Aidan King

To highlight the extent and cost of construction activity that would need to take place to meet the government’s target of the housing stock being at least EPC rating C for Net Zero, there were 29.6 million homes in Great Britain in 2023. Of this, 15.7 million were below EPC rating C and so need to be energy-efficiency retrofitted. This is split by region and nation in the chart. If the housing stock were to be retrofitted to at least EPC rating C by 2050, assuming that this activity ramped up on 1 January 2025, it would require 630,000 energy-efficiency retrofits on homes each year, every year until 2050 or 12,000 energy-efficiency retrofits homes each week, every week until 2050. The greatest issues are clearly who will pay for it and who will do the work. If we assume the average cost of retrofitting a home was £10,000, which is very optimistic as 35% of homes were built before 1940 and 72% were built over 45 years ago, then the total cost of retrofitting the housing stock would be £160,000 million. If we assume the average retrofit cost was £20,000, the total cost would be £360,000 million, and if the average retrofit cost were £30,000, the total cost would be more than £470,000 million. The extent of retrofit activity that needs to take place also requires sustained large investment upfront over many years in skills and products capacity to be able to deliver the retrofit activity, even assuming that the demand, finance and willingness to spend on energy-efficiency retrofit is there from homeowners, particularly on older more expensive to retrofit properties. This is especially given the loss of the construction workforce over the last 5 years (see links in the comments), a lack of apprenticeships and whether new entrants are being trained for skills needed in the future. It is also critical to remember energy-efficiency retrofit is much more labour-intensive than new build construction, so it will require a sharp increase in construction workers. What we need most of all, if government is actually serious about retrofitting the existing housing stock, is a realistic long-term plan of investment in energy-efficiency retrofitting that is funded (or if it is private funded then who will pay private investors the price including profit?) with sustained demand so firms can justify making the upfront investments in capacity and skills. Otherwise, retrofitting the existing housing stock will not happen. #ukhousing #housing #ukhousingmarket #housingmarket #ukrealestate #realestate #ukconstruction #ukbuilders #construction #builders #constructionuk #buildersuk #building #ukbuilding #buildinguk #constructionindustry #contractors #supplychain #constructionworkers #constructionworker #constructionwork #buildingmaterials #constructionmaterial #constructionmaterials #buildingcontractors #netzero #netzero2050 #netzerotransition #netzerocarbon #retrofit #retrofitting #retrofits #energyefficiency #energyefficienthomes #energyefficientretrofits

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🔴 ARJ Construction Limited set to enter administration. Financially the firm looked strong, but was there a key angle missed? ⬇ ARJ's most recent accounts, covering the 12 months to 30 April 2023, appeared healthy as revenue soared by 61% from £72.7m to £117m. However, the Company Watch TextScore® painted a slightly different picture (see comments below post). Whilst ARJ's financials looked strong, their TextScore® was deep in our Warning Area between July 2020 and January 2022... 🚨 ARJ's TextScore® was also narrowly sitting outside the Warning Area in its latest filing, July 2023, with a weak score of 31/100. TextScore® is our unique tool that harnesses the power of natural language processing (NLP) to help our clients uncover financial risk. It allows you to look at risk through a different lens, rather than focusing on purely financial analysis. 🕵‍♀️ This innovative tool delves deep into the text of the financial reports of publicly listed and large private UK companies. By analysing the sentiment of thousands of words and phrases, it extracts insights and flags stress indicators. 🔻 If the language or word patterns are similar to those of a company that has failed in the past, the company in question is likely to be at risk also. With interest rates remaining high and conflict escalating in the Middle East, uncertain times are set to continue. A simple credit check is not enough. A company's finances might look solid on the surface, but what’s lurking beneath? 🦈 TextScore® features our customer love: 🏗 Implied Industry Function - Often, the SIC code a company provides is not reflective of what the business actually does. We give our customers a percentage confidence match to an industry in seconds, based on the words and phrases contained within company reports, indicating the true industry the company is in. 📊 Word Phrase Count - TextScore® extracts a list of words and phrases occurring with high frequency. Our clients can easily spot any repeated negative words or phrases. For example, ‘fraud,’ ‘decreasing’, or ‘onerous provisions.’ 🔎 Search Function - For a document to be readable by TextScore®, it must go through an optical character recognition process. The document is then reconstructed. This process means that you can use the ‘ctrl + f’ function on the document to scan through any of the keywords TextScore® has flagged. Easy! At Company Watch, we’re constantly innovating so we can provide the latest and best solutions on the market, and our results speak for themselves. TextScore® is identifying a high number of insolvencies well in advance of distress events. ➡ To learn more about TextScore® and to arrange your free trial, please visit: https://lnkd.in/gWgjN5uv #insolvency #construction #creditrisk #duediligence https://lnkd.in/g-MXmgpR

