Challenges of population growth for the British Pumping Station

The UK is at the forefront of the water industry worldwide. However, the UK sector faces challenges from population growth, climate change, changing customer expectations and the transfer of private pumping stations all over the UK. So what are the British Pumping Station?

The supply of water and wastewater in England and Wales was privatised in 1989. Originally ten companies were formed to supply water and wastewater. Their responsibilities included abstraction, treatment, collection, and the return of waste water to the aquatic environment. These services are provided by 32 privately-owned companies in England and Wales. Water companies in England and Wales will invest more than £8 billion in 2018-19. The investment comes in the fourth year of a £44 billion spending promise from 2015 to 2020. Over that 5-year period, the funding will guarantee that more than 370 million litres a day is prevented from leaking from pipes, nearly 5000 less properties will be flooded with sewer water, and there will be cleaner water at more than 50 beaches. Now over 50 million household and non-household consumers receive good quality water, sanitation, and drainage services.

On the 1st October 2016 thousands of private pumping stations transferred to water companies in England and Wales. This was the biggest shake up of the water sector in the last twenty years. In some cases, the adoption amounted to a significant addition to companies’ asset base. Some of the stations were difficult to access, many were in poor condition and all will continue to require ongoing active maintenance and monitoring to mitigate risk.

Some homes or businesses have drainage systems with pumps located inside large manholes, also known as wet wells, that pump the wastewater into the nearest sewer network. The stations are usually accompanied by a kiosk, normally green or grey in colour, which house the electrical equipment.

The main issues that faced the water companies throughout the transfer was based on the condition and location of these pumping stations. Thousands of pumping stations are untraceable, in bad condition and difficult to locate. When the agreement was made in 2011 to start this transfer, water companies predicted thousands of stations would have to be transferred. Original research shows that Northumbrian Water had over 2000 whilst Thames Water had between 10-40 thousand.

During Utility Week Live, Anna Hodson (Customer Experience Manager at Thames Water) explained that there are four core areas to understand if they are to comply with their customer’s needs.

CORE 1:   Owner-Tracking down the owner of the pumping station

CORE 2:   Hosts-  Is the pumping station on a residential property.

CORE 3:   Users- Who uses the pumping station?

CORE 4: Neighbours- How will the transfer affect local resident surrounding the station.

For a smooth transfer during these months it was important for water frameworks to understand these areas. Customer satisfaction was a priority, however there were other potential implications to consider for the UK water industry going forward.

Over the next ten years there will be an increased demand for water and sewerage services and the cost of maintenance will increase. The UK population is expected to increase to 73.3 million by 2037, an increase of ten million since 2013. Increased surface run off from household buildings and urbanisation will increase the risk of overloaded sewers.

What do you think about this? Did you agree with the transfer of the pumping stations? Let us know by tweeting us @HighfieldREC

Blog Post written by Tom, Recruitment Consultant for Highfield Professional Solutions

The Rise of Renewable Energy

The rise of renewable energy is still a huge talking point, therefore it is no big surprise that the debate of nuclear vs renewable energy is still at the forefront of most headlines. As we start to see just how much renewable energy is on the incline, can we really be sure that renewable energy is the way to go?

We know that renewable energy is on the rise due how convenient it is. It is much faster to install and much more scalable than nuclear power is. There is a myth that we need to build more nuclear power if we want to cut electricity emissions quickly. This is something than renewable energy is keen to suppress, especially with it fast becoming the most popular source of power.

There are many advantages of renewable energy. One major advantage renewable energy has over nuclear is that it can typically be installed much faster. Nuclear power plants can require 5-15 years to complete and some have taken much longer than this. There is no doubt that this is obviously going to sway people to choose renewable energy over nuclear.

To make a clear example of this, installing a solar power farm can be completed in a number of months, depending on the extent and complexity of the project. The same can be said about wind farms, which is also only a matter of months depending on the projects complexity. In 2017 alone, China managed to install around 52 MW of solar, this is around 330 acres. The continued popularity of this energy source is bound to go from strength to strength if it continues to become this easily available.

If this continued popularity continues to flourish, the cost of renewables is more likely to keep decreasing, especially as fossil fuel usage declines. With more demand and adoption, it will continue to increase the innovation to make renewables more and more efficient which will in turn boost their effectiveness and the speed at which you can get large amounts of power onto the grid.

Renewable energy is more scalable and better to address global warming than nuclear, mainly because it costs much less, takes less time to install, and doesn’t carry the problem of potentially causing disastrous damage.

