The latest news this week in the Construction Industry:

 

ISG lands new £281m London neurology centre for UCL

ISG has been appointed as UCL’s main contractor to begin pre-construction work on a new neurology centre in central London. Read more…

City planners give green light to “The Tulip” tower

The City of London Corporation has approved a planning application from Foster + Partners for the tallest tower in the Square Mile. Read more…

Henry wins £115m Guinness East London scheme

Henry Construction Projects has been confirmed as preferred main builder for the first phase of a major housing scheme planned by Guinness Partnership in East London. Read more…

Kier wins £13m Bradford Academy

Kier has been named by the Department for Education to design and construct an 880-place academy in a grade II listed mill in Bradford. Read more…

L&Q to buy north-west rival and spend £4bn on homes

South east housing association L&Q is in talks to take over the North West’s Trafford Housing Trust with ambitious plans to boost house building in the region. Read more…

 

 

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The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

 

Microplastics are most common waste found along Mediterranean coast, study says

Polyethylene used to make plastic shopping bags and cling film forms most of plastic found in coastal waters, according to marine scientists from University of Barcelona. Read more…

EU re-approves NI water protection plans

The EU has given its re-approval for plans to protect water quality in Northern Ireland. Read more…

Graham wins £18m Carlisle cancer centre

Graham has been awarded an £18.3m contract to design and construct the new cancer centre at Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle for North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust. Read more…

Network Rail to spend £42bn on railway improvements to ‘restore public trust’

Network Rail is to spend £42bn on the railway over the next five years in a bid to improve poor punctuality in “the biggest modernisation of our rail network in over a century.” Read more…

Heathrow shortlists 18 construction hub sites

Heathrow Airport today revealed 18 sites left in the running to become construction hubs for the third runway project. Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Construction Industry:

Guinness and Stonewater to build 4,500 homes by 2022

Homes England has signed off another major strategic framework agreement with social housing providers Guinness Partnership and Stonewater. Read more…

Morgan Sindall set for £60m St Albans mixed-use scheme

Morgan Sindall Construction has been named preferred bidder for a mixed-use development in the heart of St Albans city centre. Read more…

Business booming for building services giant TClarke

Business is booming at TClarke as the building services specialist posted results ahead of market expectations. Read more…

Vast York Central scheme gains outline approval

Outline planning has been granted to develop over 2,500 homes and a new commercial district next to York railway station. Read more…

McLaren wins £27m North London HQ job

McLaren Construction has secured the £26.7m job to build a headquarters in North London for software giant Metaswitch. Read more…

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The latest news this week in the Construction Industry:

Hi-Vis site wear launched for pregnant women

Pregnant construction workers can now buy a range of hi-vis clothing to wear on site. Read more…

Tolent awarded £400m Kirkstall Forge project in Leeds

Tolent has been awarded the contract to build the first residential stage at Kirkstall Forge, a flagship £400m project in Leeds. Read more…

Interserve £170m prison project to be rebid

The Ministry of Justice is to retender the £170m HMP Glen Parva new build prison project in Leicestershire. Read more…

ENGIE secures £20m Scarborough LIFEstyle scheme

Scarborough Borough Council has approved a planning application by ENGIE, to build a bespoke over 55s housing development in Scarborough. Read more…

Griffiths to restart Dawnus Kingsway transformation project

Swansea Council has revealed that Welsh civil engineering contractor Griffiths will complete work on the £12m Kingsway transformation project. Read more…

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The latest news this week in the Construction Industry:

 

 

A developer wanted for £1.5bn Manchester innovation district

The University of Manchester has unveiled ambitious plans to create a £1.5bn innovation district on the site of its North Campus near the planned HS2 station. Read more…

V&A museum begins search for contractor for £22m centre

The Victoria & Albert (V&A) museum in London has started the tender process to select the main contractor for a £22m scheme to create a research centre and space for its collections. Read more…

Simons Group lands starring role on £20m cinema scheme

Simons Group has been awarded the main contract to build a new £20m  cinema and restaurant complex at East Square in Basildon, Essex. Read more…

Watkin Jones forward funds £90m Wembley scheme

Student rooms and build-to-rent specialist Watkin Jones has forward sold a planned 600-bed student scheme in London near Wembley stadium. Read more…

Balfour Beatty hits 2.4% construction margin

Balfour Beatty has returned to industry standard margins and built up strong cash reserves completing a four-year turnaround plan. Read more…

 

 

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The latest news this week in the Construction Industry:

 

Henry Construction bags Croydon tower deals

Henry Construction has landed tower deals worth nearly £55m from the Brick by Brick housing development company set up by Croydon Council. Read more…

£900m Bishopsgate Goodsyard scheme downsized

Hammerson and its development partner Ballymore have dramatically downsized proposals for the £900m Bishopsgate Goodsyard scheme in London. Read more…

O’Keefe forecasts 12% revenue fall due to Brexit

South East groundworks and concrete contractor O’Keefe Construction is predicting that Brexit project delays will hit revenues by around 12% this year. Read more…

UK construction activity drops to 11-month low

UK construction activity fell during February, ending a ten-month period of sustained expansion, as a drop in commercial building and civil engineering activity was heavily to blame. Read more…

Laing O’Rourke to deliver Oxford University Biochemistry Building

Laing O’Rourke has signed a contract with the University of Oxford to complete the construction of their Biochemistry Building, due for completion in December 2020. Read more…

 

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 The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

 

 

Llangollen railway: Funding bid to finish steam project

After 45 years of building a railway line between two Denbighshire towns, volunteers say they need £10,000 to finish the last stretch. Read more…