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Looking forward to the Constructing Excellence Essex Breakfast on Thursday. Hope to see some of you there! #constructingexcellenceessex #construction #essex #builtenvionment #architecure #structralengineering  #civilengineering #planning #ecology #placemaking #surveying #quanitysurveying #projecmanagment  #assetmanagment #estatemanagment #interiordesign #infrastructure #development #property  #networking #networkingbreakfast

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Nothing beats the feeling of enjoying what you do, especially when Mother Nature decides to bless you with perfect weather! Today, our amazing construction team is out on-site, soaking up the sunshine and loving every moment of it. 🏗️☀️ #construction #constructionuk #project #constructionwork #teamwork

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In this latest insight article from our #Construction team, Hayley Sullivan, Megan Largier and Ben Yates provide a succinct overview of the changes introduced by the 2024 edition of the JCT Design and Build contract 📃 Find out what these updates mean for employers and contractors in relation to the Building Safety Act and Higher-Risk Buildings below 👇 #JCT2024 #BuildingSafetyAct #BSA #ConstructionLaw

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One year after launching the new iteration of the Suffolk Construction and Building Services Framework, we can confirm that 21 projects were awarded and either delivered or work is currently being undertaken onsite. In the first year of this four-year Framework, we anticipate that the contracts awarded will amount to just under £42m.   With 19 other projects at various stages in the tender process, the Framework continues to deliver new buildings that will enhance our communities and support our clients' Net Zero aims.   All Framework partners are committed to supporting social value and recognise the additional benefits construction can bring to the communities in which they work, from physical jobs to raising young people's aspirations or charitable contributions. We are excited to continue delivering key schemes across Suffolk and the East of England. You can read more about the Framework by visiting our website - https://lnkd.in/evqiqVaP #framework #partnership #teamwork #suffolk #eastofengland #socialvalue #community #projects #netzero #construction

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What is DfMA and how does it improve not only safety and quality of a build, but also sustainability? Buro Happold was appointed to deliver all major engineering services including Civil, Structural, and Building Services Engineering (MEP) for Everton FC’s new stadium, located on the Grade II listed Bramley Moore Dock. One of the major elements of our work was the DfMA approach to the stadium. Lloyd Baker, UK Director, Buro Happold, said: “Buro Happold and Laing O’Rourke have exemplified excellence in the application of Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) on the Everton Stadium project, achieving remarkable efficiency and quality. “Their collaborative approach and innovative use of technology have set a new benchmark in the modern construction of stadia.” Our work on the DfMA principles and virtual prototyping at Everton Stadium has seen the construction of a future-proof development. Through early collaboration with the contractor, we delivered a construction phase ready design model, using DfMA principles to build a virtual prototype of the building, utilising different software and workflows. DfMA’s focus on efficiency naturally leads to the improved sustainability of construction projects. A reduction in the number of parts means less processing and, subsequently, a reduction in energy usage and carbon emissions, whilst also improving safety and quality.     Alix Waldron, Director of New Stadium Development at Everton FC, said: “It has been a pleasure to work with Buro Happold’s team in helping us create and bring to life our new home.     “All staff that our team have come into contact with have been incredibly knowledgeable, collaborative and committed to help us succeed in this momentous project.”    Find out more in the video below, and read the full DfMA story for Everton Stadium here: https://lnkd.in/gzfr7NRR #football #EvertonFC #Liverpool #UK #engineering #BuroHappold #DfMA #sports #stadium #stadia #MEP #structuralengineering #GradeIIListed #Everton 

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Its no secret, the 17/4 rotation Isn't the choice for construction professionals. Due to the nature of the projects, its not always the companies decision to put this rotation in place, its driven by the big blue chip clients. This video was over 12 months ago with Fergus Nugent. It seems the industry hasn't moved at all towards easier rotations. Larger projects, tighter timescales so more time needed on site. What rotation are you on? What have you seen that works the best? #construction #rotations

