Pro Installer November 2016 - Issue 44 | Page 14

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PRO NEWS

NOVEMBER 2016 PRO INSTALLER
www. proinstaller. co. uk

DEMAND FOR BUILDING WORK BUCKS BREXIT

Consumer demand for building work remained resilient in the three months following the vote for Brexit, figures from the Federation of Master Builders( FMB) have revealed. Commenting on the results of the first UK-wide survey of the SME construction sector post-referendum, Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, said:“ Ongoing workloads for construction SMEs remained remarkably resilient in the months following the referendum vote, suggesting that consumer demand, which accounts for the bulk of SME work, has held up far better than anticipated.“ Some of the other key indicators of SME activity, such as
employment levels, anticipated workloads and new work enquiries, are all positive, albeit showing slowed growth compared to the previous quarter. If we all agree that construction is a‘ weather vane’ industry, and demand for home improvement and new build homes an important gauge of consumer confidence, then our results chime with the cautious positivity demonstrated across construction and the wider housing market.” He continued:“ That being said, construction bosses will be taking nothing for granted. Growth has softened compared to the buoyant first half of the year and some parts of the UK have gone into decline. In particular, London is flat-lining, which is concerning
given that it is typically one of the strongest markets for construction SMEs. Our feeling is that the construction skills shortage, which we know is particularly pronounced in London and the south east, is starting to bite.” He concluded:“ Our latest figures show that nearly two-thirds of SMEs are struggling to hire bricklayers and 55 % are having a hard time sourcing carpenters and joiners. This highlights a different potential consequence of Brexit, the possibility that we will have a less flexible workforce. 12 % of construction workers working in the UK are of non-UK origin, forming a vital part of a labour force that is already stretched. Given that the skills gap is only expected to grow
over the next decade, it’ s vital that talented tradespeople continue to come to the UK. For this reason, we welcome the government’ s U-turn on requiring companies to publish data on the percentage of foreign workers they employ. Such
a move would send completely the wrong message to foreign workers currently living and working in the UK and those who might consider coming here.”
www. fmb. org. uk

Smart technology replaces human guards on construction sites

Welcome to the fold

Bradford-based window and door manufacturer Industrial Services Group has made the move to adopt Halo systems from The VEKA UK Group- after more than 20 years with its previous supplier. Industrial Services Group( ISG) was attracted to The VEKA UK Group due to the‘ partnering’ approach the company offers. General manager Peter Keeley explained:“ We feel that, with The VEKA UK Group, we haven’ t just taken on a new product, but a host of support services too.
“ We didn’ t take the decision lightly, but changing systems to The VEKA UK Group allows us to access a host of support services that will help us to grow as a business. As a council-owned fabricator and installer of windows, doors and curtain walling, we have concentrated on supplying installation companies, building firms and local authorities in our immediate local area.“ Now, we can partner with The VEKA UK Group’ s commercial team and Approved Installer Scheme to develop our business and supply our high quality products further afield.” Dave Jones, MD of The VEKA UK Group, commented:“ We’ re delighted to welcome ISG into‘ the fold.’ Like The VEKA UK Group, ISG is also thoroughly committed to quality and customer satisfaction. The company shares many of our values, including‘ Investors in People’ status.“ We look forward to partnering with ISG for many years to come and seeing the business continue to grow.”
A dramatic switch from human guards to cost-effective smart technologies has been the trend in site security in the last year. Recent projects carried out by the construction specialist, VPS Site Security, have demonstrated savings of over 60 % in security budgets, providing an improved, comprehensive security net 24 / 7 at lower cost. Costain, GallifordTry, Carillion, Taylor Wimpey and Murphy are among the household names in the construction sector who are deploying CCTV systems to improve security and simultaneously cut costs, and the technologies were highlighted at London Build, at Olympia on 26th and 27th October. Systems such as JCB Smart Towers, that combine the latest cameras with wireless networks, sensors and power sources, can protect even the most challenging environments like highway construction, day and night, from the safety of a monitoring station.“ Guard patrols have been the traditional approach to secure sites,” commented Simon Alderson, managing director of VPS Site Security.“ But a surge in technological developments have proven themselves in recent years, so that better 24 / 7 protection and safety can be achieved alongside dramatic cost savings.
“ Mobile patrols may still be required, but even they are much more efficient when deployed with the support of towers, as they can help target problems quickly and efficiently,” Simon explained. The CCTV systems are also being used as safety tools and for traffic management, adding an extra layer of health and safety protection for construction workers and the public alike, providing both a safety audit and a deterrence to taking risks.