O’Rourke seals £70m Oxford Uni biochem project

Laing O’Rourke has finally signed a contract with the University of Oxford for phase two expansion of its acclaimed biochemistry building. Read more…

Thames Water turns up pressure on water thieves

Thames Water is ramping up the pressure on those who illegally tap into supplies and steal water after four separate offenders were heavily fined in court. Read more…

NatWest lifts DSS restrictions on BTL landlords following campaign

NatWest is lifting restrictions on buy-to-let landlords to allow them to let to tenants in receipt of housing benefit. Read more…

UK Collaboration Awarded £0.8m For Tech To Tackle Black Plastic

A unique project born from a collaboration between recycling compliance scheme Ecosurety, plastic innovations specialist Impact Solutions, recycling specialists Impact Recycling and plastics injection moulder company McLaren Plastics has been awarded £0.8 million by the Government’s Innovate UK grant scheme. Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Construction Industry:

 

Laing O’Rourke signs £195m construction contract for Soho Place

Laing O’Rourke and Derwent London plc have exchanged construction contracts worth £195m for the Soho Place, Tottenham Court Road W1 scheme. Read more…

Former Bouygues London boss joins McLaren

Darren Gill is joining McLaren this week as Managing Director for the London business. Read more…

Laing O’Rourke technical director to leave

Laing O’Rourke Group Technical Director Paul Westbury is leaving the business. Read more…

Housebuilding rates increase yet doubts remain on meeting target

More than half of housebuilders increased the rate at which they built new homes over the last year and predict a further rise over the next 12 months, according to a new survey. Read more…

Kier takes over Birmingham Arena Central scheme

Kier Property has struck a deal with Miller Developments to take forward the Arena Central scheme in Birmingham. Read more…

 

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A personal statement is usually the opening paragraph on your CV. It should be a short summary about you, to help employers see how you view yourself as a person and as an employee.

We’ve put together three simple tips for writing your personal statement:

How long should it be?

Your personal statement should be one paragraph, aiming for a minimum of 5 lines up to a maximum of 12 lines on a word document. If you’re looking for a word count, aim for up to 150 words.

If it’s too long, you risk repeating yourself and rambling too much!

If it’s too short, you’re not selling yourself enough!

What should it include?

You need to think about three key questions:

    • Who are you and what do you currently do?
    • What are your career goals?
    • What can you offer to your next employer, that could make you stand out above the rest?

Can I keep the same one for every job I apply for?

All job requirements are different. If you have the time, it would be beneficial to adapt your personal statement each time you apply for a job, so you can make it as relevant as possible to the role you are applying for. Make sure you do your research on the specific requirements the employer is asking for, both for the job and personal skills.

Remember, your personal statement gives you a chance to sell yourself in one paragraph. The rest of your CV is your work experience and your qualifications, so this gives you the opportunity to add that personal touch.

Here’s an example we’ve put together:

“As an experienced project manager, I have a proactive approach which has resulted in numerous successful completions of important projects across the rail industry. I am now coming to the end of my current project and am seeking a new challenge. I am a reliable and well-organised manager, bringing various expertise and knowledge to the table. I have extensive experience across the board and my attention to detail and communication skills is what makes me stand out from the rest.

TOP TIP

Make sure you ask someone to read through this for you to pick up any spelling or grammatical errors! You can’t always see these when you are writing yourself.

The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

 

First-time buyer numbers hit 12-year high during 2018

The latest data and analysis from UK Finance has revealed that despite ‘challenging’ market conditions and the ongoing Brexit and political circus, first-time-buyer numbers reached a 12-year peak during last year. Read more…

Rainwater used for sewer jetting in Northumbrian initiative

Northumbrian Water has started using harvested rainwater in jetting operations to clear sewer blockages, as an alternative to using clean, treated water for the purpose. Read more…

East West Rail makes ‘powerful case’ for direct services from Ipswich and Norwich to Oxford

A direct rail link between Ipswich, Norwich and Oxford could unlock £17.5bn for the East Anglia community, according to a case for investment from the East West Rail Consortium (EWRC). Read more…

SSE becomes last of the big six to raise prices for customers

SSE has become the sixth and final large energy supplier to announce it is raising its standard variable tariff (SVT) to Ofgem’s revised price cap level. Read more…

£200m Port of Tilbury expansion plan approved

The Government has given the green light for the £200m expansion of the Port of Tilbury in Essex. Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Construction Industry:

 

O’Rourke finally seals UK construction finance deal

Laing O’Rourke has finally completed a refinancing deal for its UK operations after all its contracts were put under the microscope by lenders for months. Read more…

McAleer & Rushe gets go-ahead for two Maldron hotels

Northern Ireland-based developer and contractor McAleer & Rushe has checked-in with planning to build hotels in Birmingham and Glasgow city centres. Read more…

Two Portsmouth ‘Grenfell’ tower blocks to be torn down

Two landmark Portsmouth tower blocks are set to be demolished after work to strengthen them was estimated to cost £86m. Read more…

Telford Homes to start 260 London rental homes scheme

Telford Homes secured another forward funding deal with long-term rental specialist Greystar to deliver a near 260 homes build-to-rent scheme at Walthamstow in East London. Read more…

Amey Rail appoints former Carillion MD as new chief

Former Carillion Rail managing director Andy Joy has been appointed to head Amey’s Rail business. Read more…

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The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

 

 

New TfW director appointed for north Wales

Transport for Wales (TfW) has appointed Lee Robinson as its new development director for North Wales. Read more…

Buckingham confirmed for £120m Swansea arena

Buckingham Group Contracting has been confirmed by Swansea Council as the principal contractor under a pre-construction services agreement (PCSA) for the city’s new £120m digital arena. Read more…

Yorkshire Water starts smart analytics trial to help battle leakage

Yorkshire Water is trialling the use of smart analytics to find leaks in its network. Read more…

UK Recycling Rate Edges Up To 45.7%, New Figures Show

The UK recycling rate for waste from households was 45.7% in 2017, increasing slightly from 45.2% in 2016, according to new figures from Defra. Read more…

Where is currently the best place to buy a home in England?