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Evening all so sorry for the late post . Back at home after nearly 3 weeks in hospital . Got to take thing easy for a few days . But I’ve come home to great news that out house contracts have exchanged today and I move on the 26th July . Can’t wait to start a new chapter , new memories in my life after so many years of battling addiction . Dreams do come true . Todays reading (Patience) God god I was 1 impatient mother fucker . If said I wanted it I wanted it now If I said hit targets you better fcking hit them If I said you have 5 mins the you got 5mins I didn’t have time or bullshit when people tried having me over . If I wanted a fckin drink I wanted it , and I would walk over hot coals to get it . 1 thing I’ve learnt in the life of sobriety is be is be patient, good things will come to those who wait , Recovery is not a sprint it’s a marathon that continues each and everyday . When we go to our first meeting we look at our fellows you have multiple years of clean time and we think out selves I want some of that . Believe me do it correctly with patience and enjoy the rewards of freedom and life July 12 Patience We were trapped by our need for the instant gratification that drugs gave us. Basic Text, p. 25 = I want what I want, and I want it now! Thats about as patient as most of us ever got in our active addiction. The obsession and compulsion of our disease gave us a one-track way of thinking; when we wanted something, thats all we thought about. And the drugs we took taught us that instant gratification was never more than a dose away. Its no wonder that most of us came to Narcotics Anonymous with next to no patience. The problem is, we cant always get what we want whenever we want it. Some of our wishes are pure fantasy; if we think about it, well realize we have no reason to believe those wishes will be fulfilled in our lifetimes. We probably cant even fulfill all our realistic desires; we certainly cant fulfill them all at once. In order to acquire or achieve some things, we will have to sacrifice others. In our addiction we sought instant gratification, squandering our resources. In recovery we must learn to prioritize, sometimes denying the gratification of some desires in order to fulfill more important long-term goals. To do so requires patience. To find that patience, we practice our program of recovery, seeking the kind of full-bodied spiritual awakening that will allow us to live and enjoy life on lifes terms. = Just for today: Higher Power, help me discover whats most important in my life. Help me learn patience, that I can devote my resources to the important thing 🙏💪❤️ Jay

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Understanding the updated Building Safety Regime is crucial for many of my contacts in Social Housing, Student Living and the Care Sector. This guide offers a succinct summary of the April 2024 changes, particularly the rigorous competency standards required for personnel and organizations involved in construction and refurbishment. A challenge I am especially interested in is how organisations will manage the vast data related to competencies, certifications and other aspects of the Golden Thread, especially when overseeing tens of thousands of doors across extensive property portfolios. How are your organizations handling this significant data challenge? Let’s discuss strategies and best practices

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Good morning all . Not feeling it today as I have just had some shit news . As some are aware I had a procedure carried out on Wednesday. This was a standard procedure but could have consequences. Well it happened on my watch Im now lay with Hole in my bowel which has become infected My first thought was fck why me . 18 months ago I’d be pissed out of my head thinking oh well shit happens ,,,,, in fact that’s a lie because I would have even go to the hospital in the first place . Todays reading ( CONFLICT) July 4 Conflict We learn that conflicts are a part of reality, and we learn new ways to resolve them instead of running from them. Basic Text, p. 90 = From time to time, we all experience conflicts. It may be that we just cant get along with that new coworker. Maybe our friends are driving us crazy. Or perhaps our partner isnt living up to our expectations. Dealing with any conflict is difficult for recovering addicts. When tempers rise, it is often a good idea to back away from the situation until cooler minds prevail. We can always return for further discussion when we have calmed down. We cant avoid troubling situations, but we can use time and distance to find perspective. Conflict is a part of life. We cant go through our entire recovery without encountering disagreements and differences of opinion. Sometimes we can back away from these situations, taking time to reflect on them, but there always comes a time when conflict must be resolved. When that time comes, we take a deep breath, say a prayer, and apply the principles our program has given us: honesty, openness, responsibility, forgiveness, trust, and all the rest. We didnt get clean to keep running from lifeand in recovery, we dont have to run anymore. = Just for today: The principles my program has given me are sufficient to guide me through any situation. I will strive to confront conflict in a healthy way.

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In anticipation of the Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) annual Construction Industry Parliamentary Reception today, we have summarised the recent changes in our latest Insight: JCT Design and Build 2024 - Key Changes The selection of either the 2016 or 2024 suite for a new project remains up to the parties. While we expect some initial hesitation, it only makes sense to move forward with the implementation sooner rather than later. Let us know if you have any opinions on the changes, positive or negative?

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Bit of assistance needed here 🙏🏻 I have been losing a few contracts lately due to pricing ( which is fair enough as that seems to be how most contracts are decided at the moment ) however my problem/issue is that I always price for the highest spec and best system for each individual contract which quite often results in losing out to another quote which doesn’t always meet the spec issued and usually incurs extras once the contract commences 🤷 Is there any way of preventing this sort of issue or making allowances for this in estimates/quotes ?

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