INSPIRED LEARNING FOR BRICKLAYERS

New College Lanarkshire is one of the largest colleges in Scotland and operates across Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire, with campuses in Cumbernauld, Motherwell, Coatbridge, Kirkintilloch, Hamilton and Broadwood. With more than 10,000 students, New College Lanarkshire provides outstanding learning opportunities and has high impact partnerships within the public, business and third sectors.

The college offers courses that are designed to provide focused skills in bricklaying, with industry-recognised qualifications and certificates that will enable students to forge rewarding careers in construction.

CPI EuroMix visited bricklaying students at the college earlier this month and also supplied bulk bags of limesand training material for them to use.

 

Speaking on the visit, Yvonne Foley from CPI EuroMix said: “We were delighted to meet the bricklaying staff and students. We were greeted so warmly and were inspired by the students’ talent and the staff’s dedication. It was inspiring to see so many students pursuing careers in bricklaying – we certainly look forward to seeing them on sites in the future!”

 

 

CPI Mortars is the market leader in dry mortar technology and has established a solid track record with many of the leading house builders, contractors, architects and consultants.

EuroMix is a range of mortars, renders and screeds, factory produced using dried sand, cement, lime if required, and other additives, delivered to site in a silo complete with mixing equipment. When delivered, the silo contains 16 tonnes of dry material, which produces about 10m³ of mortar. It can hold up to 35 tonnes when refilled by tanker.

Once power and water supplies are connected, a constant supply of high quality mortar or render is available at the push of a button. Operating from nine sites throughout the UK the company provides a productive, efficient and cost effective solution to all construction site mortar and render requirements and the company’s distinctive red and white EuroMix silos have become a familiar feature on many building sites throughout the country.

CPI WEBSITE

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College on Track for Completion

A major extension to a Wolverhampton college is on track for completion.

Morgan Sindall Construction was awarded the £12.6m contract to expand the Thomas Telford University Technical College (UTC) last year and began work on the 4,500 sq m extension in the summer.

So far, it has handed over the all-weather pitch, performance space and refurbished kitchen.

Designed by Associated Architects, the extension comprises three-storey teaching building and a separate sports hall facility with a reconfigured external social space and multi-use games area.

Based at the University of Wolverhampton’s Springfield site – Europe’s largest construction education campus – the expanded UTC will be built alongside the institution’s School of Architecture & the Built Environment (SOABE), and the new National Brownfield Institute which is currently being developed.

Attention now turns to the completion of the new sports block and teaching block.

Handover is set for August and will increase the schools intake by 450 additional pupils, taking the total capacity to 1,050, while supporting at least 50 additional roles for teaching and support staff.

In attendance to celebrate the work completed at the college so far was Mike Woods (DfE Project Manager, Avtar Gill (Thomas Telford UTC Principal), Nathalie Richardson (Associate – Associated Architects) and Amy Kirby (Architectural Technologist – Associated Architects). As well as James Lawley (Senior Project Manager, Matthew Rees (Design Manager and Luke White (Senior Quantity Surveyor) all from the Morgan Sindall Construction team.

Richard Fielding, area director at Morgan Sindall Construction said: “We are excited to see the extension take shape and move a step closer to the handover of this landmark college which will see improved facilities for pupils and teachers. The extension will enable the next generation of leaders in construction to learn in a state-of-the-art environment.

“We are huge advocates of the new T level qualifications and it is incredibly rewarding for both ourselves as employers and for young people to see them gain crucial work experience on site which will propel them into successful careers in the industry. We have seen the students who have joined us have grown in confidence and flourish in their roles.

“I also want to thank the wider team for their resilience during supply shortages by sequencing work to mitigate issues and avoid disruption. In what can be a challenging market, the supply chain has stepped up and collaborated with us to find solutions to any issues we’ve encountered.

“We will continue to work closely with the school, council and supply chain to deliver the school in time of the new school year. We are all incredibly excited to handover this project in August which will have a huge benefit to Wolverhampton in terms of its educational offering and closing the skills gap.”

 

Consultants on the scheme include structural engineers Copeland Wedge Associates and M&E Design Consultant Couch Perry Wilkes.

Source: The Business Desk
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Three into One New School

Plans to redevelop three primary schools in the south of Rhondda Cynon Taf have been approved.

The council plans for Pontyclun Primary School, Penygawsi Primary School in Llantrisant and Llanilltud Faerdref Primary School in Church Village went before the planning committee on Thursday, March 10 and got the go ahead.

They are part of an RCT Council 21st Century Schools funding bid to Welsh Government and the council hopes to deliver them by 2023.

