offering continuity and assurances of longevity to our new colleagues and clients alike.

“We have a firm People First focus and have been energised by this development, which brings a new mix of people into the business – aligned by values and skills but also offering fresh perspectives and experience to our established talent pool. This is an exciting new phase in our growth plan, as we combine the best ideas and strengths from both businesses and move forwards together as one team.

“With our solid foundations already in place, we hope that this will give confidence to clients and the supply chain as a whole, as we embed the new division, while also expanding our services and geographical reach.”

 

Already well-established within the Scottish market and active in the north of England, the addition of Morris & Spottiswood England establishes the group as a major figure across the UK, with 10 offices stretching from Glasgow to Whitstable.

 

In addition, the business is now able to offer an in-house joinery provision from the Whitstable office, delivering project efficiencies and continuity of service for clients. What’s more, the group’s in-house design company, McLennan, has announced plans to establish a London office, to service the extended reach across the UK.

 

Further supporting the group’s commitment to considered, strategic growth, Morris & Spottiswood has also recently acquired JB Engineering, a specialist provider of offsite fabrication services, as a subsidiary of Livingston Building Services. The move recognises the growing industry trend towards offsite construction methods and strengthens the group’s end to end delivery proposition.

 

Taken together, the new acquisitions and service extensions underline the Morris & Spottiswood Group’s commitment to developing its offering through continuity, sustainability, ambition and energy.

 

For more information about the Morris & Spottiswood Group, please visit: www.morrisandspottiswood.co.uk

 

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Canada Turns to 3D & Modular for Affordble Homes

Canada is turning to mass timber, 3D printing, and modular construction to fast-track affordable housing on its Atlantic coast, Wood Central.

The move comes after the Trudeau government announced it would establish the Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative (RHII), a $50 million (CAD) fund over the next two years to reduce construction time and costs, making housing more affordable and sustainable.

The RHII promotes advanced building methods, including the following:

  • 3D-printed homes: Large-scale 3D printers quickly create walls or entire structures with materials like concrete, cutting down on construction time and labor.
  • Modular homes: Built in sections off-site, these “modules” are transported and assembled on-site, reducing time and waste while maintaining quality.
  • Mass timber construction: Engineered wood replaces traditional materials like steel, creating a strong, renewable alternative with lower environmental impact.

“This initiative will build homes in a matter of weeks, not months,” said Gudie Hutchings, Canada’s Minister for Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).

The latest commitment comes just months after Canada pledged to invest $600 million (CAD) into prefab manufacturing, mass timber construction, panelization, 3D printing, and pre-approved housing designs, which amounts to one of the strongest commitments by a national government to supercharge social and affordable housing.

 

Source: FEA (Forest Economic Advisors)

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World’s strongest land-based crane passes test program

 

SK6000 testing completed under Lloyd’s Register supervision
Mammoet has officially completed testing of the SK6000 – the world’s strongest land-based crane. This process – overseen by maritime classification services organization Lloyd’s Register, certifies the crane’s safe operation to its specification.

After reviewing the SK6000’s engineering design earlier during its development, Lloyd’s Register confirmed that the test program was suitable to prove out its capacity charts. Testing was then carried out at Mammoet’s Westdorpe facility in the Netherlands over the last three months.

A comprehensive functional test program confirmed the crane operated to its specification, and to the strictest safety levels.

Next followed structural and stability testing, during which the SK6000 was subjected to a range of lift weights and conditions, proving that all components withstand 125% overload.

These tests covered the maximum extents of all load charts for the crane, for all main mast configurations, from shortest (127m) to longest (171m).

At its most strenuous, this process tested the crane to a maximum load moment of 520,000 tonne meters. This is well over one and a half times greater than the rated load moment of the SK350 – which was previously the world’s strongest land-based crane.

The SK6000 helps Mammoet’s customers across the energy sector to build on a larger scale than ever before, using modularized construction techniques to build in parallel and enhance the efficiency of assembly phases.

As offshore wind components grow to reach stronger wind flows, the SK6000 ensures the future constructability of today’s planned wind farms. As the market develops, and lifting to heights beyond 171m is required, its jib can be fitted to enable lifts of 3,000t to 220 meters.

In the nuclear sector, the SK6000 reduces on-site construction time and increases safety by allowing larger mass components to be constructed in controlled conditions and assembled quickly.

In oil and gas, its huge capacity and outreach allows maintenance and upgrade projects to take place with reduced disruption, and new-build projects to deliver economies of scale from FEED to installation – and beyond.

The SK6000 will now be boomed down and containerized, ready for shipping to its first project in early 2025.

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The Blight of Construction, Rising Costs and an Aging Workforce

Planning isn’t the only reason we have a housing shortage, too many developments just aren’t economically viable, says Melanie Leech

The government is undoubtedly right to focus its efforts on reforming the planning system. Ask the anyone in the property industry and they will say that the system is complex, burdensome, under-resourced, and prone to delay. As a result, it is not delivering the outcomes that will support the Government’s growth agenda.

But is planning the only reason why, in many parts of the country, development activity has slowed to a crawl and obvious development sites and opportunities remain dormant and undelivered? No!

Fundamentally, any development must be economically viable for the developer. It is this viability challenge that is becoming the major reason that many seemingly prime sites and ambitious development schemes are currently in limbo.

It is not because developers don’t want to bring their developments forward and build much needed new commercial space and housing. It is simply because the numbers don’t stack up.

It is reflective of what is probably the greatest development challenge of the current times – that of the ever-shifting sands and calculations upon which a property development’s viability is calculated.

