Focus Consultants appointed to project manage phase two of Trent Basin scheme

Indicative sketch 

Focus Consultants has been appointed to project manage the second phase of the Trent Basin development in Nottingham.

The company was project manager, energy and sustainability advisor, and employer’s agent for phase one of the scheme, which was completed at the end of 2016 and featured 45 low energy homes, including eight apartments.

Now the company has been appointed as project manager, employer’s agent and sustainability advisor (HQM) for phase two, with work by builders Willmott Dixon now underway on the next 31 homes.

When the whole scheme is finished, the £100 million residential development will have created 500 low energy homes as part of the 250-acre Waterside Regeneration area in Nottingham beside the River Trent.

Partner at Nottingham-based Focus Consultants Keith Butler said: “The Trent Basin scheme is unique in Nottingham and a pioneer in terms of low energy living.

“As a company with specialists in low energy construction and development, Focus is very pleased to be playing key roles in this scheme. Almost all the properties built in phase one have been sold or reserved, and we are looking forward to working on phase two to bring additional low-energy, low-carbon homes onto the residential market in Nottingham.”

The second phase of 31 properties will comprise a mix of two, three and four-bedroom houses along with two-bedroom maisonettes. The first of these new homes will be ready to move into in 2019.

Trent Basin is the vision of award-winning Nottingham developer Blueprint and has high green energy credentials.

It is setting the bar for community energy schemes by installing Europe’s largest community battery (2MWh), and solar photovoltaics that will generate, store and distribute energy at a neighbourhood level, and is also launching a unique energy company for residents. Funded by Innovate UK, the pioneering energy scheme has a project team behind it which includes a large consortium headed by the University of Nottingham.

Nick Ebbs, chief executive of Blueprint, said: “We’re thrilled we’ve got the green light from the city council’s planning committee to start work on phase two and we can’t wait to see our vision come to life along this historic stretch of the River Trent.

“There’s already a commitment to low energy living shared among the residents, with many of them embracing electric cars, car-sharing and cycling to work. We plan to install additional electric car charging points at Trent Basin and are looking forward to the completion of Nottingham’s first Eco Expressway along Daleside Road which will complement our ambitions for the community by giving buses, bikes and electric vehicles priority along one of Nottingham’s busiest routes.”

Focus Consultants, which is based at Phoenix Business Park, Nottingham, and also has offices in Leicester, London and Boston in Lincolnshire, provides a range of services to the property and construction industry, including sustainable development support, project management, building surveying and quantity surveying.

The company also specialises in funding and economic development including area regeneration strategies, funding applications, economic impact appraisals, business plans, and research and evaluation. Since 1994 Focus has also secured for clients more than £953 million of grants for projects and businesses across the UK and delivered more than £1.3 billion worth of projects and programmes – making it one of the most successful businesses of its kind in the country.

Further details about the Trent Basin development can be found at www.trentbasin.co.uk Visit www.focus-consultants.co.uk for more information about Focus Consultants.

Press release issued by Nottingham based PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Construction Leaders Club focuses on navigating through Brexit

Construction Leaders Club workshop.

Business growth organisation, the Construction Leaders Club, is running a series of workshops to help firms in the sector become ‘Brexit ready’. 

The East Midlands-based group has created a framework to help businesses protect themselves and plan for growth and development beyond Brexit.

Now the Construction Leaders Club is planning to share the ideas in a series of workshops to be run in the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire area – starting in February.

Business growth consultant Terry O’Mahony, who runs CLC, said: “Small business owners don't always have the time or resources to effectively lead and manage seismic changes in the marketplace and their business. We are heading into uncharted waters as the UK prepares to leave the European Union, and it’s vital that small and medium-sized businesses do what they can to prepare as much as possible for this.

“The team at the Construction Leaders Club has made it their mission to be on hand to help business leaders and managers navigate their way through and beyond Brexit.” 

The Construction Leaders Club, which is believed to be the only business growth, leadership and management development organisation for the construction industry to be awarded the new Chartered Building Consultancy status, was founded by Terry O’Mahony four years ago. It offers networking and business growth advice - supporting businesses and individuals related to or associated with the UK construction industry.

The workshops will be run by Terry and Peter Jubb, a business development and marketing consultant who has worked within the construction sector for many years, and will be held at Risley Hall Hotel, Risley in Derbyshire, near junction 25 of the M1 – starting on 9^th February 2018.