The Pontyclun proposal involves the demolition of all existing buildings and the construction of a new net zero carbon school, with sports facilities including two enclosed multi-use games areas.

There will be 40 off-street parking spaces (10% of which will include electric vehicle charging points) provided at two new car parks and there would also be cycle storage.

The new school will accommodate 540 pupils, 480 between the ages of five and 11, and 60 nursery places with 39 full-time equivalent staff employed.

The planning report said the applicant has detailed the existing school buildings were constructed at various times in the past, with the earliest dating back to 1923 and the most recent in the 2000s.

It said that they have come to the end of their useful life and it would not be viable to renovate/extend them up to the standard required.

There have been nine letters of objection to this application saying it would be out of character with existing buildings in the area, potential overbearing, overshadowing and overlooking from its proximity to houses, Heol y Felin is already congested during school hours and the new development would exacerbate these issues and no thought has been given to the retention of the existing buildings adding that the 1923 building is of character and social significance within the community.

Other concerns focus on the construction period, pollution, a lack of notification for some properties and the potential for there to be hazardous substances in the existing buildings.

But planning officers recommended approval and said the development will “bring a state-of-the art facility to Pontyclun which will be of significant benefit to the pupils of the catchment area.

“The applicant also proposes a wider community use for some facilities which will be an asset to all residents of the town.”

They said the redevelopment works will result in a “substantial improvement to the visual appearance of the site” and they do not think it would result in a significant increase to impacts in the area.

A temporary school building and associated infrastructure will be needed during construction.

Penygawsi Primary School in Llantrisant

The plan which was approved for Penygawsi is for the demolition of the existing school buildings and for a new net zero carbon school with a nursery and school sports facilities like a seven-a-side grass football pitch and two enclosed multi-use games areas.

The new school will accommodate 355 pupils, 310 between the ages of five to 11 and 45 nursery places with 29 full-time equivalent staff being employed.

28 off-street parking spaces (10% of which will include electric vehicle charging points) will be provided at a new car park area between the school building and the play facilities and there will also be cycle storage.

The report said the applicant has explained the existing school building was constructed in 1975 and has come to the end of its useful life; and it would not be viable to renovate/extend it to bring it up to Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools requirements.

There was one objection which raised concerns about the close proximity of the new school to nearby houses and the potential for overbearing, overshadowing and overlooking.

It also raised potential increased noise levels, increases to the already high volume of traffic, potential anti-social behaviour in an area between the school and the back gardens of houses, that it could exacerbate the water-logging of people’s gardens, the impact of construction activities on neighbours and the value of surrounding properties being reduced.

Councillor Wayne Owen said the plans are well overdue and he thinks the new school is going to be an asset to the area.

Llanilltud Faerdref Primary School in Church Village

The redevelopment of Llanilltud Faerdref Primary School in Church Village includes the demolition of all existing buildings and the building of a new net zero carbon school building and sports facilities, including two multi-use games areas, a grass five-a-side football pitch and a 40m sprint track

It will also have a car parking area with 23 spaces including 10% electric vehicle charging provision and there will also be cycle storage.

No objections were received and planning officers recommended approval, saying it will bring a state-of-the-art facility to Church Village, which will be of significant benefit to the pupils of the catchment area.

They added that a wider community use proposed for some facilities will be an asset to all residents of the area.

They said the new building will form a marked improvement to the existing site and it is not considered the new building, or the wider development proposed, would result in a significant increase to impacts already experienced by neighbouring residents or to highway safety in the area.

The planning agent said the existing buildings are in poor condition and are no longer fit to support the needs of the curriculum for Wales.

He said the improvements are much needed to provide a school which is fit for purpose and accessible.

Councillor Ross Williams said: “I think it’s great to see such improvements on schools and I think if we want our children to thrive it’s great that we can give them the environment to do so.”

All three applications were approved with a condition related to safer routes to school.

 

Source: Wales Online

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UNSAFE SCHOOL TO BE REPLACED WITH NEW BUILD

A historic school building in Newport which was closed a year ago over safety concerns is to be demolished and replaced before pupils can return.

Hundreds of pupils at St Andrew’s Primary School on Jenkins Street were unable to return to classrooms after “significant structural issues” were found at the school’s junior building last March.

At the time, inspections revealed a structural issue which Newport council said necessitated the immediate closure of the building for safety reasons. The issues were later found to be “more widespread than hoped” and around 340 pupils and staff – including all key stage two pupils and staff – have been taught in Newport Live’s Connect Centre ever since.