A perfect balance of affordability and low crime rates surely has to be high up on the list of priorities for prospective homebuyers. And, it’s safe to assume that some areas will fare better than others with regards to this. But where are they? Read more…

 

 

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The latest news this week in the Construction Industry:

 

 

Caddick wins £35m Hudson Quarter construction contract

Palace Capital has selected Caddick Construction Ltd to undertake the construction phase of its £35m Hudson Quarter development in York. Read more…

Go-ahead for Manchester Airport beauty group hub

Plans have been approved for a new £31m logistics and global content creation studio next to Manchester Airport. Read more…

McAleer & Rushe to start £82m Paddington hotel

Northern Ireland based developer and contractor McAleer & Rushe has got the thumbs up to start work on a hotel and hybrid aparthotel development in Paddington, London. Read more…

Hamiltonhill set for 600 new homes

Queens Cross Housing Association has now secured £40m funding from M&G Investments for ambitious plans to build 600 new homes and transform Hamiltonhill, Glasgow. Read more…

Bidding starts for £18m Helensburgh leisure centre

Argyll and Bute Council has started the search for a contractor to deliver the Helensburgh Waterfront Development in Scotland. Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

 

Proposals for £39bn investment in Northern Powerhouse Rail to be submitted to government

A business case for up to £39bn of investment in Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) are to be submitted to the government, marking “the region’s single biggest transport intervention” since the industrial revolution. Read more…

Kier pulls off contracts league double

A flurry of contract wins took Kier to pole position for greatest value of orders taken in the opening month of 2019, also keeping the firm at the top of the 12 months rolling league. Read more…

Spurs stadium opening delayed again

Spurs have announced further delays to their late-running £1bn stadium. Read more…

Tideway scoops sustainability award

Tideway, the company delivering the Thames Tideway Tunnel, has been rewarded at the Sustainability Leaders Awards 2019 for its green approach to the use of transport in the project. Read more…

Biffa Gets The Green Light For £15m Durham Plastics Recycling Plant

Biffa has announced it has received planning approval from Durham County Council for a £15m plastics recycling plant near Seaham. Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Property Industry:

 

 

Galliford Try wins £50m Assembly Bristol project

Galliford Try has scored a major success, signing contracts with Bell Hammer and AXA IM-Real Assets for the £150m Assembly Bristol mixed-use regeneration scheme. Read more…

London office building to be raised by six floors

Developer London and Regional Properties has submitted plans to reconfigure and extend a major office building, next to London’s Elephant & Castle tube station. Read more…

Tolent wins £12m luxury retirement scheme

Tolent has been confirmed as main contractor for a £12m apartment scheme in Newcastle, on behalf of luxury retirement specialist PegasusLife. Read more…

Regional rental growth battles on despite Brexit

The latest data released by Landbay has shown that since the vote to leave the European Union in June 2016, total rental growth across the English regions has been seven times that of London (3.69% to London’s 0.52%). Read more…

Is virtual reality the future of building construction?

Research from Glen Dimplex Heating and Ventilation shows technologies such as virtual reality, smart technologies, 3D printing and modelling, and robotics will have an impact on the future of building construction. Read more…

 

 

The latest news this week in the Construction Industry:

 

 

Race starts for record £30bn public works framework

The Government’s Crown Commercial Service has started the mega bid race for a recording-breaking Government works framework. Read more…

The holistic approach to construction’s productivity problem

After 20 years of stagnation, what will it take to kick-start productivity in construction? Martin Feakes, head of buildings London at Ramboll, believes the conditions are right for change. Read more…

Manchester building boom outstrips LA and Chicago

England’s big three regional cities are shrugging off Brexit worries and enjoyed bumper construction growth last year driven by city centre residential and office schemes. Read more…

Winvic Construction to develop 14-storey residential apartments

Winvic Construction Ltd has been appointed by Lionel House Developments Ltd and Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI) to develop a new 14-storey build-to-rent (BTR) complex. Read more…

Galliard Homes plans next major Birmingham scheme

Galliard Homes has pushed forward plans for a residential-led, mixed-use scheme of 756 new homes and more than 10,000 sq ft of commercial space on a site opposite Birmingham City Hospital. Read more…

Kier lined-up for £30m Cheltenham school deal

Gloucestershire County Council has confirmed Kier as preferred contractor for a new £30m school in Leckhampton, south Cheltenham. Read more…

 

 

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The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

 

 

Young civil engineers see tech as solution to skills shortage

Eight in 10 civil engineers believe that a skills shortage is the main challenge for the future of the industry, and 58 per cent of junior civil engineers believe that this challenge could be overcome by adopting new technology. Read more…

EU Proposal Submitted To Restrict “Intentionally Added” Microplastics

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has submitted a restriction proposal for microplastic particles that are intentionally added to mixtures used by consumers or professionals. Read more…

All Build UK contractors miss 30-day payment target again

No Build UK major contractor members are paying their bills within 30-days. Read more…

Is now the best time to buy a property in London?