All in all, it seems that renewable energy is the way to go, with it being more cost effective and much faster to install we are bound to see this become the most popular source of energy in years to come.

What do you think about this form of energy? Do you think that this is the best way to go or do you think nuclear will always win? Tweet us @HighfieldREC to let us know.

Will the construction sectors skills shortage affect the Governments plans to build?

The skills shortage in the construction industry is not fresh news. However, it seems to be more evident now than ever before. Will the skills shortage affect the Governments plans to build?

As we have witnessed in the last couple of weeks, 2018 has already proven that there is a strain on the construction industry due to the collapse of Carillion. It seems now we are seeing an even bigger stress with shortage in skills for the industry hitting the worst level on record. This is going to hugely affect the industry due to the number of projects that are planned over the next year.

The current skills shortage is threatening the government’s grand plan to build hundreds of thousands of houses annually. The government has set itself an ambitious target to build 300,000 homes every year in England alone, so this current issue is going to cause huge problems. According to the Federation of Master Builders quarterly report, they found that construction companies are struggling to recruit bricklayers and carpenters when they are in such a high demand at the moment. The demand for skilled plumbers, electricians and plasterers is also in high demand.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB has said “Skills shortages are skyrocketing, and it begs the question: who will build the new homes and infrastructure projects the Government is crying out for?”. The struggle to hire bricklayers is a huge setback for the government as this is one of the key trades in the building industry.

The FMB have said that wages are rising sharply for skilled tradespeople. This, along with the increase in cost of materials, is causing a massive blow to construction companies. With the uncertainty of Brexit still looming, many construction companies are calling out the government to ensure that they make the best decisions when it comes to the construction industry. Without skilled labour from the EU, the skills shortages the construction industry faces would be considerably worse.

The current positivity that the FMB is taking from this news is that the collapse of Carillion has meant that there will be many skilled tradespeople looking for employment, and hopefully this will mean that the skills gaps will get better.

The FMB have said that they are now working with the Department for Work and Pensions as well as the Construction Industry Training Board to matchmake ex-Carillion workers with small construction employers in need of skilled workers.

The Executive for FMB said, “We’re also working hard as an industry to rehome the 1,200 Carillion apprentices who are the innocent victims of the major contractor’s demise,” Mr Berry said.

“It’s in everyone’s interests to ensure that these young people continue on their path to a rewarding career in construction.”

Hopefully this will be the last we see of the skills shortage in construction for a long time. What with Brexit negotiations still on going, and the hope to place ex Carillion employees to fill the current gap, will we start to begin to bridge the current collapse.?

What do you think of the current skills shortage in the Construction Industry? Have you been affected at all? Let us know, tweet us @HighfieldREC.

Will the collapse of Carillion affect HS2?

Carillion is almost 20 years old following the demerger of the company Tarmac back in 1999. It is the second biggest construction company in the UK behind Balfour Beatty and holds major contracts across the country on several sites. These include hospitals, schools, prisons, and a major contract with HS2, all of which are bound to be hugely affected by the news. Will the collapse of Carillion effect HS2 and other projects, following the compulsory liquidation that took place earlier this week. The collapse of Carillion has shocked the construction world everywhere.

One of the biggest contracts for Carillion is HS2; they won two partnerships deals worth £1.34bn. They had been commissioned to build and design a 50-mile section of the high-speed railway, roughly between Aylesbury and Royal Leamington Spa. The contracts were awarded back in July 2017 when the giant construction company were already in financial difficulty. Phase one of the £55.7bn railway will run between London and Birmingham from December 2026, with a second Y-shaped phase extending to the North.

Is this collapse going to affect HS2? According to HS2 bosses, they are not going to let this news affect them majorly, as they have said they do have a plan in place. Back in 2017 when the deal was made, it was made with the promise that if one construction firm was to collapse, the other would take its place. Now the HS2 bosses probably did not think they were ever going to have to put that initial promise into place.

Mr Mursell who is the executive of HS2 said “On HS2 specifically there are a number of options including the TUPE transfer of employees to another operator including Kier / Eiffage as well as other contractors who are interested in joining the project.”

HS2 have ensured that work will continue as planned and with no unnecessary or additional exposure to the taxpayer, which is reassuring atleast.

Has the collapse of Carillion affected you? Do you think more could have been done to stop this? Tweet us at @HighfieldREC to let us know.

 

Highfield are committed to supporting any Carillion employee looking for their next role within the industry. Contact us today to speak to one of our expert consultants – 01489 774010.

