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From building a colossal pyramid over Tokyo Harbour to covering Manhattan with a giant dome, Planet Dolan list ten of the most shocking construction projects that almost happened!
Construction apprenticeship starts in Great Britain are at a record high, according to figures released by the Construction Industry Training Board.
Since 2012 the figure of those joining a construction apprenticeship has continued to rise steadily each year from 17,528 in 2012 to 26,195 in 2017, a rise of 49%. This is the highest figure since the present way of recording apprenticeships began in 2003.
Recent figures for England show apprenticeship starts have dropped by a quarter across the whole economy during August to November 2017, from 155,600 to 114,380. Construction apprenticeships saw a marginal decline of just 150 starts, from 10,900 to 10,750.
The figures suggest that construction has bucked the overall trend in apprenticeships following the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy.
Up to £10,250 of CITB grant funding is available to employers for every apprentice they employ. And with CITB research released last month predicting that over 158,000 new workers are needed in the next five years, there is no better time to encourage people to join the industry.
Mark Noonan, Industry Relations Director at CITB, said “Construction has faced a challenging time with Carillion’s unfortunate liquidation, but the industry response has shown how committed employers are to helping to develop young talent.
“While the overall picture for apprenticeship starts looks good at the moment, there is no room for complacency. We now need more employers to step forward to offer apprentices places so that they can start a rewarding career in construction and help build a better Britain.”
Nearly half of construction workers think the sector’s pay gap between men and women will be lower than the national average within a year.
- 46% of construction workers think the gender pay gap will be less than 15% by April 2018.
- More needs to be done to achieve equality and tackle sexism in the sector; 35% of workers believe men are better suited for the skill set needed in construction.
- Nearly a third (30%) of women cite fears of sexism as holding them back from pursuing senior roles in construction.
- Workers want organisations to do more, with nearly 39% believing companies are not doing enough to attract females into the sector.
OnePoll survey findings
A OnePoll survey commissioned by the RICS found that despite an optimistic outlook about the gender pay gap figures across the construction sector, with nearly half (46%) of construction workers predicting the gap will be less than 15% by April 2018, businesses need to do more to tackle gender inequality and sexism in the industry.
The future for women in the construction industry
With the national average pay gap recorded at 18.1% in 2016, today’s findings suggest the construction sector could lead the way in closing the gap, if the employees’ predictions are correct. Indeed, more than one in ten respondents (12%) think that there will be no gender pay gap at all by April 2018, which marks the end of the UK Government’s mandatory gender pay reporting period. However, this positive sentiment is markedly absent in the nation’s capital, with Londoners in the construction sector predicting an average pay gap of 21%.
A man’s world?
Despite a positive outlook towards the pay gap, today’s findings reveal the construction sector has significant steps to take if it is to achieve parity. Nearly a third (30%) of women surveyed think sexism holds them back from pursuing senior roles in construction, while 38% of men believe their skills are better suited to the sector than women.
Nearly half (42%) of those surveyed believe companies need to invest more in training their existing female employees. Equally, those in the sector want to see businesses investing in the future pipeline of talent to build a diverse workforce, with 40% recognising that companies need to invest more in encouraging young girls to pursue a career in construction, so that more women enter the profession.
A third of small building firms say that soaring material prices are squeezing their margins and almost a quarter have had to pass these price increases onto consumers, according research by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
Construction SMEs have reported a range of material price increases since the depreciation of sterling following the EU referendum in June 2016. Small building firms were asked which materials have increased the most and the results were as follows:
- Timber
- Insulation
- Bricks
- Blocks
- Windows
- Plasterboard / Slate (joint sixth)
- Boilers and radiators
- Porcelain products
The impact of these material price increases includes:
- 85% of builders think material price rises could drive consumers to hire rogue traders in an effort to save money on their building projects
- One third of construction SMEs (32%) have had their margins squeezed
- Almost one quarter (22%) have been forced to pass material price increases onto their clients, making projects more expensive for consumers
- More than one-in-ten builders report making losses on their building projects due to material price increases
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said “Material price increases have left builders under severe pressure. This research shows that following the fall in the exchange rate, timber is the material that the majority of builders say has increased most in price but the problem doesn’t end there – everything from insulation to windows to bricks and blocks are soaring in price. A third of builders report that these price increases are eating into their already razor-thin margins – and this on top of increased wages and salaries stemming from long-term construction skills shortages. Furthermore, one-in-ten builders say that they’ve actually made losses on projects due to material price increases – this is most likely to happen when a particular product or material jumps up in price mid-project when then builder has already quoted for the work. Perhaps unwisely, some builders are absorbing these extra costs as opposed to re-quoting for the project.”