It’s a gamble. Do I buy now or wait for a further possible drop in prices? Read more…

‘Light at the end of the tunnel’ as Gatwick Express trains trial due to start

MP Caroline Lucas has revealed that a trial for the Gatwick Express rail link will launch this month following months of reduced services, disruption and the May timetable chaos. Read more…

 

 

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The latest news this week in the Construction Industry:

 

 

£38m funding boost for construction classrooms

Further education providers offering construction T Levels are set to benefit from a £38m funding boost to build new classroms and refurbish existing buildings. Read more…

McAlpine gets green light for next Broadgate rebuild

Sir Robert McAlpine has got the green light to deliver the next major rebuild at Broadgate in the City of London. Read more…

£200m Liverpool scheme enabling works approved

A £4.2m plan to clear land for a £200m office scheme in Liverpool city centre has been given the thumbs up. Read more…

Start date for twin Glasgow resi towers

Legal & General has exchanged contracts on its first Build To Rent scheme in Scotland with construction set to start by the end of this year on the two 18-storey towers in Glasgow. Read more…

Wilmott Dixon wins £23m Salford tower block revamp

Willmott Dixon has landed another large residential project in Greater Manchester following recent work to build nearly 250 homes in Wythenshawe and Old Trafford. Read more…

Morgan Sindall to build £5m modular school in nine months

Morgan Sindall has been appointed to build a new £5m primary school and nursery in Derby in just nine months. Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Construction Industry:

 

Major milestone reached for Glasgow healthcare projects

BAM Construction has closed a deal on two healthcare projects which are being delivered for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde by hub West Scotland. Read more…

Sanctuary and Galliford Try JV to start fourth major scheme

Housing and care provider Sanctuary Group and Galliford Try Partnerships are joining forces for their fourth and biggest scheme. Read more…

Adding value, expertise and service to cost-effective construction solutions

With eight decades of experience behind it, Voestalpine Metsec plc is pioneering offsite framing in the construction industry. Read more…

Bouygues to start work on 26-storey Bristol tower

Construction is set to start this month on a 26-storey resi tower in the centre of Bristol. Read more…

£100m Clydeside build-to-rent development gets green light

One of Scotland’s first major build-to-rent developments on the banks of the Clyde has got the planning green light. Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

 

£50m stands approved for Lords cricket ground

The capacity of Lord’s cricket ground is set to increase to 31,000 after planning permission was granted to build new Edrich and Compton stands. Read more…

M&S launches plastic-free fruit and veg trial

Retailer to undertake three month trial to investigate how a switch to plastic-free and loose produce impacts waste levels. Read more…

The Ban on Tenant Fees Will Come Into Effect on 1st June

It feels like it’s been forever since the government announced that it was going to put an end to all the extra fees being charged by landlords and letting agents that somehow, miraculously, make the prospect of renting even more depressing. Read more…

Network Rail & Innovate UK: Ready for the future

As part of its Open for Business programme, Network Rail recently teamed up with Innovate UK to give businesses a chance to win a share of £300,000 for projects that can help automate rail planning. Read more…

Union demands “period dignity” on construction sites

Construction union Unite has launched a campaign to ensure that female workers have period dignity on site. Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Construction Industry:

 

Plant hire giant Hawk falls into administration

The Enquirer understands the news was broken to staff on Monday morning as plant manufacturers started to arrive at the firm’s depots to collect leased kit. Read more…

HS2 forces firms to use least polluting trucks and plant

HS2 is using its scale as the UK’s biggest infrastructure project to set a fresh benchmark in construction vehicle emission standards. Read more…

Watkin Jones hits record profits as pipeline grows

Student rooms and build-to-rent specialist Watkin Jones has delivered record profits and secured a pipeline of 24 project sites for the next three years. Read more…

Carey wins £16m Stratford Waterfront civils package

The London Legacy Development Corporation has picked P J Carey to deliver the main substructure works for the Stratford Waterfront development at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. Read more…

Mace confirmed for £350m Paddington Cube

Great Western Developments and development partner Sellar have confirmed Mace as the main construction partner to deliver the Paddington Cube project in London. Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

 

BAM Farrans JV wins £120m Great Yarmouth bridge

Norfolk County Council has awarded the contract for Great Yarmouth’s Third River Crossing to a BAM Farrans joint venture. Read more…

New official wet wipe standard to bolster fatberg fight

The fight against fatbergs has received a boost with the publication of a new official standard identifying which wet wipes can be flushed down toilets safely. Read more…

Engineers able to predict and fix track faults before they develop using new Costain augmented reality tech

Engineers will be able to use augmented reality (AR) to predict failing components and faults on train tracks and in stations after engineering companies, in collaboration with a university, have developed a network of Internet of Things (IoT). Read more…

Abundance closes record £7m investment for Orbital Marine Power project

Green crowd-funding platform Abundance has this week celebrated its largest fund-raise to date, closing a record £7m investment round for Orbital Marine Power. Read more…

Solving the social housing conundrum

David Baybut, head of Real Estate at national law firm Stephensons, discusses the recent plunge in social housing figures and explores how ‘new thinking’ can grow the stock of homes for social rent. Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

 

Read the George Stephenson notebook online:

This Christmas, Network Rail is sharing one of the railway’s most historically important artefacts with the world. Read more…

Six tower plans to change City of London skyline by 2026

Skyline views of the main London City tower cluster have been released assuming six more major consented schemes are built. Read more…

HS2 project part of new East Midlands manufacturing zones scheme

A north Derbyshire HS2 project has been named as one of the locations of the UK’s first manufacturing zones in the East Midlands. Read more…