“In just one workshop, we will be offering advice on how to re-engineer businesses, accelerate profitability, reduce exposure to commercial risk and to leveraging every opportunity open to business leaders,” explained Terry. “We welcome small business owners, senior decision makers and leaders who want to develop their business and teams.”

The first half-day workshop runs from 9am to noon, and will focus on the importance of being Brexit ready, how to understand fully your current business situation; identify and evaluate the best way forward; and create an effective plan.

As well as running development programmes and workshops, the CLC also stages monthly networking events, with the next one scheduled for Thursday 8^th February at 10am at The Grill at Twenty Five, 25 Bostock’s Lane, Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire, NG10 4EP.

For more details about the workshops or networking events visit www.constructionleadersclub.com

Press release issued by Nottingham based PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Trio of promotions at BSP Consulting

BSP Consulting promotes three members of the team.

Three members of the team at civil and structural engineering firm BSP Consulting have been promoted to new positions.

Chartered civil engineer Carol Ell and chartered structural engineer Monika Anszperger have become associates, while associate Tim Wilson has stepped up to associate director.

Carol, who works in BSP’s Leicester office in De Montfort Street, joined the company in July 2004, while Monika, who is based in the Derby office at Pride Park, joined in January 2014.

Tim, who has been with BSP since 2005, heads up the civil engineering team in Leicester.

BSP MD David Sumner said: “These changes reflect the much-increased responsibility levels that Tim, Carol and Monika now embrace and perform for the company. I and the BSP team congratulate them on their achievement.”

BSP, which is based at Oxford Street, Nottingham, provides a comprehensive range of consultancy services in civil, structural, geotechnical, transportation and environmental engineering to all sectors of the construction community, from architects, project managers and contractors to developers and estate agents. It was founded in 1999 and operates across the East Midlands and the UK.

For more information, visit www.bsp-consulting.co.uk

Press release issued by Nottingham based PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

J Tomlinson completes £6 million training hub for Volvo Car UK

Volvo training hub built by J Tomlinson

The construction team at J Tomlinson Ltd has completed a brand new, state-of-the-art training hub for premium car brand Volvo Car UK.

The £6m project also included the creation of 154 extra parking spaces for the multinational vehicle manufacturing company, at its site in Daventry, Northamptonshire.

The original centre, which had been delivering training to Volvo employees since 1980, had comprised two medium-sized facilities. However, after 36 years – a period which has seen Volvo’s own brand evolution, as well as technological advancements and the continuous development of training techniques and methods - the company no longer considered its original facility to be in line with its considerable growth and objectives.

Following a collaborative working relationship with Volvo, J Tomlinson has now handed over the new Training and Development Centre, equipped with modernised facilities including remote video and web-based technologies, stylish training rooms and an electric car charging area.

J Tomlinson worked closely with the brand to ensure all finishes were implemented in line with the Volvo Retail Experience (VRE) – Volvo’s corporate identity that focuses on creating inspiring spaces that are ‘cool on the outside, warm on the inside’. Some elements of the VRE within the new building include large exterior and interior glazing (promoting the brand’s transparent and open nature), a cosy cake and refreshments area, and a vibrant lounge complete with Scandinavian-designed furniture, which seeks to aid relaxation for all staff and visitors.

Martin Gallagher, managing director (construction) for J Tomlinson, said: “We are very pleased to have handed over Volvo’s new Training and Development Centre - a project we thoroughly enjoyed working on.

“It has been a pleasure and an honour to work alongside a business with such passion, ambition and a shared drive to provide the best experience for its staff and customers.”

Jon Wakefield, Managing Director, Volvo Car UK, said: “I’m very proud of our new training facility, which represents a significant commitment to both our operations in Daventry and our retailer network throughout the country.

“The site is a fitting accompaniment to Volvo’s transformation into a true premium car brand that is a technological leader, as well as the big improvements we are introducing to the customer

experience.”

Volvo Car UK is a wholly owned subsidiary of Volvo Car Corporation. Headquartered in Maidenhead, it sells, services and maintains Volvo cars through a dedicated network of franchised dealers. Volvo has been present in the UK since 1956. 