“Material price spikes aren’t just a problem for builders – they’re also a problem for the home owner, with almost one quarter of builders saying that they have had to pass on price increases to their clients. This means that building projects now cost significantly more than they did this time last year. What with stagnant wages and price inflation across the economy, consumers are feeling the pinch and it might be that they decide not to commission that loft conversion or extension after all. Or worse still, 85% of builders believe that home owners will be tempted to hire rogue traders who are quoting a lower price than a professional building firm such as those that belong to the FMB. If that’s the case, material price rises could lead to a flurry of botched jobs and distressed consumers. We’re calling on home owners to hold their nerve – they’re better off commissioning a more modest project from a professional builder than a high spec project from a cowboy. Don’t take the risk.”
Paul Gouland, Marketing Director at Clugston Construction, explores the design and build of Leeds College of Building’s new state-of-the-art campus development, and explains how it was delivered successfully through the YORbuild2 regional framework.
Leeds College of Building has built an exceptional reputation for first-class further education on construction, educating future construction professionals since 1960, and offering over 200 courses across a huge range of disciplines. So, when the college set about ambitious plans for a brand-new £13m campus development in Leeds’s South Bank, they knew only an exemplary build would do.
Using the YORbuild2 Contractors Framework to quickly procure its delivery team, Clugston Construction and architectural practice Fuse Studios were appointed, and immediately set about planning the complex logistics and timetable to deliver the whole project.
With such a challenging build programme, and in order to achieve the high standards that Leeds College of Building required, Clugston knew that a collaborative approach with the College was fundamental to seamlessly deliver a comprehensive scheme within tight timescales. By engaging with the client and design team from the early stages of the scheme, Clugston Construction have built a close relationship with the College and design team to ensure effective communication is maintained throughout the building phase.
Supported by an £11.9m grant through the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) growth deal, the state-of-the-art building, which is located alongside the College’s existing South Bank campus, will consist of a 5,200m2 four-storey building with a range of classrooms, workshops and technical support areas.
At the heart of the new facility sits an imposing full height atrium which splits the facility in two clear areas, with the workshops located on one side of the building and the classroom areas situated on the other. Topped with a pair of polyester powder coated (PPC) aluminium framed glazed roof lights, which flood the facilities with natural light, this creates a stunning central space which houses a café and student meeting areas.
A glazed balcony running around the perimeter overlooking the central area maintains an open airy feel, allowing access to the classrooms, meeting rooms and technical workshops on the upper level. In keeping with the desire to create an open and bright atmosphere throughout the College, the design also incorporates full height windows, highlighted by bright green aluminium surrounds, throughout the building.
Externally, the building combines striking grey anodized profile aluminium curtain walling to give the facility a modern look, and complementary grey and red brickwork to maintain the historic architectural elements of the surrounding city.
High-quality materials have been utilised throughout the build, with the roof over the classroom area made up of a single ply membrane over ridged insulated VCC metal decking and purlins, whilst the workshop roof is constructed using a Kingspan KS1000RW composite system featuring aluminium framed north lights.
Constructed with a lightweight steel frame, the result of team wide collaboration, floors are formed using a composite metal deck with an in-situ cast concrete slab. Meanwhile the two lift towers are formed using precast concrete units, which sit within the steel frame.
A number of innovative features are also included internally to enhance the teaching experience for pupils. Specially constructed building pods are situated within the workshop areas. Used to teach plumbing and mechanical and electrical (M&E), the pods are designed to replicate the construction of a typical timber frame building. A number of bespoke pods, with specially installed extract systems, have also been mounted to teach welding skills in a safe environment for pupils.
As well as tight delivery timescales, to meet the start of the 2019 academic year, practical considerations in terms of the build also had to be taken into account.
Situated on a tight parcel of land just off the centre of Leeds, and surrounded by a network of busy roads, considerable thought had to be given to the delivery of the major components and materials.
The College is situated on made up ground which was formerly occupied by industrial process facilities including part of the famous Tetley Brewery. Consequently, developing stable ground conditions for the foundations was an essential requirement. To achieve this, Clugston introduced a number of innovative techniques, including both Rapid Impact Compaction and Dynamic Ground Stabilisation which quickly prepared the terrain. This mitigated the need for piling – delivering cost and programme value engineering savings during the pre-construction stage.