Yorkshire Water begins project to plant a million trees

Yorkshire Water has announced that it has begun work on its scheme to plant one million trees across its land within 10 years. Read more…

House price growth slows to six year low

The latest figures released from Nationwide have revealed that across the UK, annual house price growth has slowed to its weakest pace since February 2013. Read more…

 

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 The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

 

£196m Barking rail extension awarded

A joint venture between Morgan Sindall and VolkerFitzpatrick has secured the London Overground rail extension from Barking to the planned 10,000 homes Riverside scheme. Read more…

House builders planning for further growth

Builders are continuing to invest in land as they look to deliver further increases in housing supply, according to a report from HBF and Glenigan. Read more…

Go-ahead for £350m Commonwealth Games village

Contractor Lendlease has got the planning green light to start work on Birmingham’s Commonwealth Games athletes village. Read more…

Rail Ombudsman interview: RTM sits down with CEO Kevin Grix

Both passengers and operators in the rail industry are anxious to see how the new ombudsman will improve the railways following a largely chaotic 2018. What are your key priorities going into 2019? Read more…

Office For Environmental Protection Outlined In Draft Environment Bill

Days after the unveiling of the Resources and Waste Strategy for England, Environment Secretary Michael Gove has published draft clauses on environmental principles and governance to be included in an ambitious, broader Environment Bill set for introduction next year. Read more…

South East Water partners with Centrica Hive to cut leakage

South East Water and smart home technology provider Centrica Hive have announced the first domestic household water supplier partnership to reduce leakage and improve water use understanding. Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Construction Industry:

 

Balfour Beatty delivers 2-3% construction margin goal

Balfour Beatty chief Leo Quinn has achieved his goal of returning the business to industry standard margins by the end of this year. Read more…

VolkerHighways to replace Skanska on Bath roads

Bath and North East Somerset Council has picked VolkerHighways to deliver its £49m highways maintenance services for the next seven years. Read more…

Modular village to be built in Corby for London commuters

Groundworks will start this month on a new modular village in Corby, Northants targeted at London commuters. Read more…

Big Yellow 20-floor flats and storage scheme approved

Big Yellow Group has gained planning for a 20-storey residential block and separate self storage building in South London. Read more…

RSK buys scaffolding and traffic specialists

Expanding consultant RSK Group has acquired another raft of companies after securing a new financing package. Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

 

Hitachi and Spencer Group join forces for £500m Tyne and Wear Metro deal bid

Hitachi and Spencer Group have launched a joint bid to win a £500m contract to build new trains and a maintenance depot for the Tyne and Wear Metro. Read more…

Balfour Beatty delivers 2-3% construction margin goal

Balfour Beatty chief Leo Quinn has achieved his goal of returning the business to industry standard margins by the end of this year. Read more…

London millennial exodus fueling rental growth across UK

Across the UK’s regional hubs, rents are continuing to spiral upwards faster than both London and the UK average, driven by workers continuing to relocate from London amid rising living costs. Read more…

Scottish Water trials use of sniffer dogs to find leaks

Sniffer dogs are being used to help find leaking water mains for the first time in Scotland and have scored a big success with two discoveries in the past few days. Read more…

Infrastructure giant Amey to be sold to private equity firm in new year

Infrastructure giant Amey is expected to be sold to a private equity firm in the new year, according to reports. Read more…

Northumbrian Water agrees ‘second life’ energy storage deal

Northumbrian Water is planning to pilot the use of large-scale battery storage at a number of sites across the North East, Essex and Suffolk. Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Construction Industry:

 

Kier selected to deliver £45m Northstowe Education Campus

Kier has been chosen by Cambridgeshire County Council to carry out the first phase of the design and construction of its brand new £45m Northstowe Education Campus. Read more…

£300m Blackpool leisure development plans announced

The Blackpool Central development is set to bring world-class attractions to the Golden Mile. Read more…

Kier scores November contracts league double

Kier has come top of the monthly contracts league for work won in November and continued to hold pole position in the 12-month rolling league table. Read more…

Forrest falls into administration

Contractor Herbert T Forrest Limited has lost its fight for survival after administrators were appointed to the company. Read more…

£2bn Elephant & Castle shopping centre scheme final go-ahead

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has rubber-stamped £2bn plans for the redevelopment of the Elephant & Castle shopping centre in South London. Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Built Environment

 

Coca-Cola Invests In Supply Of 100% Recycled PET Plastic

Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) is making a new strategic investment from Loop Industries to purchase a supply of 100% recycled PET (rPET) plastic to accelerate the increased use of recycled materials in the creation of its bottles. Read more…

ISG lands £70m refurb deal for Canary Wharf tower

ISG has been awarded a £70m contract to refurbish the former Canary Wharf offices of the Financial Conduct Authority. Read more…

Severn Trent creates machine learning to help tackle leakage

Severn Trent has started to use machine learning to help transform the way it approaches leaks. Read more…

Network Rail awards first CP6 contracts

Railway specialists Story Contracting and AmcoGiffen have bagged the first major contracts to be let by Network Rail for the CP6 control period from 2019 to 2024. Read more…

Cheaper digital signalling, more exports and better data-sharing: DfT launches the Rail Sector Deal

The government has today announced the new Rail Sector Deal in order to help the government work better with the rail industry, reduce the cost of infrastructure, encourage greater use of digital technologies, and double the UK’s rail industry exports by 2025. Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Construction Industry

 

Half-way point for UK’s biggest road upgrade scheme

The £1.5bn project to upgrade 21 miles of the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon has reached the half-way point. Read more…