It has now been confirmed that the junior building will be demolished and replaced after Welsh Government approved a £10 million project to fund its replacement. Repairing the old building was investigated but ultimately not considered due to foundation defects at the site, as well as other problems.

It is anticipated that the current building will be demolished ahead of building a replacement, with clearance works planned for this summer to minimise disruption before the affected students return in September 2023.

Confirming £10 million will be added to the the scope of the Welsh Government’s Band B schools improvement programme, Newport council leader Jane Mudd said it was “great news” and that council officers “will work with colleagues in Newport Norse to develop designs for a permanent solution on the site”.

“It is expected that staff and pupils will be able to return from September 2023 and whole school can be reunited on one site. I would like to thank the staff, led by head teacher Jo Giles, governors and pupils for the resilient way they have dealt with this unavoidable situation,” she said.

Head teacher Jo Giles said: “While we continue to hold fond memories of the history of our previous St Andrew’s junior building, we are incredibly excited to hear this news”, adding that it would work alongside the council to plan and build the new junior school.

Chair of governors and the council’s deputy leader Councillor Roger Jeavons added: “I’m sure this wonderful news will be welcomed by the whole school community.

“All the dedicated staff have made sure that the children have settled in their temporary home and they are continuing to receive a first class education but I know will be looking forward to returning to a new building on St Andrew’s site next year.

“I’m saddened that we have to lose the old building that has served local people for more than 100 years but understand that this is unavoidable. However, St Andrew’s Primary School is about much more than the structures and its wonderful spirit and sense of community will live on in the new building.”

Source: Wales Online

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TRAIN TO GAIN

LEADING life-safety systems manufacturer, C-TEC, has launched a new series of BS 5839-1 fire detection and fire alarm system compliance courses.

Delivered at C-TEC’s state-of-the-art training centre in the North West of England, the courses include both theoretical and practical activities. Thoroughly covering BS 5839-1 Foundation, Design, Installation & Commissioning and Maintenance, the courses can culminate in a regulated qualification in BS 5839-1 through FireQual, the specialist awarding body for the fire protection sector in the UK.

Brian Foster, UK Sales Manager at the rapidly expanding company, said: “C-TEC is on a mission to lift industry standards and the quality of fire installations across the UK. We’ve always provided free educational CPD-certified seminars and product training to promote best practice and raise awareness but the launch of our BS 5839-1 ‘TRAIN-TO-GAIN’ courses signals our intention to take it to a new level.”

“We’re confident the courses will attract a high level of interest as they’re reasonably-priced, centrally-located and specifically designed to encourage people working in the fire industry to embark on a journey to boost their competency, expertise and professional performance – and achieve an industry-recognised qualification in the process.”

Each course will be delivered by highly experienced and qualified trainers in line with the technical requirements of the awarding body. Delegates will undergo hands-on practical assessments to ensure they understand the subject matter and display the necessary competence to attain the regulated qualification. Successful delegates will be issued with CPD Certificates for each module and those who pass a final exam will be awarded a regulated qualification certificate from FireQual.

Added Brian: “High-quality training is vital in the fire industry. Whether you’re an industry newcomer or an established company looking to educate new personnel, our new BS 5839-1 courses are designed to equip delegates with the knowledge, expertise and confidence they need to be among the best in the business.”

Bookable over multiple weeks or as an intensive week-long cluster, the courses will prepare delegates for the FireQual regulated qualification examination to allow them to design, install, commission and maintain fire detection and fire alarm systems to BS 5839-1 and confidently sign fire certificates where necessary.

C-TEC is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of world-class life-safety systems. The company’s latest innovations include its new CAST protocol fire detection and fire alarm systems; Hush, a revolutionary new BS 5839-6 Grade C domestic fire alarm system and EVAC-ALERT, a new evacuation alert system to BS 8629.

FireQual is the specialist awarding body for qualifications within the fire protection sector within the UK. Established by BAFE, FireQual works through a network of Approved Training Centres to provide competency based qualifications to support the further development of knowledge and skills within the industry.

 

For more information about C-TEC’s new courses and/or to book a place, visit www.c-tec.store

 

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Post-Grad Course in Building Retrofit

A new post-graduate course to improve the energy efficiency of buildings has been given the go-ahead at The Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment at Robert Gordon University (RGU).

This comes as the university successfully joins the UK Green Building Council.

The new course, PG Cert Building Retrofit, has been developed to improve the energy performance of the existing building stock and to help decarbonise and deliver a net zero carbon future.

Currently around 13 per cent of Scotland’s carbon emissions are related to the way homes are heated. Scottish Government targets aim to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2045, with a commitment that gas boilers will no longer be installed in new homes from 2024.

