U.K. Edition
SHS appoints former All Blacks star to tackle new business
SHS Integrated Services has appointed former All Blacks star Xavier Rush to head up its new business development strategy.
A prominent figure in professional rugby for more than 20 years, Xavier Rush won eight caps with New Zealand before retiring from professional rugby in 2012. Xavier, 37, will now be responsible for strengthening SHS’s relationships with existing clients and driving new business leads across the UK. Prior to joining SHS, Xavier spent time developing residential properties and currently manages a portfolio of properties. He also spends part of the year in his home city coaching Auckland for the ITM cup, one of New Zealand’s most prestigious rugby competitions. Based in Barry, South Wales, with regional offices in Doncaster and Haverford West, SHS has witnessed a number of high profile contract wins in the last year and successfully developed the insulation arm of the business. In addition to the company’s recent expansion, SHS has diversified its market sector presence, incorporating the specialist power and transmission firm it acquired in 2013 into the business’ long term growth plans. Xavier said: “I am thrilled to be joining an ambitious company like SHS and I look forward to supporting the business in my new role. “Having previously dealt with SHS while developing properties, I have first-hand experience of the team’s professionalism and expertise and I’m delighted to be in a position where I can contribute to the company’s ambitious growth plans. “I’ve played a number of roles in my career, ranging from player to captain to coach – all of which have taught me important skills both on and off the rugby pitch. Clear communication, analysing situations strategically and team work are all vital to success in sport and I know that the same qualities are required to succeed in the world of business. “Being a rugby coach is like managing an SME; you have to manage up and down the business, working closely with the players and the Board to achieve results. I have seen the same sport-like dedication, motivation and commitment from the team at SHS, and I look forward to working closely with them to achieve the business goals.” SHS currently provides services principally to the utility, petrochemical and construction sectors but hopes to widen its operations into nuclear, rail, marine and pharmaceutical sectors as part of its growth strategy. Gavin Payne, Chief Executive Officer of SHS, said: “Appointing a dedicated person to drive new business and nurture client relationships is an exciting development at SHS. The skills and knowledge that Xavier can bring to the role are invaluable, and will be of huge benefit in helping to meet our ambitious growth plans. “It is vital that SHS is able to adapt to an increasingly competitive market, securing new business while also maintaining strong relationships with our existing clients. Developing these new opportunities is a challenging and exciting opportunity, and I’m delighted to welcome such a well-known and well-respected personality as Xavier to the team. The business has already gone from strength to strength in recent years and we hope to expand on these achievements and continue to provide exceptional quality to our customers while holding a strong, competitive position in the market. “The company’s success is testament to the quality of people working within the business and demonstrates our commitment to exceptional health and safety and focus on providing a safe, sustainable, high quality and cost effective service.”Altrad NSG wins Centrica Energy offshore contract
Altrad NSG has been awarded a multi-million pound offshore contract by oil and gas exploration and production company Centrica Energy.
The company has won a five-year contract with Centrica to provide access solutions, repair and maintenance services on both onshore and offshore projects, creating 50 new jobs. The contract, which has the possibility of being extended by two years upon completion, will see Altrad NSG expand on its existing onshore work at Centrica’s gas terminals in Barrow-in Furness. The business will provide full access, repair and maintenance services, including blasting and painting, as well as insulation and passive fire protection (PFP), to both manned and unmanned offshore platforms off the coast of Morecambe Bay in the East Irish Sea. Altrad NSG managing director Mike Carr said: “This is our first major offshore contract and is a significant milestone for the business. It is a positive endorsement of the hard work and expertise of our teams and the services Altrad NSG provides. “Offshore work provides a fantastic opportunity for us as we continue to build on our complete maintenance solution approach and we are now looking towards the North Sea to expand the offshore division of the business. “Through our onshore work with Centrica in Barrow-in-Furness over the past five years we have built a strong relationship and demonstrated the benefits of our multi-discipline approach. By providing a turnkey solution to clients under one umbrella, we can save time and reduce costs while improving communication and the level of service delivered.”Blencowe Scaffolding announces new division and investment in Layher
Blencowe Scaffolding Ltd has invested into it’s future by purchasing new Layher system scaffolding, creating a new division for the growing firm.
Blencowe Scaffolding Limited, whose head office is based in Salisbury, today announced that they will have a new division within the company to handle the recently purchased scaffold system, named Modern Access. The firm has heavily invested in the new scaffold system, from Layher UK, to compliment their existing traditional tube and fitting scaffold services, in order to continue to move the business forward and allow it to become more malleable, extending their current customer database.
The newly named division, Modern Access within Blencowe Scaffolding, will focus on expanding their current customer database and attracting new customers with a view to working on more special projects throughout Southern England.
Blencowe Scaffolding have trained members of their team to specifically use the new Layher system scaffold and each trained individual will head up a team of their own to roll-out any projects using system scaffold.
The Layher system is centred on a highly versatile ‘rosette’ welded onto each tube that can safely and securely accommodate eight individual connections. Irrespective of height, the scaffolding can be constructed in three dimensions from each rosette. Ledgers or transoms can be connected at right angles as well as the option of different options.
The system is constructed from aluminium material which means that it is low in weight, easy to transport and handle as well as being fully integrated with current health and safety regulations and runs parallel with the safety roll-out from NASC and CSIRS.
Alan Blencowe who is responsible for heading up the new system within the family company says, ‘This is an exciting time for us at Blencowe Scaffolding, not only does it allow us to tender for projects that require a delicate approach, it will also allow us to widen the breadth of products that we can offer existing and new clients and allow us to grow within today’s economy’.