Nottingham-based J Tomlinson, which operates primarily across the East Midlands, West Midlands and Yorkshire, provides a range of integrated building solutions including construction, refurbishment, repairs and maintenance, mechanical and electrical services (M&E), and facilities management. 

For more information, visit www.jtomlinson.co.uk

Press release issued by Nottingham based PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Derbyshire farm shop Croots boosts its parking facilities to cater for demand

Steve Croot in the new car park.

Popular Derbyshire farm shop Croots has doubled the size of its car park to cater for increasing numbers of customers.

As it gears up for Christmas and its busiest time of the year, the farm shop near Duffield has opened a second car park to create additional spaces.

The new hardstanding area has effectively doubled the number of car parking spaces at the farm shop in Wirksworth Road to around 56.

“Croots Farm Shop & Café has become a popular destination for shoppers and diners, and we wanted to make sure that our visitors could park – whether they were coming to shop, visit our café for coffee, lunch or afternoon tea, or to use our children’s play area,” said Steve Croot, who runs the shop with wife Kay Croot.

“We’re situated at the end of a 500m drive and many of our visitors come by car, so this will make it easier for customers to find a space, especially as we are now heading towards our busiest time of the year when we expect a lot of visitors to the Christmas events we have planned, as well as those coming to do their shopping or join us in the café.”

The new car park is near the top of the drive, just a few metres away from Croots Farm Shop & Café.

Croots, which opened in June 2008, is an award-winning family run farm shop – well known for its wide array of quality food and drink, homemade produce and gifts. It has an extensive butchery counter and a well-stocked cheese display, making it a big favourite for foodie fans in Derbyshire.

It also sells a range of bakes created exclusively for Croots by Great British Bake Off contestant Val Stones who is the sister of Steve Croot.

Earlier this year, Croots Farm Shop won the People’s Choice in the Midlands Award in the Family United Business Awards.

“We’ve expanded the shop and the café since we opened, and improved the drive, so it’s logical to also extend the car park,” added Steve. “We have additional improvements in the pipeline too, as we continue to boost our facilities and customer experience.”

Croots Farm Shop, based at Farnah House Farm, Wirksworth Road, near Duffield, is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm (Shires Eatery until 4.30pm) and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays. Croots runs Fresh Fish Thursdays between 9am and 1pm on Thursdays.

For more information, visit http://www.croots.co.uk. Find Croots on Twitter @crootsfarm_shop or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Croots-Farm-Shop

Press release issued by Nottingham based PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

J Tomlinson appointed on £7.25 million M&E student accommodation contract

J Tomlinson awarded student accommodation contract

J Tomlinson has won a £7.25 million contract to provide mechanical and electrical engineering services for a new 922-bed student accommodation scheme.

The company has been appointed by main contractor Galliford Try to undertake the M&E work on the £52.5 million development in Paradise Street, Coventry.

The new halls will be built across three blocks of three, 12 and 14 storeys on the site of a former garage close to the city centre, with an additional two low-rise house blocks. Further landscaping will also be created including a recreational area for the students, as well as office and maintenance facilities for the proposed management company AXO Student Living.

J Tomlinson has been secured to design, supply, install and commission the mechanical, electrical and plumbing services for the project by Galliford Try’s Building East Midlands business, which has been appointed by The Elite Group to develop the scheme.

“J Tomlinson has wide experience of providing both integrated building services or standalone mechanical and electrical and plumbing services for clients, across many sectors, and we are very pleased to have been appointed by Galliford Try on this student accommodation development,” said Tony O’Toole, J Tomlinson’s managing director – mechanical and electrical.

“This is a key contract for our M&E team and throughout the bid we used our ‘One Team’ approach for all items, working collaboratively alongside our customers and suppliers. We have a good working relationship with Galliford Try and are delighted to be part of the team bringing this scheme to life.” 

The project is due to start shortly, with completion expected in August 2019. J Tomlinson’s project manager will be Phil Paddock.

Nottingham-based J Tomlinson, which also has an office in Canwell, Sutton Coldfield, operates primarily across the East Midlands, West Midlands and Yorkshire. The company provides a range of integrated building solutions including construction, refurbishment, repairs and maintenance, mechanical and electrical services (M&E), and facilities management.

For more details, visit www.jtomlinson.co.uk

Press released issued by Nottingham based PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk