Infiniti Group completes £1.5m Esplanade Hotel refurb contract
Scarborough-based Infiniti Group has completed an extensive £1.5m interior, exterior and roof refurbishment of the coastal resort’s Grade II listed Esplanade Hotel for the Daish Hotel Group.
Infiniti Group’s work on the Victorian hotel, which has just re-opened, started in 2020 creating jobs for Infiniti Group employees and employment for local sub-contractors throughout the project, between 15 and 40 at any one time. A complete wraparound scaffold – now taken down – was erected during October and November, followed by re-roofing of the five-storey hotel with 15,000 traditional slates over a 620sqm area; the full refurbishment of 12 of the Esplanade’s 73 bedrooms and bathrooms; installation of a new women’s WC; external painting of all walls and window wood works, including more than 200 sash windows; and redoing the external walkways. Alex Willgrass, Infiniti Group Director, said: “It is an incredibly satisfying feeling to now see the hotel fully finished and open as a result of all the work and effort that the Infiniti team have put in.” Infiniti Group’s contracts manager, Sharon Lester, who oversaw the project, said: “We’ve had so many people come up to us and say how professional, considerate and hard working the Infiniti staff have been. And with the freezing cold and wet weather that we’ve had this winter and spring the job has certainly had its challenges, especially on the edge of the North Sea.” One impressed neighbour is Lord Rodney Walker, who said: “Over the past 12 months we have observed the work carried out by Infiniti on the Esplansde Hotel from our nearby apartment. This was a major project involving scaffolding the entire building, installing a complete new roof, exterior repair and repainting. The result is a new look to this prominent hotel thanks to the professionalism of Infiniti.” Marcus Rowe, Infiniti Group Director, helped to ensure that all logistical and construction obstacles posed by lockdown were overcome, such as pre-empting Covid-19 lockdown restrictions by buying in advance the majority of the materials they needed to finish the work, while also sourcing additional fully experienced, available, skilled contractors. Covid social distancing safety was achieved using signage, floor and wall markings, hi vis and intelligent clothing and exact, pre-planned operational movements of workers around the site, such as keeping contractors separate and adopting work patterns sequentially across the hotel’s floors. The company also had to overcome Brexit-related delays related to specialist supplies being brought in from mainland Europe including a new 4,000-litre water tank.
The Esplanade Hotel is the second high-profile hotel refurbishment Infiniti Group have won in Scarborough and follows the conversion of The Mount Hotel into the Bike & Boot Hotel in 2020.
Established in 2015, Infiniti Group has a 10,000sqft HQ in Scarborough, roofing & construction businesses. The roofing & construction business employs a team of 10 staff including expert builders, roofing, general labourers, as well as an experienced administration and office team.
The group’s ethos of innovation and continual improvement can be seen with Infiniti Roofing & Construction’s approval as an accredited contractor for Sika Liquid Plastics. Its roofing and construction services include full new commercial and industrial construction and roofing installations, repairs, and refurbishments. Infiniti Scaffolding was recently accredited by the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC). Scaffolding Training in Trinidad Resumes
Simian International and its partner SMTL Training are set to deliver three months of back-to-back CISRS scaffolding courses in Trinidad after lockdown restrictions were lifted.
According to information supplied by the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS) a selection of courses including; Level 1, Basic Scaffolding Inspection and Supervisor training will run in succession in the coming weeks and months. The training blitz follows a 15-month closure of the scaffolding training centre due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “It’s great to see overseas CISRS training resume in Trinidad and neighbouring Barbados,” says Ian Fyall, SIMIAN’s Operations Director.
“There were a number of logistical challenges to overcome and we couldn’t have done it without our travel agents and SMTL Training, who went to great lengths to ensure the centre is Covid compliant.
“We also need to thank CISRS for completing the 2021 centre audit, paving the way for training to begin again.
“Travel has been extremely difficult over the past year, meaning we’ve struggled to fly CISRS instructors where they’re needed. However, we’re beginning to see restrictions lifted and more centres reopen.
“Every member of the Simian Overseas team has had both Covid-19 vaccinations and is available when required.”
Dave Mosley, CISRS Managing Director, added: “This is excellent news for the centre and scaffolders in the region. Simian/SMTL have set up a first-class centre in Trinidad. We are hoping they can pick up where they left off and continue to flourish in the Caribbean.”
Phillip Archie, SMTL Training Managing Director, said: “It was indeed challenging getting the CISRS trainer into the country. Trinidad borders remain closed due to the Covid-19 restrictions and we faced additional setbacks due to the closure of neighbouring airports as a result of the La Soufrière volcanic eruptions.
