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 .