COVID Continues
Freedom Day finally arrives this week but only last week the Construction Leaders Council advised contractors & construction companies that masks should still be worn in canteens and site offices. The CLC warns against relaxation of social distancing rules and encourages the continuation of protective worn equipment such as masks in enclosed spaces such as welfare facilities and on public transport. Meanwhile, a wave of NHS Test & Trace contacts in the first week of July saw 500k people texted by the app which is highly coincidental with the reopening of pubs & world sporting events.
New award-winning site location technology
Luckily, technology exists so Construction sites can stay open and take care of their workers with beable® Wearable which has been deployed at a large north London site to keep workers safe and productive; it facilitates physical distancing as well as interaction tracking. Co-developed by Electronic Media Services and COMIT Projects and funded by Innovate UK, the new technology has been well received and plans to rollout to further sites in Q2 this year are underway.
Click here to find out more2000 Jobs in Teesside Energy Plant
Plans to build an electricity plant in Teesside will create 2000 jobs in the construction phase. The Whitetail Clean Energy plant could be commissioned in 2025 and would create energy by combusting gas with oxygen, using liquid carbon dioxide to drive the steam.
Internet Connectivity for New, Temporary and Challenging locations…
For new, temporary and challenging locations why not consider the EMS i-MO OptiBond solution? Delivers fast / resilient aggregated 4G and / or fixed line services to site in days. The system is widely used on difficult to serve and new commercial and infrastructure projects. See www.ems-imo.com
Find out more£690m Harrow Regeneration Programme to Build 1,500 Affordable Homes
Wates is partnering with Harrow Council in the ‘Harrow Strategic Development Partnership’ to deliver 1,500 affordable homes, a new civic centre & commercial space which will transform and renew Harrow areas Poets Corner, Peel Road and Byron Quarter with plenty of green space whilst protecting the greenbelt.
Construction Worker Demand Highest in 2 Decades
33k vacancies were listed in April-June, the highest in 20 years second only to March-May records. On average there are 25% more vacancies in 2021 than 2019 with most sever shortages in key skills & skilled labour brought about by exodus of EU workers due to Brexit. Infrastructure, housing, repair and maintenance markets vacancies are 10% higher than pre-pandemic. According to the ONS construction workers numbered 100k less in the first quarter of 2021 compared to 2020.
Net Zero UK
The Government published plans to decarbonise the UK public transport system including flights. A plane Solar Impulse has already circumnavigated the earth using only solar power, so the technology exists! To help SMEs understand and make the most of the Net Zero opportunities The Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) and the Environmental Industries Commission (EIC) have published a new guide for SMEs with the online launch TODAY Tuesday 20 July. Register free here.