£150m Bournemouth Winter Gardens scheme gets go-ahead

Plans by Bournemouth Development Company for the Winter Gardens scheme in Bournemouth have been approved by Bournemouth Council Planning Board. Read more…

Engie to buy Forrest housing and energy arms

French energy services giant Engie is set to buy the social housing refurbishment and energy operations of stricken North West contractor Forrest Group. Read more…

Bouygues wins £100m London Royal Mail scheme

House builder Taylor Wimpey has awarded Bouygues a £100m-plus contract to deliver the first phase of its redevelopment of an old Royal Mail and Post Office site in London. Read more…

Researchers at Cambridge Uni to develop self-healing concrete

Researchers at the University of Cambridge are using microencapsulation technologies developed by Dolomite Microfluidics to develop self-healing building materials. Read more…

Go-ahead for £270m Swindon ski and cinema centre

Plans to build a 500,000 sq ft regional leisure scheme in Swindon featuring a big snow centre have been given the thumbs up. Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Built Environment

 

New prompt payment initiative to crackdown on slow paying contractors

A new prompt payment initiative to ensure all Government suppliers and subcontractors benefit from being paid on time has been announced. Read more…

Assurances Needed for a “World Leading” Environment Bill

Stakeholders from business sectors, environmental groups, academics and professional bodies have come together to establish common ground in shaping a world leading Environment Act. Read more…

Experts to discuss optimising networks with smart technology

How can water companies embrace the disruptive transformation of smart technology to revolutionise networks? Senior leaders from Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, FCC Aqualia, Yorkshire Water, and other leading organisations, are meeting to share strategic expertise at this year’s Smart Water Networks Conference, taking place on 21st March 2019 at the Birmingham Conference and Events Centre. Read more…

Go-ahead for £270m Swindon ski and cinema centre

Plans to build a 500,000 sq ft regional leisure scheme in Swindon featuring a big snow centre have been given the thumbs up. Read more…

Bombardier and Hitachi commit to high-speed rail learning programme if HS2 bid is successful

Hitachi and Bombardier are to work closely together in developing a high-speed rail learning programme as part of their joint bid to build trains for HS2. Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Construction Industry

Cheshire West Council invest millions into building new affordable homes

The Cheshire West and Chester Council has received grant funding of £14.68 million to produce 700 new affordable homes across the borough. Read more…

Lendlease wins Birmingham Commonwealth Games village

Birmingham City Council has appointed Lendlease to deliver the £350m Commonwealth Games athletes village. Read more…

Kier to deliver £56m flagship building at The Royal College of Art

The Royal College of Art (RCA) has appointed Kier to construct a £56 million new academic studio and research building at its South Campus. Read more…

Four shortlisted for 725 homes at £6bn Meridian Water

Four major developers and housing associations have been shortlisted for the first housing site at the vast Meridian Water scheme in North London. Read more…

Crest to start £85m Gloucester Quays canal-side homes

Developer Crest Nicholson has purchased a 4.7-hectare site on the western bank of the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal for redevelopment in an £85m project. Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Built Environment

 

Thameslink director appointed as East West Rail’s first CEO

East West Rail has announced its first chief executive as Simon Blanchflower, the programme director for Thameslink. Read more…

Interserve to roll-out £650m debt reduction plan

Interserve chief Debbie White has pledged to unveil plans to tackle the group’s mountain of debt early next year. Read more…

Rail parliamentary roundup: Grayling denies ‘tin ear’ jibes on northern investment, investigation launched into SWR’s ‘Mayhem Monday’

The transport secretary has hit back against claims that the government has underinvested in transport in the north following new analysis from the IPPR this week. Read more…

Yorkshire Water announces £30M Saltend WWTW investment

Yorkshire Water is to invest £30M in its wastewater treatment works in Saltend, Hull to improve the site’s operation. Read more…

My life in rail: Caitlin Gent

For the first in a new series meeting rail staff at different stages of their careers, we sat down with rising rail apprentice Caitlin Gent. Read more…

Major Brands Sign “Waste To Wealth” Commitment

Business in the Community – The Prince’s Responsible Business Network will challenge business to reduce waste or turn “waste into wealth” to prevent catastrophic climate change during at the Waste to Wealth Summit, held today (22 November). Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Construction Industry

 

UK and Ireland’s most considerate construction companies revealed

The highest-performing construction companies and suppliers in the UK and Ireland have been announced at the 2018 National Considerate Constructors Scheme Company and Supplier Awards. Read more…

Plans go in for tallest tower in the City of London

The team behind the Gherkin at 30 St Mary Axe in the City of London have lodged a planning application for a new tower next door. Read more…

Union demands “toilet dignity” for construction workers

Unite leaders are demanding that construction employers take action to ensure that workers are granted “toilet dignity in the workplace.” Read more…

Bid race starts for £435m HS2 Birmingham station

HS2 has given the signal for bid prequalification to start for Birmingham Curzon Street station. Read more…

GRAHAM completes £35m student accommodation in Surrey

GRAHAM has completed the design and build of Magna Carta Park, a new build student accommodation scheme in Runnymede. Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Built Environment

 

Building new city-centre lines instead of using existing network inflates HS2 cost by 15%

HS2’s second phase will cost more compared to similar overseas schemes because it relies on new dedicated high-speed lines into city-centre terminal stations at Manchester and Leeds rather than using the existing conventional railway. Read more…

Nearly 98% of bathing waters pass EA quality standards

The Environment Agency has announced that 97.9 per cent of England’s bathing waters passed standards following tests this year. Read more…