“Together with the Simian team we were able to get the trainer here, have resumed scaffolding training for our employees and are open to provide similar training to other scaffolding providers in Trinidad.” Altrad support the decommissioning of an offshore gas platform
The UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) contains a range of mature oil and gas assets, many of which are approaching the end of their useful working lives.
Decommissioning these assets safely is becoming increasingly important for energy producers and it requires specialist skills and experience.
Altrad have supported Worley, and their client Allseas, with a range of services to enable the safe removal of Spirit Energy’s 11,000 tonne platform, DP3, at Morecambe Bay in the eastern Irish Sea.
The decommissioning platform will be lifted and taken back to shore by Allseas’ Pioneering Spirit – the world’s largest construction vessel.
Altrad’s scope included access scaffolding, complex rigging and the cutting and disassembly of caissons, conductors and platform legs, these essential, time critical works, were required prior to the removal of the platform via a single heavy lift.
Altrad utilised diamond wire saws and oxy acetylene torches to enable the cutting of each tubular, which were up to 36 inches in diameter.
The entire work scope was completed safely, without incident and within the condensed eight-week window permitted by the work schedule.
Chris Garland, Altrad’s Director of Upstream Operations, said, “I’m delighted we have been able to use our skills and expertise in support of the decommissioning of Spirit Energy’s assets in the eastern Irish Sea, wherein our teams have worked collaboratively with Worley to achieve a safe and successful outcome.”
Scaffolding Firms Invited to Apply for Apprentice Funding Cash Boost
Employers of all sizes can now apply for extra funding to take on new apprentices following the chancellors budget boost to the scheme back in the Spring.
The first day of June saw an opportunity opening up for firms to claim £3000 for each new apprentice hired as a new employee from 1 April until 30 September. Apprenticeships are playing a central role in the government’s reforms to post-16 education and training, ensuring more people can gain the skills they need to get the jobs they want in a wide range of exciting sectors everything from digital marketing, engineering and clean energy. Gillian Keegan, Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills explained: “Apprenticeships are a fantastic way for employers large and small to grow their businesses and will continue to play a key role in our economic recovery. “This cash boost will help even more employers to invest in their future workforce, creating more high-quality apprenticeship opportunities so businesses have the skilled talent pipeline they need to thrive, not just today but also in the future. “Thousands of businesses across the country have already taken advantage of the original incentive scheme, which was first launched in July last year by the Chancellor. “Employers can choose how to spend the cash, for example, covering uniform or travel costs for the apprentice.” Chancellor Rishi Sunak added: “Young people have been hit especially hard by the crisis – which is why our Plan for Jobs launched last year is focused on helping them get the skills they need to get the jobs they want. “By boosting the cash incentives for our apprenticeship scheme we’re improving opportunities for young people to stay in and find work – this could not be more important in our economy’s recovery. Scaffolding is a safety-critical trade and each individual working in the sector must be aware of their responsibility to themselves, those they are working with, the end-user of the scaffold and also others who they may come into contact with whilst carrying other their role e.g. other trades, clients, members of the public. This is why apprenticeships can be priceless in nurturing and developing young skilled workers. The cash incentive is designed to help more employers invest in the skilled workforce they need for the future, as part of the government’s Plan for Jobs. It builds on the extensive action already underway to protect, support and create more jobs while bringing our skills and education system closer to the employer market and widening the opportunities that are available. With the scaffolding industry in mind trainer Simian Risk have said: “A new level 2 scaffolding apprenticeship standard developed by an employer group, outlining the required knowledge, skills and behaviours has also been approved by the government. The new standard has been designed to allow the apprentice to meet the requirements of the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS). Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, the scaffolder will be eligible to apply for a CISRS scaffolder card.”TG20:21 Users Download Over 10,000 Compliance Sheets
The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) has revealed that more than 10,000 TG20:21 compliance sheets have been produced since the new software went live seven weeks ago.
The UK scaffolding trade body shared the TG20:21 download data on its website yesterday showing that 10,109 compliance sheets were generated by users since its launch on Monday 12 April. Furthermore, the NASC revealed that independent scaffolds were the most popular in the period with users creating and downloading 5,501 sheets (54.4% of the total), followed by free-standing tower scaffolds (1,230 or 12.2%) and external birdcage scaffolds (1,171 or 11.6%) – a new addition to the TG20 software. The updated and expanded software allows users of the TG20:21 eGuide to produce compliance sheets for a wide range of scaffolding structures, without the need for bespoke design. The NASC says the data shows that between 200 and 300 compliance sheets have been produced daily since its launch. Commenting on the data Robin James, NASC Managing Director, said: “We are delighted that users have taken to TG20:21 so quickly and are using the new software to produce hundreds of compliance sheets every day. It’s great to see there’s such a diverse spread of scaffold types being generated and that the new features are being utilised by TG20:21 users.”The Sky’s The Charity Limit for The Tall Building Challenge
Construction workers are a generous lot, so it comes as no surprise to see another charity raising challenge slowly building up to help benefit families across the industry.