In Aberdeen, 45 per cent of homes have no wall insulation, many suffer from damp problems and have poor indoor air quality, (Scottish House Condition Survey 2019).

Course leader, Amar Bennadji, from The Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment, said: “Given the fact that the great majority of buildings that will be in use in 2050 are already in existence, there is no more important an issue than improving existing housing stock and upgrading or retrofitting old houses with energy improvements, if net zero targets are to be met.

“The Scott School of Architecture and Building is at the forefront of sustainable design having successfully been accredited as a member of the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC).

“The accreditation recognises the school’s record in improving the sustainability of the built environment, by transforming the way it is planned, designed, constructed, maintained and operated.

“The new post-graduate course in Building Retrofit joins a portfolio of courses on offer at The Scott Sutherland School that have sustainability at their core and I’m delighted to be surrounded by such a dedicated team to develop the course.”

RGU is also engaged in an inter-regional project “Stronghouse”, a €7 million project with 26 other EU partners to develop a program dedicated to help homeowners retrofit their home.

The new post-graduation course will build upon the ongoing research project that Dr Bennadji is part of.

Matt Clubb, a student from The Scott Sutherland School of Architecture, said: “It’s great to see RGU providing this course on retrofit. There’s lots of good energy efficient knowledge out there, but the industry needs to start ramping up the skills required to deliver such projects.

“It’s important to have the theoretical elements as well as the practical elements and we need more skills across all disciplines if we’re going to deliver good quality, whole house retrofits for Aberdeen.

“I hope RGU’s new retrofit post-graduate course will encourage other institutions to start taking retrofit seriously and building the 600,000 strong workforce the UK is going to need.”

The PG Cert Building Retrofit course will be offered online to full-time and part-time students and will start in September this year, with another intake in January.

Students will develop specialist knowledge and skills required to effectively work in this field in the UK context, and to make a significant contribution to the net-zero agenda.

As part of the course, they will consider the balance between performance, cost, and disruption such as putting insulation into an old property.

The course contains two distinctive parts, a theoretical part followed by a simulated practical part with industry involved in the delivery.

To find out more about the course, visit: www.rgu.ac.uk/building-retrofit

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‘Green Credentials’ of School Lighting Policy Questioned

At a virtual meeting of Midlothian’s Police and Fire Rescue Board, Councillor Peter Smaill questioned the ‘green’ credentials of the local authority’s school lighting policy, he said he had received a complaint about a school being lit up during the night.

And he said while he did not want to play down the need for security on school grounds there may be more modern approaches the council could take.

Speaking to the board, Cllr Smaill said: “I think we are all conscious there were serious fires in 2020 in Peebles and Dunfermline and we obviously don’t want to run any risks, but on the other side of the debate I’ve had a complaint about light pollution caused by our policy, as it seems, of keeping the lights on in schools all night long.

Whilst he did not want to play down the need for security on school grounds there may be more modern approaches the council could take.

Speaking to the board, Cllr Smaill said: “I think we are all conscious there were serious fires in 2020 in Peebles and Dunfermline and we obviously don’t want to run any risks, but on the other side of the debate I’ve had a complaint about light pollution caused by our policy, as it seems, of keeping the lights on in schools all night long.

“Clearly with all the green pressures on us this is not a very desirable thing quite apart from the impact on the residents. I just wonder if technology has moved on so that motion sensitive lighting and vapour clouds technology might mean that we could do something in this area or possibly simply turn down the intensity of the lights.”

The council’s chief officer of place Derek Oliver said he had asked the relevant departments to clarify the situation at schools to establish what could be done to tackle the issue. He said: “It is something which is a very valid question in terms of the climate aspect.”

A spokesperson for Midlothian Council said that current lighting outside school buildings was there for security reasons.

They said: “We have emergency lighting at the end of corridors that are on even when the school building is empty. This is to make sure anyone inside could find escape routes in the event of a fire, for example. It’s very low level lighting and wouldn’t cause light pollution in any way. Externally, we have some wall and lamppost lights in school playgrounds. This is for security reasons and insurance purposes to help deter and detect criminal activity and wilful fire raising.

“We remain committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and we’re confident we can achieve that while keeping our buildings safe.”

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Bigger alternative provision school planned for Witham to replace current Heybridge building on this land

Land proposed for the new school (Credit LDRS)

 

Students with special educational needs are set to move to a new school in Witham twice the size of its current one.

The new alternative provision secondary school being planned by Keys Co-operative Academy Trust would have double the capacity of its current base in Heybridge.