Transforming London’s Skyline

Transforming London’s Skyline by 2020 is a huge task, however, it is something that is already in the process of being changed. We have witnessed many new builds this year, which are already helping to achieve this goal, and there is plenty more to come in the next 2 years.  Let’s take a look at some of the construction taking shape in 2018.

 

The Embassy Gardens

The Embassy Gardens is situated in Wandsworth. Designed by FCB Studios, The Embassy Gardens will overlook the river Thames in Nine Elms from 2018. It will be home to the new US Embassy building, as well as a park, and two residential towers which will be linked by a “Sky Pool” designed by HAL architects.

The Corniche

The Corniche is situated in Lambeth. It is a mixed-use development featuring three landmark towers on the south bank of the River Thames, opposite the Houses of Parliament. The buildings will have around 253 apartments, which will include affordable homes for senior living, along with offices, restaurants and residents bar, gym, and pool facilities. The building itself will have floor to ceiling windows, and the curved edge of the building will maximise the views across the River Thames.

Manhattan Loft Gardens

The Manhattan Loft Gardens will be in Newham, which is one of the fastest growing parts of the city with the amount of hi-rises located there. The Manhattan Loft Garden is just one of many towers that will be coming to Newham by 2020. The architects behind this building are also the same architects who were behind the tallest building in the world, The Burj Khalifa. The building will be 42 storeys high and will include leisure facilities, a pool, a spa and a roof garden which will overlook the Olympic Park.

London City Island

London City Island is located by Canary Wharf. It is surrounded by water and is connected by a bridge, and will become the headquarters for the English National Ballet. The building, which was designed by Glenn Howells architects, will also include thousands of homes as well as restaurants, shops, offices and even a pedestrian cycle route.

These are some of the projects that are set to be completed by the end of 2018. However, this is not the end of the construction to transforming London’s Skyline, with many more to start and be completed by 2020. Some of these are; 22 Bishopsgate – the City, Ram Brewery, Wandsworth — 2019, The Can of Ham, the City — 2019 and Spire London, Tower Hamlets — 2020.

How do you feel about the transformation of London’s Skyline? What are your favourite new builds? Tweet us @HighfieldREC

The 5% Club

We joined The 5% Club in October 2015, and we are very proud members. As members, our aim was to achieve 5% of our employees to be in ‘earn and learn’ positions by 2020. These roles include apprentices, sponsored students, and graduates on formalised training schemes. As of the beginning of January 2018 we will have exceeded these criteria by a staggering amount, meaning that 28.5 % of our employees will be a part of these schemes.

The 5% Club is a dynamic movement of employers focused on creating momentum behind the recruitment of apprentices, sponsored students, and graduates into the workforce.

Each member company signs The 5% Club charter and pledges to be:

Committed to helping the country’s growth agenda and acknowledge the importance of developing our people as both a business and social imperative

Playing our part in addressing youth unemployment and skills shortage

Committed to a public declaration of our aspiration for 5% of our workforce to consist of apprentices and graduates on formalised schemes by the end of a five-year period

Measuring and reporting on our progress annually against that metric in our Corporate Social Responsibility section of the Annual Report and Accounts or equivalent document

Committed to encouraging other businesses to participate in the campaign

If you would like to know more about The 5% Club, then visit https://www.5percentclub.org.uk

Croydon Council approves Westfield Complex

Croydon Council have approved the £1.4 billion Westfield shopping centre. Work will start on London’s third Westfield complex in 2019, which will create 7,000 new jobs and 1,000 new homes. The projects aim is to regenerate Croydon town centre.

This will be third Westfield in the Capital City, after Westfield Shepherds Bush, which opened in 2008 and Westfield Stratford which opened in 2011 ready for the 2012 Olympic games. Both previous projects cost over £1.5 billion each, however, have seen combined almost 100 million visitors through their doors annually which is a huge boost to the economy. Although the new complex will be the smallest out of the three shopping centres it is set to boost Croydon’s economy and become the most sought area in London to shop and live.

Leader of Croydon Council Tony Newman said he was “delighted” that developers had been granted approval to commence the works, and said the plans marked confidence in the town as a place to invest. He said: “This is fantastic news for Croydon and we have been doing everything we can to bring the redevelopment of the Whitgift Centre to fruition so local people can benefit from its wealth of offerings, including the creation of 7,000 new jobs. The new homes and the thousands of jobs this development will bring shows investors are rightly confident about Croydon as a place to live, work and spend free time.”