Hoping to a-spire to a sky-scraping success story, the Tall Building Challenge is exciting, dynamic and invigorating all in one go. It takes determination, no little physical effort and a taste for adventure.
The event involves Brogan Group Volunteers in the UK and Ireland walking or running a set distance each week for eight consecutive weeks, with the distance based on a multiple calculation on the height of eight Tall buildings Brogan Group have provided Access to.
Sounds straightforward enough – until it emerges the team will be set a new Tall Building Charity Challenge of an increasing height each week. In short, if the building is 95m high, they are converting this into a target of 9.5km. And just to ensure everything is accurately recorded a Strava Group has been created, the free activity tracking app, for participants to record results and create the competitiveness needed to see which teams come out on top, On-site or office, depot or country.
“We are thrilled to be launching this in support of the Lighthouse Club.“Will Allen, Marketing Manager, Brogan Group explained: “We are looking to raise £5000 for the Lighthouse Club Charity starting next Monday 7th June with the ‘Tall Building Charity Challenge’ “We are thrilled to be launching this in support of the Lighthouse Club. “This Charity provides emotional, physical, and financial wellbeing support to construction workers and their families. “They receive no public funding and rely on the generosity of those within the industry to help continue their vital work. “We work with organisations like the Lighthouse Club on training up our own Mental health ‘First Aiders’ that support our wider staff at Brogan Group.” Why the lighthouse group? Because the Brogan Group is a Company supporter of The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, the only charity providing such vital help to construction workers and their families. The event is also a health and wellbeing initiative for Brogan employees, encouraging increased physical activity as we come out of the lockdown. Taken further, the group have trained up a number of their employees as Mental Health ‘First-aiders’, looking to continue support in this area with the assistance of groups including the Lighthouse Club. Hitting the heights has never been so much fun with the result, so many families will gain priceless help from the money raised. Walk Tall Brogan! – https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tallbuildingchallenge
Scaffold Designers IDH Continue Rapid UK Expansion
Independent Design House (IDH), continues its expansion by announcing its newest office opening in Chorley, Lancashire.
With a turnover of over £1.6million and bases in the UK and Poland, the engineering design consultancy already employs 36 people. Joining the company to head up its northern operations, experienced technical manager Anthony Kenmare has been appointed director of the Chorley premises. IDH provides both temporary and permanent works design with full 2D draughting and 3D modeling services along with all BIM requirements. Clients include industry-leading firms such as ISG and Laing O’Rourke Construction Ltd.
HAKI launches refreshed brand identity
HAKI, one of the world’s leading suppliers of system scaffolding, has unveiled their brand refresh, reflective of their revised brand strategy focused on innovation, continuous improvement and an expanded digital offering.
HAKI continues to lead in safe access solutions by adapting and evolving; “We invest in product development to meet customers’ increasingly advanced requirements for innovative solutions, security and cost-efficiency. For a couple of years now, the focus has shifted from technology and production to customer relationships and tailor-made solutions, where the company’s digital tools play a crucial role”, says Thomas Schüller, CEO of HAKI. As part of the company’s expansion journey and goal of offering the best system for safe work at temporary workplaces, HAKI has made several strategic acquisitions. Span Access Solutions was acquired in December 2019 and Vertemax in March 2021. HAKI has thus acquired specialist knowledge and complemented the company’s portfolio with products that meet future requirements for work safety in complex environments. “We have an acquisition strategy with a focus on broadening our offering as well as alternatives to existing solutions. It is a constant process that gives us the opportunity to continuously take on even larger customers and projects. At the same time, we have a strong focus on integrating the new acquisitions so that we become one HAKI”, continues Thomas Schüller, CEO of HAKI. Teamed with these acquisitions, the re-brand is the next step in the execution of the strategy to become customer-focused market leaders, the company said. “By clarifying our position, setting focus areas and boosting energy internally, we are providing tools for our co-workers that will help us become even better partners to our customers. But this is just the first step; there will be more coming from HAKI in the coming months” concludes Sara Bertram, Marketing Director of HAKI.Investigation underway after scaffolder dies in work accident