A6 Manchester Airport relief road creates thousands of jobs

Greater Manchester is set to benefit from 5,000 more jobs thanks to a new road improving connections in and around the city to Manchester Airport. Read more…

Industry set to ‘smash’ government target after new build completions see 6.4% year-on-year rise

According to the latest government statistics, new build completions accounted for 195,290 of supply in 2017-18 in the year to April – a rise of 6.4%. Read more…

Wates wins £82m London Haringey tower job

Wates Construction has been appointed by London residential developer Anthology to build a 32-storey tower in Tottenham Hale. Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Property Industry

 

Housing market in limbo due to Brexit uncertainties

The latest statistics released by ONS on the UK housing market continue to paint a picture of a stagnant market that is feeling the impact of uncertainties surrounding Brexit, a disappointing budget and a continuing lack of stock. Read more…

Bristol housing project to provide affordable housing for young homeless

Bristol City Council has approved plans to restore an empty property into much-needed affordable housing for young homeless people. Read more…

Robot bricklayer builds house in under three days

A construction robot has built a house in less than three days. Australian tech company FBR hailed the achievement as a “quantum leap for the construction industry.” Read more…

Future Generation to build luxury student accommodation in Guildford

Future Generation, a Southern Grove company, has secured planning permission for a state-of-the-art luxury student accommodation scheme in Guildford. Read more…

Green light for 335 PRS flats in Sheffield

Sheffield City Council has granted planning consent for a new mixed-use development that will create 335 new build-to-rent homes in the south west of the city centre. Read more…

 

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As we are fast approaching the end of Autumn and going into the Winter months, it’s important to stay safe and be aware of the seasonal changes.

We want to ensure that we all stay safe and get home safely every day. Here are some top tips to help you through the winter months, accessed by Track Safety Alliance (TSA)

Staying safe consists of being prepared for the various weather conditions:

  • Correct clothing and PPE

    • Wear layers of clothing under your PPE to stay warm
    • Keep your hands warm as cold hands will affect dexterity
  • Site preparation

    • Be aware of underfoot conditions
    • Check equipment is safe
    • Does the new ballast have anti-icer?
    • Are the water pipes suitably lagged?
    • Have you spread rock salt at access points and SAC cabins wherever possible that isn’t on the rails?
  • Welfare and Fatigue

    • Make sure teams have access to hot food and drinks
    • Colder temperatures exacerbate tiredness and increase fatigue, avoid standing around whilst waiting to access the track
  • Winter Driving

    • Make sure you drive with due care and attention
    • Top up your windscreen wash
    • Pack de-icer and an ice scraper in your vehicle
    • Pack spare clothes/blanket and food/drink for emergencies
    • Make sure you have sufficient fuel for your journey and emergencies

Did you know?

  • Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern and is currently estimated to affect up to 2 million people in the UK. You can find out more and seek help through the charity Mind.

Keep up to date with our latest safety briefing online here.

The latest news this week in the Construction Industry

 

Why is the construction industry behind on technological changes?

Leading building materials suppliers MIDFIX explore the importance of technological changes in the construction industry. Read more…

Steven A. Hunt Associates to build cancer care centre in Liverpool

The mechanical and electrical engineering specialists have secured a six figure contract to build an advanced medical diagnostics centre in Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter next year. Read more…

Telford Homes snaps up 270-home site near Wembley

Telford Homes has bought part of a resi-led mixed-use development site near Wembley in London for £28m. Read more…

Willmott Dixon launches pre-design facilities for healthcare

Willmott Dixon is bringing its pre-design concepts to the healthcare market following the success of Sunesis and CODE which have secured the company over £200m in orders in the last five years. Read more…

New chairman named for Sir Robert McAlpine

Sir Robert McAlpine has announced that Edward McAlpine will take over as new chairman of the construction group from January next year. Read more…

Winvic bags £50m Leicester build to rent scheme

Winvic Construction is preparing to start work on a £50m project to build rental flats at the Waterside regeneration area in Leicester. Read more…

M&E specialist VVB bought out of administration by owners

Tunnel M&E specialist VVB Engineering has been bought out of administration by its existing investment fund owners in a pre-pack deal. Read more…

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The latest news this week in the Built Environment

 

Crossrail chief executive stands down as London Underground boss takes up role

Transport for London announced today that Simon Wright, the chief executive of the £15.4bn project, will step down from the role “as planned,” and on 19 November will be replaced by Mark Wild, who is currently the managing director of London Underground. Read more…

ISG appointed to deliver £200m Waterloo development

ISG is set to transform 135,000 sq ft at the former Waterloo International Eurostar Terminal into a new retail, leisure and cultural development. Read more…

Civils skills shortage worst on record

Civils contractors are warning they now face a serious skills gap with dissatisfaction about finding sufficiently skilled staff in England running at record levels. Read more…

Travertine pavements could cut flooding by 50% – study

Changing the material used in pavements could reduce flooding by 50 percent and purify stormwater at the same time, according to researchers from Xi’an Jiaotong- Liverpool University (XJTLU). Read more…

Colgate Launches Oral Care Products Recycling Solution

Dental hygiene brand Colgate is partnering with TerraCycle to launch the Colgate Oral Care Recycling Programme, a free Nationwide recycling solution for oral care products and packaging in the UK. Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Construction Industry

 

Wates site leader is Construction Manager of the Year

Neil Lock of Wates was named Construction Manager of the Year last night at the CIOB’s annual celebration of industry professionals. Read more…

BAM Nuttall wins first stage of £60m Lowestoft bridge

BAM Nuttall has won the contract for the first stage of completing the £60m Lake Lothing Third Crossing in Lowestoft. Read more…