Heybridge Co-operative Academy, part of Keys Co-operative Academy Trust, is an all-through alternative provision school currently offering 135 places for primary and secondary aged students in mid-Essex.

Its existing base in Heybridge has a capacity of just 60 which means many have to be taught away from the school.

But after Essex County Council pledged to increase the school’s capacity to 140 by building a new site on land to the rear of Chipping Hill Primary School – the academy trust’s existing primary satellite site in Witham – students will be offered standard full time provision with the school building.

It is intended the primary school will remain unchanged.

Keys Co-operative Academy Trust – an educational charity formed by a co-operative of schools – says its school building in Heybridge was constructed over 100 years ago, and despite best efforts to maintain the high standards the building is not fit for the needs of even a 120 place alternative provision school.

However, there is a demand for special school places in Essex, especially for Social, Emotional and Mental Health pupils and it plans to continue to use the Heybridge site for a smaller cohort of SEND pupils.

This would form part of the delivery of the Essex ‘Spend to Save’ initiative and provide appropriate education for young people struggling to succeed in mainstream schools.

A move would offer better all round facilities – the existing school does not currently have a kitchen and pupils are also taught in small numbers in very small spaces which is not only expensive for the school but denies pupils opportunities that exist with larger group working.

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Hopwood Hall College Expansion

A RISLEY construction company has won the contract for a major £8.1million project at a college campus.

Caddick Construction, which is based on Trident Business Park, has been appointed to deliver a 15,000sq ft extension at Hopwood Hall College and University Centre’s site in Middleton.

It will also carry out a refurbishment of existing buildings at the campus.

Building work was set to begin this week, with completion scheduled for spring next year.

Contracts manager Dave Burton said: “We are proud to be helping Hopwood Hall College expand its facilities, including the state-of-the-art Technology Centre.

“This will enable the Middleton campus to offer more T-levels and technical training, and provides a huge opportunity for students and employers to develop the skills of our future workforce.

“The college does fantastic work across a range of courses and is helping to attract new recruits into advanced construction, building trades and engineering which is welcomed by the industry.”

Caddick Construction is one employer which offers work placements to Hopwood Hall College students.

Social value manager Michelle Swarbrick added: “The T-Levels offer essential training on construction sites alongside specialist college-based learning.

“It helps employers gain a valuable early insight into the talent pool, as well as enabling the team to develop the knowledge, skills and approach of the students wanting to work within the built environment sector.”

College head of facilities and risk management Lewis Crichton said: “Hopwood Hall College has an extensive and wide array of facilities, supporting a host of curriculum areas.

“The targeted investment into the college’s Technology Centre will expand on this offering by introducing a new Advanced Manufacturing Centre, along with expansion of current facilities to meet demand in other construction and engineering disciplines.

“Hopwood Hall College is committed to providing excellent facilities and a positive learner journey for all our students. The arrival of these new facilities will help ensure we continue to provide high quality education, meeting the needs of future industry and construction sectors.”

Source: Runcord & Wales World

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£5.8m School Redevelopment Plan

BUILDING services provider Arc-Tech (Scotland) has started a package of works at Pinewood School in Blackburn, West Lothian.

The firm was appointed by BAM Construct UK, in partnership with hub South East Scotland, to deliver a £1 million turnkey mechanical and electrical services package to support the creation of a new build and improvement of teaching facilities for primary and secondary pupils with additional support needs.

Water services, ventilation, heating and air conditioning, as well as all fire safety, lighting and data systems will be amongst a suite of services that will support the main construction programme.

John Gallacher, Arc-Tech MD, said, “After having been formally appointed to Pinewood School earlier this year, we are delighted to have now commenced works on-site. Our experience of working with BAM is well documented with various projects recently undertaken together from within both the education and health sectors. I would like to thank them for their continued support and wish our contract team well as they undertake this six-month programme.”

BAM is delivering the £5.8 million redevelopment of the school that will include construction of a new building with additional facilities including games hall, dining area, office accommodation, and additional classroom.

Paul Bell, BAM construction manager, added, “BAM has established a strong track record as one of the most experienced and expert education providers in Scotland and we are delighted to collaborate with Arc-Tech (Scotland) once again. This is an important project that will deliver an enhanced learning environment for primary and secondary school age children with complex needs from across West Lothian. We look forward to working with Arc-Tech to deliver another first-class educational facility for hub South East Scotland and West Lothian Council.”

The firms continue to progress a similar phase of works at Cedarbank School in Livingston with each project being delivered as part of West Lothian Council’s £26.5 million investment programme to improve facilities within schools that provide additional support needs across the area. Both projects are set for completion this year.

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