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News

Rules on treatment of waste going to landfill

The Environment Agency reminds members that non-hazardous waste landfills can no longer accept liquid or untreated waste. Businesses must take responsibility for ensuring their waste is correctly managed. This change came into force on 30 October 2007 under the Landfill Directive.

Businesses will either need to treat their own waster (or ensure it is treated by a licensed waste management operator) before it goes to landfill. They should think about what happens to their waste and consider the different waste treatment options to boost the recovery and recycling of their waste. They can also speak to their waste collector about the disposal options available to them. This should not be onerous as many businesses already treat their waste in a simple way, such as collecting waste streams separately and recycling one or more of the separated parts, which enables them to comply with these changes.

Guidance for specific types of businesses or specific types of waste are now on The Environment Agency website to help businesses understand how to treat their waste.:

www.environment-agency.gov.uk.

You can find more information and general guidance on the new rules at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/landfilldirective.

New migrants points system

A leading recruiter in the construction industry, Resourcing Solutions Ltd, has welcomed the introduction of a new points system that allows skilled migrants to work in the UK, saying employers need access to the greatest pool of talent they can get.

The move, announced by Gordon Brown, is a bid to give the UK a system of managed migration and reassurance that those coming to the UK to work have the relevant skills and experience to fulfil roles within industries that are currently struggling with staff shortages.

Richard Lawrance, managing director of Resourcing Solutions said: “While reducing unemployment rates in the UK is a major priority, the positions must be fi lled by those who have the right skills and experience. Particularly now, as the construction industry is focussed on developing a world class arena for the Olympic Games in 2012 whilst also undertaking a number of other vital projects across the country, we’re struggling to find those people without looking further a field.”

More than 14,000 skilled migrants who entered the UK to work last year will benefit from the move as their right to stay will be extended and graduates with good English will also be able to apply for permission to remain.

Three of the UK's best building software packages for under £3 a day!

A rental package launched by HBXL, will provide builders with an opportunity to use the company's award-winning software at low cost.

The software enables users to produce building plans, estimates and health & safety paperwork in half the time, safe in the knowledge that they have always got the latest version of each software package and the support of the HBXL team.

Joanna Mulgrew, Marketing Director at HBXL said: “Instead of buying the software outright (which is normally worth over £2000), builders can rent PlansXpress, EstimatorXpress and Health & Safety Xpert, part of HBXL’s Project Toolkit suite. Not only that, they’ll get over £500 worth of extras including training workshops and free software!”

Joanna added: “This is a great way for new users to experience our software as builders are only committed for 90 days. There are also tax benefits as the software has not been purchased so is not deemed as an asset, and is therefore 100 perccent tax deductible.

“By renting the software for around £2.78 per day, builders can reduce their up front costs and offset the monthly rental fee against their tax charges while at the same time improving the services they offer:

HBXL is offering the HBXL Project Toolkit at a special launch rental price, with an initial deposit of £399 +VAT followed by a quarterly rental of £249 + VAT (£2.78 per day).

For further information on the HBXL Project Toolkit please call 0870 850 2444 or visit the web site www.hbxl.co.uk

British property Federation welcomes review to speed up planning

The British Property Federation (BPF) has welcomed a new review of the planning system, recently announced by Communities Secretary, Hazel Blears.

The Government has billed the review – which will concentrate on the practices of planning - ‘a new red tape busting review to weed out bureaucratic hurdles’. Any moves to create a more efficient planning system would be welcomed by all sides.

Ministers admit that there are still slow and cumbersome parts of the planning process that need to be tackled and the BPF has long lobbied for a more efficient and nationally aligned system.

The review entitled ‘Planning Applications: a faster and more responsive system’, will examine what can disrupt the progress of an application from when it is submitted up to and beyond when a decision is made.

Liz Peace CBE, chief executive of the BPF, said: “Hopefully, the review will make some sensible recommendations to help create a through but quick process for planning applications to be determined.”

New NHBC Seminars

NHBC is offering three courses during this spring and summer:

1.NHBC corporate manslaughter seminars

If you read the article on page 31 of the April 2008 issue of Master Builder, you will know that the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act, which came into force on 6 April means that for the first time, companies and organisations can be found guilty of corporate manslaughter where it is found that serious failures in the management of health and safety result in a fatality.

NHBC is running a series of half-day Corporate Manslaughter seminars to help senior staff understand the ramifications of the legislation for their risk management, governance arrangements and safety procedures.

Places are available for delegates to attend the seminar at the following dates in the following locations:

Newcastle - 29 April
Leeds - 30 April
Manchester - 1 May
London - 6 May
Birmingham - 7 May
Stirling - 9 May

For more information on NHBC's health and safety training, including the new Corporate Manslaughter briefing session, please contact Health and Safety training on 0870 850 4424 or e-mail h&straining@nhbc.co.uk.

2. Customer service is key

Focusing on customer care and satisfaction has become ever more important for house builders, never more so than in the current hardening market. It is important for builders and developers to remember that even the best strategies can be undone if the service provided by site-based staff does not live up to expectations.

So NHBC is running its Customer service for site-based staff course, concentrating on the practical and pragmatic steps which can make a real difference in managing customer care.

Places are available for delegates to attend the course at the following dates in the following locations:

Glasgow - May 1, 2008
Kettering - May 6, 2008
Guildford - May 13, 2008
Birmingham - May 15, 2008
Swindon - June 10, 2008
Bolton - June 18, 2008

For more information on NHBC's open courses, including Customer service for site-based staff, please contact Louise Heal on 0844 633 1000 or e-mailtraining@nhbc.co.uk.

3. Investigating accidents

The proper investigation and reporting of accidents in the workplace are essential requirements of effective safety management. In addition to the legal requirements for reporting certain accidents, there are important benefits to be gained by discovering immediate and underlying causes of accidents so that future accidents can be avoided.

NHBC has launched a new one-day course - Accident Investigation andReporting. This workshop-based course will involve interviewing and investigation to help develop these particular skills.

Places are available for delegates to attend the course at the following dates at the following locations:

Milton Keynes - 13 May 2008
Southampton - 14 May 2008
Bristol - 15 May 2008
London - 20 May 2008
Birmingham - 21 May 2008
Manchester - 22 May 2008
Newcastle - 03 June 2008
Leeds - 04 June 2008
Falkirk - 10 June 2008

For more information on NHBC’s open courses, including Accident Investigation and Reporting, please contact Lowri Woodcock or Gordon Halfacre on 0844 633 1000 or e-mail H&Straining@nhbc.co.uk.

Levy can be collected

As part of an annual review, MPs and Lords have unanimously agreed that the construction industry levy that supports the work of ConstructionSkills can be collected for another year.

The Levy funds are repaid to industry in the form for grants and other allowances to provide financial support to employers undertaking a range of training. In 2007, small and micro firms, (those employing less than 50 people), contributed 45 percent of levy income and benefited from 50 percent of the grants, college fees and other training allowances.

48 percent of grants were for the training of new entrants to the industry via Apprenticeships and other training schemes, and for every £1.00 of ConstructionSkills Levy received in 2007, the industry received back £2.03 in total benefits.

Sir Michael Latham, Chairman, ConstructionSkills commented: “The Levy supports the sector-based approach that was put firmly in place with the formation of Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) from 2003 and is in line with the key recommendations in Lord Leitch’s Review of UK Skills. It sets ConstructionSkills apart from other SSCs and provides an essential platform for meeting the skills and training needs of the industry.”

Nissan launches the NP300 pickup

Nissan has re-introduced its legendary workhorse pickup model, renamed NP300 With a maximum payload of 1115kg, the NP300 has a powerful yet frugal Euro 4 compliant 2.5 litre direct injection diesel producing 133hp with 304Nm torque for easy load shifting and towing.

As well as a large payload, the NP300 also has a towing capacity of 3000kg, allowing operators to carry all the materials and equipment they are likely to need.

This strong pick up can also be converted into different body styles, allowing specialists to tailor their vehicle to meet their exact needs.

To ensure that the NP300 spends the maximum time on the job, service intervals are 18,000 miles and backed up by a 60,000 mile, threeyear warranty (whichever comes first), while the body is protected by a six-year anti-corrosion warranty.

• Powerful 2.5-litre diesel engine
• 1115kg payload, 3000kg towing capacity
• Three body-styles
• 4x4 capability
• Ideal for conversion
• Long service intervals

Specialist contractors report sharp increase in payment periods

The first online State of Trade survey from the National Specialist Contractors’ Council (NSCC) has revealed that Specialist Contractors are now waiting even longer for payment with 33 percent of respondents reporting payment periods of 60-90 days.

This is a sharp rise on the previous two quarters when only 21 percent and 5 percent respectively were having to wait 60- 90 days for their money.

In this survey, 87 percent of respondents reported an increase in supplier prices which suggests that difficulties lie ahead for Specialist Contractors currently being squeezed by the housebuilding sector’s price reduction policy. The number of Specialist Contractors anticipating increased margins has fallen by 49 percent - a sign of difficult times ahead?

Suzannah Nichol, Chief Executive of NSCC, said: “NSCC is calling for 30-day payment periods to be implemented on all contracts through its Fair Payment Campaign and is advising Specialist Contractors to stand firm against the housebuilders’ bullying tactics.”

The NSCC Fair Payment Campaign was launched in September 2007 to highlight the issue of poor payment practices in the construction industry. It has three key objectives: certainty of payment, 30-day payment periods, and the removal of retentions. NSCC is encouraging everyone within the industry committed to fair payment practices to support the Fair Payment Campaign by signing up at www.fairpaymentcampaign.co.uk.

2008 William Morris Craft Fellows

Fellows (left to right) Jeremy Allen, Mark Wirtz (upper step), Innes Drummond (lower step)

Fighting to keep the craft skills that built Britain alive into the 21st century, The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) has selected a leadworker, a stonemason, a carpenter and an engineer to follow its unique annual training programme, the 2008 William Morris Craft Fellowship.

Mark Wirtz, 34, Innes Drummond, 26, Dave Davies, 37 and Jeremy Allen, 33, will now start a six-month schedule travelling all over the country to learn more about traditional crafts from skilled men and women who have already established careers in the field. The aim is for the new Fellows to develop a grounding in a wide range of traditional skills to help them bring a strong awareness of craft diversity to their future professional roles.

Nationally, heritage bodies are concerned that there are not enough people training to continue Britain’s distinctive buildings crafts. Since 1986 SPAB has organised the William Morris Craft Fellowship to promote and support these very specialised skills and to create a new generation of outstanding craftsmen and women with the knowledge and expertise to pass these crafts on.

Scholars (top step, left to right) Harriet Von Fritsch, David Evans (lower step) Jessica Hunnisett, Fergus Connolly

Craftsmen and women from any trade employed in the repair of historic buildings on site or in workshops and studios may apply for the William Morris Craft Fellowship. Candidates must have completed their apprenticeships and demonstrate a high degree of competence. Fellows are usually in their 20s or 30s, but older candidates are not excluded.

For more information on SPAB visit: www.spab.org.uk