The construction and refurbishment of educational facilities can pose significant challenges for the schools, colleges, universities, and construction companies alike. However, at Leeds College of Building, Clugston Construction has demonstrated how a collaborative approach can help deliver projects to meet key term dates and budgets.
Following the project delivery, Clugston now offers added value by supporting the College’s students by providing technical presentations on construction subjects from health and safety planning to building services, as well as organising visits to other construction sites.
For more information, visit www.clugston.co.uk
Construction apprentices will go on to earn thousands of pounds more, every year, than many of their university-educated counterparts, according to the latest research by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
Small building firms across the UK were asked what they pay their tradespeople and the average annual salaries were as follows:
- Site managers earn £51,266
- Plumbers earn £48,675
- Supervisors earn £48,407
- Electricians earn £47,265
- Civil engineering operatives earn £44,253
- Steel fixers earn £44,174
- Roofers earn £42,303
- Bricklayers earn £42,034
- Carpenters and joiners earn £41,413
- Plasterers earn £41,045
- Scaffolders earn £40,942
- Floorers earn £39,131
- Plant operatives earn £38,409
- Painters and decorators earn £34,587
- General construction operatives earn £32,392
The highest reported annual salary for bricklayers in London was £90,000 a year. However, the UK’s university graduates earn the following average annual salaries:
- Pharmacists earn £42,252
- Dental practitioners earn £40,268
- Architects earn £38,228
- Teachers earn £37,805
- Chartered and certified accountants earn £37,748
- Midwives earn £36,188
- Veterinarians earn £36,446
- Physiotherapists earn £32,065
- Nurses earn £31,867
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said “Money talks and when it comes to annual salaries, a career in construction trumps many university graduate roles. The average university graduate in England earns £32,000 a year whereas our latest research shows that your average bricky or roofer is earning £42,000 a year across the UK. In London, a bricklayer is commanding wages of up to £90,000 a year. Pursuing a career in construction is therefore becoming an increasingly savvy move. University students in England will graduate with an average £50,800 of debt, according to The Institute for Fiscal Studies, while apprentices pass the finish line completely debt-free. Not only that, apprentices earn while they learn, taking home around £17,000 a year. We are therefore calling on all parents, teachers and young people, who too-often favour academic education, to give a career in construction serious consideration.”
“The construction industry is in the midst of an acute skills crisis and we are in dire need of more young people, including women and ethnic minorities, to join us. Our latest research shows that more than two-thirds of construction SMEs are struggling to hire bricklayers and 63 per cent are having problems hiring carpenters. This is a stark reminder of how the Government’s housing targets could be scuppered by a lack of skilled workers. The FMB is committed to working with the Government to improve the quality and quantity of apprenticeships because the only way we will build a sustainable skills base is by training more young people, and to a high standard.”
A number of construction sites across the UK have ground to a halt due to heavy snow, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
With snow continuing to fall, weather warnings from the Met Office are in place in many parts of the country. Police are now alerting people across UK and Ireland to avoid all travel – including commuting – during blizzards and strong winds.
Sarah McMonagle, Director of External Affairs at the FMB, said “Heavy snow showers have led to many construction sites across the UK grinding to a halt. Some construction bosses have told their staff to take the rest of the week off and not return to work until Monday. But it’s not just the snow that’s playing havoc with construction projects – some firms are reporting that the freezing temperatures mean it’s too cold to lay bricks. The overall impact of bad weather on construction growth remains to be seen but this situation is concerning given that the FMB’s latest research shows that growth among construction SMEs slowed in the final three months of 2017. We hope that the cold weather we have seen this week is just a blip and that all workers will be able to get back on site in coming days.”
Multi-million pound funding to transform the UK’s coastal communities through investment in jobs, skills and local businesses opened for bids this week announced Coastal Communities Minister, Jake Berry.
500 new businesses supporting 5,500+ plus jobs have been created thanks to the government’s Coastal Communities Fund.
The opening of the next £40 million round of applications was announced by Coastal Communities Minister, Jake Berry, while visiting Barrow-in-Furness to see first hand how the fund has delivered major economic benefits for the Cumbrian town and wider coastal area.
Coastal Communities Minister, Jake Berry, said “I’m delighted to announce that applications are now open for the next round of the Coastal Communities Fund.
“Coastal Communities up and down the country from Barrow-in-Furness to Brighton have been boosted by this funding which has spurred inward investment, sustainable growth, new jobs and exciting economic opportunities for local businesses.
“By 2020, we’ll have invested nearly a quarter of a billion pounds in our seaside areas, providing thousands of jobs, training places and opportunities along the Great British Coast.”