Pat Blencowe, CEO of Blencowe Scaffolding commented, ‘We celebrated 50 years of business last year (2014) and our business has survived 3 recessions. It is imperative to invest in our future and in our work force which is why we chose the system scaffold from Layher UK. It wasn’t an easy decision to make as the investment was so large, but we knew it was the right direction to head in. We’re looking forward to that path that the new system scaffold can lead us!’ 48.3 Scaffolder’s Champion League – the results
Formark Scaffolding wins the first 48.3 Scaffolders Champion League.
Thursday 14th May saw the first 48.3 Scaffolder’s Champions league at Goals, Beckenham North. The tournament marked the first time six leading scaffolding companies have battled it out on the field to win the coveted 48.3 Scaffolder’s Champions league trophy. Anglewest, Formark, GKR, Lyndon, Millcroft and TRAD all demonstrated great skill and determination however it was Formark Scaffolding that lifted the trophy as well deserved winners! Final results:- 1st Formark
- 2nd TRAD
- 3rd Millcroft
- 4th GKR
- 5th Anglewest
- 6th Lyndon
Altrad NSG wins RoSPA award for 10 years of continuous safety excellence
Scaffolding and industrial services specialist Altrad NSG has won a RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) President’s Award following 10 years of safety excellence.
The award was presented to recognise the company’s excellent health and safety record at its INEOS ChlorVinyls site in Runcorn, which has now achieved over 2¼ million hours of work without a lost-time accident, dating back to 2005. The President’s Award is only given to businesses when they record ten consecutive Gold Medals for Occupational Health & Safety. North Wales-based Altrad NSG has also recently received a British Safety Council Five Star Award and an ECIA Safe Working Award. Howard Satchell, compliance manager at Altrad NSG, said: “This is an outstanding achievement from the team at INEOS ChlorVinyls – to go ten years and over two million hours without a lost-time accident demonstrates to our clients and potential customers that we are a responsible business that places health and safety as top priority.” INEOS ChlorVinyls is a leading global manufacturer of chlorine and PVC – its Runcorn site is the company’s biggest in the UK. Mr Satchell added: “We have 110 staff at our INEOS ChlorVinyls site, providing multi-discipline maintenance works including scaffolding, rope access, painting and industrial cleaning, as well as thermal insulation and sheet metal work. Our ethos is to engage with every employee and directly involve them in the development and implementation of health and safety schemes. This gives our staff ownership and helps them to understand the importance of workplace safety.” Through the RoSPA Awards scheme, which is open to businesses and organisations of all types and sizes from across the UK and overseas, judges consider entrants’ overarching occupational health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement. David Rawlins, RoSPA’s awards manager, said: “The RoSPA Awards encourage improvement in occupational health and safety management. Organisations that gain recognition for their health and safety management systems, such as Altrad NSG contribute to raising standards overall and we congratulate them.” Organisations that maintain high standards in consecutive years can win RoSPA Gold Medals, President’s Awards and Orders of Distinction. Altrad NSG’s award will be presented during a ceremony at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel on July 15, 2015.BREAKING: Ferrybridge Power Station To Close In 2016
Up to 180 job losses have tonight been announced at Ferrybridge Power Station.
180 jobs are set to be lost at Ferrybridge Power Station after it was announced a fire last year cause irreparable damage to the plant. A Unite union spokesperson has said there was a “stunned silence” as the news was announced to staff at a meeting tonight. It is thought the plant will close by March 2016. A full announcement is expected tomorrow morning.Cape Acquires Redhall Engineering
Cape plc broadens its portfolio after spending £6 million purchasing Redhall Engineering.
Energy services giant Cape plc, have announced in a press release that they have acquired Redhall Engineering Solutions Limited (“Redhall Engineering”), for a total of £6 million. The acquisition will be funded from the Group’s existing debt facilities and is expected to be earnings enhancing in the current financial year. Redhall Engineering employs approximately 420 people, primarily located in the UK and had revenues of £30.1 million for the year ending 30 September 2014. The business predominantly operates in the process and downstream oil & gas industries and provides a range of maintenance services including specialist pipe welding and repair, tank repair, bundle pulling and shutdown services. Commenting on the acquisition, Joe Oatley CEO of Cape said: “The acquisition of Redhall Engineering is in line with our strategy to broaden the Group’s portfolio by adding adjacent services and will allow Cape to offer a broader range of maintenance services to our key clients within the UK. Redhall Engineering has a strong management team and a highly skilled workforce and I look forward to welcoming them into the Cape group”Crossway commence work on complex truss out project
Scaffolding contractor Crossway commence work on the historic Coopers Buildings in Liverpool.
Crossway have reported that the scaffolding structure currently being erected in Liverpool City Center is the most complex scaffold the firm has undertaken to date. As the Coopers Building is on one of the busiest shopping precincts in Liverpool, it was
decided that the scaffold could not be founded from the ground but had to be cantilevered from the building.
Working for construction firm Williams Tarr Construction, Crossway have developed a scheme which incorporates their Dessa Beams for the project as the beams can carry a higher load than others on the market.
In a recent Crossway newsletter Design Engineer, Dale Hopper from RDG Engineering has said: It is the most complex design they have ever undertaken in terms of transferring the loads from the scaffolding into the structure of the building. The loads had to be transferred to the strong points of the building using steel soldiers and beams to spread the loads.
Crossway have also incorporated a lifting gantry into the project at roof level to enable heavy stonework to be lifted into position with use of chain blocks which are able to move vertically and horizontally in four directions.
Source: James Lomas.
Simian Skill Middle East Gaines CISRS Re-accreditation