The new development in Croydon is a momentous decision for the area. It is hoped that the new shopping centre will not just rejuvenate the town centre, but draw shoppers into the town from far and wide. The work for the new project will begin in 2019 to give the council enough time to assess all that is needed to go into the project, and to also give the area two more Christmases before they demolish the current shopping centre for Westfields to take its place. The aim is for the new shopping centre to be ready by 2022.

The new build will be across three levels and will have space for approximately 110 shops and restaurants, which is marginally smaller than the 350 shops and restaurants that boasts Westfield Stratford city. There is currently no confirmation of which brands will feature but there will be a new flagship Marks & Spencer. There would also be potential for a cinema and space for either a 250-bed hotel or 500-bed student accommodation. 3,140 car parking spaces are planned plus an initial 300 spaces for cyclists. The project will also see between 626 and 967 flats built, set in four or five separate tower blocks along the front of Wellesley Road.

How do you feel about the new project? Do you think this is a great step into regenerating Croydon’s Town Centre? Tweet us at @HighfieldREC to let us know!

Highfield Professional Solutions announced as finalists for 2017 NORAs

Our new website launched just under 12 months ago. We are incredibly proud of the fact that the whole site was designed internally, with the input of our expert consultants who know exactly what their clients and candidates require from an agency’s website.

Today, we are thrilled to announce that we have been revealed as finalists for the 2017 NORAs (National Online Recruitment Awards), in the category of Best Large Recruitment Agency!

Liam Thomas, Director of Highfield, commented,

“One of the most unique points of our website is that it was created with a huge amount of input from our team in-house, which we are so proud of. The fact we have been recognised in the NORAs this year is testament to the hard work and passion from everyone at Highfield, and we are incredibly excited to be attending the awards in November.”

Highfield’s website continues to be managed internally, and is updated daily with new role releases and market relevant content.

We look forward to attending the event in Covent Garden on 15th November!

Architecture Trends for 2017

Architecture and design is constantly evolving. New technologies and materials are becoming available and new designs and layouts are becoming more popular; it is clear to see that the way we think about architecture is changing.

Let’s take a look at the biggest architecture trends that are likely to be seen throughout 2017.

Colours

Colours are naturally captivating and each year we see architects and designers using more than one colour to make bold statements in décor. In 2017, we predict the more neutral pale tones will be replaced with darker shades such as blacks, deep purples and hues of green.

Sustainability

Sustainability and the need for eco-conscious buildings was something we saw in 2016, and this is only going to become more important over the coming year. Non-environmentally friendly materials are becoming less desirable and people are wanting to know where the materials are sourced from and it is sustainable.

Retro Styles

Cork and terracotta, two preciously loved mediums will be making a huge comeback. They may seem like they belong in the past, but both will be appearing throughout 2017. Terracotta tiles in kitchens and conservatories, with a few modern reforms of course, is all the trend. Cork will bring a warm and earthy looking finish and will be seen on stools, tables bases and for the more daring, perhaps even layer on whole walls.

Strategic Design

2017 is likely to see an increase in clever designs that help achieve a desired end-result. This has been a key ingredient when designing shopping centres and utilizing how people will move around buildings.

Other architecture trends heading your way in 2017 include LED lighting, playful colour combinations, Asian-inspired urban spaces and multi-functional furniture.

Are there any other architecture trends we should be looking out for? Tweet us @highfieldrec your thoughts.

Brexit – the Impact on the Architecture Industry

Since the recent vote to leave the European Union, uncertainty has been felt throughout the UK, especially within the Architectural industry. Architects are fretting about future workloads, project delays and potential staff cuts since the decision was announced.
Although the Brexit news definitely poses a level of unknown throughout the industry, it seems that it is not all doom and gloom. In a move which will help reassure architects, a joint statement from the Cabinet Office, Foreign Office and Home Office stated: “When we do leave the EU, we fully expect that the legal status of the EU nations living in the UK, and that of UK nationals living in EU member states, will be properly protected.”
The government added that it “recognises and values the important contribution made by EU and other non-UK citizens who work, study and live in the UK.”
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) have pledged that they will work with the industry and government to make sure architects have a strong voice over the coming weeks and months.
Since the vote, as a recruitment agency, we have not yet noticed a stump in roles, if you are looking for a change of career then Kelly Vidler, our expert consultant, states that “now is a good a time as ever to be looking for a new role, I have not seen any hiring freezes or had a decrease in roles”. If you would like a confidential chat with Kelly to discuss your options, please get in touch via 01489 774 010 or send your CV to [email protected].

Highfield are a Certified Carbon Neutral Business