The Coastal Communities Fund (CCF) supports the economic transformation of UK coastal communities by giving funding to create sustainable economic growth and jobs.
Since 2012, the government’s CCF has awarded grants to 295 projects across the UK, totalling over £174 million. Analysis shows this has been money well spent, with every £1 invested having the potential to create an up to £8 boost to our coastal economies. Successful projects have included:
- Cornwall council receiving a £1.95 million grant in 2014 to repair and re-launch the Grade II Listed Art Deco ‘Jubilee Pool’ in Penzance to create an all year round visitor attraction sustaining existing jobs and creating new positions (including much needed apprenticeships in an area with higher than average youth unemployment).
- In January 2015, Blackpool city council received a £2 million CCF grant towards the “Lightpool” project to deliver a radical transformation of the iconic Blackpool Illuminations, creating a compelling new visitor experience and a major boost to the local economy. The project is forecast to have increased visitor numbers by 2.6 million.
- The Tate St Ives was awarded a £3.87 million grant in 2015 to refurbish and extend the Tate Gallery in St Ives. The new facilities include a new apse gallery connecting the existing gallery to the new extension; a new suite of learning and event spaces; increased capacity for visitors in the reception, cloakrooms, café, new exhibition space, staff accommodation and training space.
- Amble – the seafood town – Northumberland. Northumberland county council was awarded a £1.8 million CCF grant in 2014 to improve the economy of Amble through infrastructure works to transform the town into a visitor destination promoting seafood, attracting new visitors and creating jobs. The project has provided two new restaurants, improved facilities incorporating a Harbour Village with retail space, and enhanced access along the shore.
Barrow-in-Furness has also benefitted from multiple rounds of coastal communities funding which has completely revolutionised business support in the coastal area from north of Millom across the Furness peninsula to Grange.
This has included:
- £900,000 in CCF round 1 (2012) being granted to Furness Enterprise Limited to create an innovation network which seamlessly connects local businesses with each other to streamline their supply chains. The funds also supported marketing of key sites, formation of 70 new start-up businesses and help to SMEs in providing training opportunities for unemployed residents to gain the skills they need to find a permanent job.
- £865,000 in CCF round 3 (2015) to Furness Enterprise Limited to accelerate regeneration in Barrow and the surrounding areas by strengthening supply chains and transforming skills as well as attracting inward investment and helping to provide specialist businesses support to local companies to up-skill and grow.
- A pilot scale internship scheme placing young people in high tech firms. This led to the OGDEN Trust agreeing to fund 60 placements from 2018 to 2020.
- Participation in the Manufacturing Forum and revolutionary proposals for a pan-Northern supply chain initiative connecting Northern businesses with manufacturers and service providers
- A new Furness Energy Forum bringing local businesses together to capitalise on energy supplier opportunities
- £444,000 in CCF round 4 (2017) to Barrow and Furness Coastal Communities Team to transform visitor facilities on Walney Island and covert an old, derelict built into a community run visitor hub.
Unite, the UK’s largest union, has accused the government of failing to fully protect workers left in limbo following the collapse last month of Carillion.
This follows a Westminster Hall debate this week called by Eleanor Smith MP, into the TUPE (transfer of undertakings protection of employment regulations) provision for Carillion workers.
As the majority of the Carillion companies went into compulsory liquidation, the normal TUPE provisions which ensure that pay and conditions are protected, when workers are transferred between companies, do not apply.
However despite MPs from all sides of the House of Commons calling for workers, especially those on public sector contracts, to have their pay and conditions protected through a “voluntary TUPE arrangement,” Andrew Griffiths MP the junior minister at the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, declined to do so.
Instead Mr Griffiths merely said “wherever practical and possible” the working conditions of Carillion workers having their contracts transferred would not be on detrimental terms and conditions.
In winding up the debate Labour MP Eleanor Smith, said that with the jobs of 11,800 Carillion workers still hanging in the balance: “She was disappointed that the Government couldn’t assure me on TUPE protection.”
Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail said “Thousands of Carillion workers remain in limbo and while there have been plenty of warm words from government ministers that public sector contracts will be protected, there are still no assurances that the terms and conditions of the workers will be protected.
“MPs from all parties called on the government to introduce voluntary TUPE procedures to ensure that workers who were entirely blameless in Carillion’s collapse have their pay and conditions protected.
“It is to the government’s discredit that they have refused to introduce this minor and simple measure which would provide some reassurance to these workers.”
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