These include construction costs that have risen 25 per cent by most estimates over the last five years due to increased material and labour prices. The pandemic, the war in Ukraine and tighter immigration policies have all had their impact.

The average age of a construction worker in the UK is now over 50 and the rate of retirement is accelerating. The construction sector is responding, broadening its appeal to younger workers, but there is no quick fix for the demographics of the building trade, and consequential labour shortages.

Shifting regulations

Another challenge is shifting policy and regulatory requirements, especially in relation to building safety and sustainability, requiring scheme re-designs which then drive developments into the territory of no longer being viable to deliver.

Previous policy decisions on planning have also not helped. The previous government dispensing with compulsory housing targets provided some councils with the perfect excuse to take their foot off the gas.

Add to this political uncertainty of four governments in a little over two years, and a general election. A conclusive general election result in July at least might start to alleviate investor concerns.

But the climate of uncertainty over the previous 18 months has meant that whilst developments that have started have continued, those that have not started have generally been because investors have decided it was easier to sit on their hands, or worse still vote with their feet and take their investment to places that are more stable.

The cost of finance, especially debt, remains a significant challenge and a major barrier to commencing schemes judged to be marginal at best.

Add to this rising mortgage costs for home buyers, hampering their ability to buy, and business occupiers facing a range of tax increases – limiting the amount they can pay in rent – and the result is greater uncertainty.

Here even the residential market, with strong continuing demand, isn’t immune, with future sales values not always being achievable against high build costs.

Not all is doom and gloom, however. The public sector can help turn some dials to make what was unviable possible.

For example, spending public funds to clean up regeneration sites, which often need remediation, or  the public sector contributing development sites for free up-front and then sharing in the profits from development. Such a partnership approach is thriving in what is a difficult market.

So, the next time you walk past a boarded-up site or wonder why the major regeneration scheme you read about hasn’t progressed, don’t always assume it is solely because of the planning system.

For more likely than not it is also a result of it being caught in the viability quicksand of rising build costs, greater regulatory costs and the headwinds of economic and political uncertainty.

By Melanie Leech, chief executive of the British Property Federation

 

Source: City AM

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Career Opportunities in New Roofing Division

JJ Fitzgerald, Managing Director of Evolution

A TRAILBLAZING construction business well-known for creating better places for people to live across the North of England is expanding by launching a new roofing division.

Evolution, which takes pride in delivering quality renovations on social housing, sheltered housing, and private housing is starting a new roofing division after being successful in winning contracts in Blackpool and across the Fylde Coast.

The company, based in Blackpool, and highly respected for supporting communities with a range of pioneering initiatives wherever it operates, is creating career opportunities, including a role to head up its new roofing operation.

Managing Director JJ Fitzgerald said:

“Evolution has always been built on the core foundations of providing people with better homes and creating job and career opportunities in the construction industry.

“It’s about changing people’s lives for the better. We renovate houses to give people quality homes and we provide jobs which help people build a better life.

“We are now in a position to offer a fantastic opportunity for someone to come in and join our business and head up and lead our new roofing division. This is a hugely exciting role as it gives someone a chance to help us build this new area of our business from the ground up and be in from the very start. The sky really is the limit.”

 

Speaking about Evolution’s recent contract success, JJ said:

“We are delighted to have been successful in winning major contracts in Blackpool and the surrounding areas.

“As a local Blackpool-based company it gives us enormous pride and satisfaction to serve the Fylde Coast community.

“We care about our people, our places and our planet, and we are proud of how we support communities wherever we work.

“These contract wins enable us to create more job opportunities which further boost the Blackpool economy and, in turn, means we can support even more initiatives in the community.”

 

Evolution employs up to 80 people renovating private social housing, sheltered housing and private housing across the North of England in Blackpool, Manchester, Liverpool, Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cumbria.

As well as a Head of Roofing Division, Evolution is also offering immediate career opportunities for electricians and multi-skilled joiners.

Interested in joining the Evolution team?

CLICK HERE

or CLICK HERE to visit the Evolution Website

 

 

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Enviro at COP29 Climate Hub

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Enviro’s Chairman Alf Blomqvist and Board Member Nina Macpherson Speak at COP29 Climate Hub

Scandinavian Enviro Systems (Enviro) is participating today at the Climate Hub conference, held during the UN’s climate meeting COP29. Enviro’s chairman of the board, Alf Blomqvist, and board member, Nina Macpherson, will take part in a panel discussion on ecocide – mass destruction of the environment – and share how Enviro contributes to both environmental and economic sustainability.

During COP29, a series of side events is being organized, including Climate Hub. Alf Blomqvist and Nina Macpherson will participate in a panel discussion titled “Business leaders for Ecocide Law: Criminalizing Ecocide & Leveling the Playing Field.” Alongside Blomqvist and Macpherson, Scania’s Head of Sustainability, Fredrik Nilzén, and Johan Falk, CEO of Exponential Roadmap Initiative, will also take part in the discussion.

“The need for international legislation against ecocide is clear, and Climate Hub is an excellent platform for us to discuss both Enviro’s position and the work the company is doing to promote the environment and sustainability,” says Nina Macpherson, Board Member of Scandinavian Enviro Systems and Chair of the Ecocide Law Alliance, a foundation working to introduce ecocide as a crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

COP29 is being held in Baku, Azerbaijan, and is the 29th edition of the UN climate conference, where countries around the world come together to discuss and negotiate global efforts to combat climate change.

“We are proud to participate in such an important forum and to share Enviro’s work in fostering sustainability from both an environmental and economic perspective,” says Alf Blomqvist, Chairman of the board of Enviro.

Read more about Climate Hub

 

 

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