Colmore Tang wins £18m Slough resi scheme

Colmore Tang has won the contract to convert the former Intel Security office building in Slough into a luxury apartment complex for developer SevenCapital. Read more…

Wates JV 1,500-home Bicester plan gets green light

Joint developers Wates Developments and Redrow Homes have gained revised planning for a  1,500-home scheme at Wretchwick Green in Bicester. Read more…

Government abolishes PFI and PF2 for future projects

Chancellor Philip Hammond has called time on the private finance initiative vowing in his Budget speech today to never sign another deal. Read more…

ISG wins lead role on £200m Waterloo Eurostar station revival

Developer LCR has appointed ISG as lead contractor on its £200m retail, leisure and cultural development at Waterloo. Read more…

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The latest news this week in the Built Environment

 

Colmore Tang has won the contract to convert the former Intel Security office building in Slough into a luxury apartment complex for developer SevenCapital.

Work will see the building converted into 58 one and two-bedroom boutique apartments. Read more…

Network Rail supplier spend table revealed

Network’s Rail’s investment in signalling and train control systems saw Siemens Rail Automation unseat Costain as the infrastructure group’s biggest supplier by spend. Read more…

London council picks Countryside for big estate rebuild

The London Borough of Kingston has selected Countryside Properties to redevelop a major housing estate. Read more…

BAM Nuttall wins first stage of £60m Lowestoft bridge

BAM Nuttall has won the contract for the first stage of completing the £60m Lake Lothing Third Crossing in Lowestoft. Read more…

New framework announced for measuring the impact UK rail has on society and sustainability

The RSSB has developed a new framework which can measure the social value of the UK’s railway. Read more…

DERAGGER demonstrates benefits in independent trial

Clearwater Controls’ DERAGGER device cuts energy consumption by up to 80 per cent, significantly reduces maintenance requirements and helps to extend asset life, according to a new independent trial. Read more…

Thames Water publishes environmental, social and governance statement

Thames Water has published its first Environmental, Social and Governance Statement today (25 October) and been recognised for its commitment to sustainability in a global review. Read more…

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Traditional vs modular: Deconstructing building methods

Traditional and modular construction are very different from one another. Premier Guarantee examines the pros and cons. Read more…

Hill bags £300m Aldershot and Farnborough town centre revamps

House builder Hill’s investment partnerships arm has signed off a development deal with Rushmoor Borough Council to transform both Aldershot and Farnborough town centres. Read more…

Atkins wins Wylfa nuclear power station civils design

Atkins has been signed up to deliver civils design for the Wylfa Newydd nuclear power station on the Isle of Anglesey. Read more…

Despite slowing growth, construction’s profits continue to rise

An analysis of the accounts of more than 1700 construction companies has shown that average annual profit before tax has grown from 11.5% to 17.1% over the last three years. Read more…

Civils specialist Nexus sees orders surge 45% to £290m

Publicly-listed civils specialist, Nexus Infrastructure, has enjoyed a sharp uplift in orders driven by both its civils and house building utility connection businesses.

London boroughs get £1bn council homes construction boost

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has confirmed more than £1bn in funding for 26 boroughs in the capital to ramp up the construction of council homes. Read more…

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Searching for a job can be a daunting prospect; understanding your worth on the job market, navigating job boards, recruiters and social networks can all present barriers to finding the perfect role. But all is not lost, new technology and algorithms on established platforms are all geared to help you find your next role with minimum effort.

So how do you find a job in the technological age?

Here are 3 simple tips to help speed up your job search.

Update your Virtual CV

 

 

Your social media profile can act as a virtual CV, it’s there 24/7 as your own personal advert to the job market. Create a LinkedIn profile or update your existing profile by detailing your relevant skills and experience to maximise your online presence. Share your profile edits to draw attention to your refreshed profile among your followers.

Register for Job Alerts

 

 

Save time with your search by registering for job alerts. By registering with relevant job boards and setting up job alerts, you can receive notifications of new opportunities straight to your inbox. You can be as specific as you want to be, narrowing it down to location, salary, job title or industry. Targeting industry-specific job sites can be a good way of narrowing down the number of jobs sent to you.

Utilise Recruiters

 

 

Good recruiters will have a comprehensive understanding of your market and current opportunities. Engaging recruiters is a quick way of tapping into this knowledge to help you in your search. Even better, they already have a relationship with the hiring managers and can guide you through the process, from interviews and salary negotiation through to offer and onboarding.

You can now choose to show recruiters and hiring managers, who are searching for potential candidates, that you are ‘open to opportunities’ on LinkedIn. This will not be visible to your current company but will alert hiring managers and recruiters that you are open to approaches!

 

Looking for your next career?

Advance TRS is a niche recruitment consultancy specialising in the provision of highly-skilled technical professionals. Since establishing, Advance TRS has grown rapidly and now provides permanent, contract and temporary recruitment solutions to both candidates and clients across a number of key technical sectors, including Rail, Property, Construction, Water and Utilities.

For the latest opportunities visit staging-advancetrs.kinsta.cloud or speak to one of our team on 01483 361061.

VolkerHighways wins £70m Wokingham roads upkeep

Wokingham Borough Council has selected VolkerHighways to deliver its highways and transport maintenance and construction programmes. Read more…

Mace tops September contracts league

Mace nosed ahead to rank top of the September contracts league after securing a £200m job for over 500 flats at the London Olympic Park for joint clients Qatari Diar and Delancy Estates. Read more…

VolkerFitzpatrick wins £14m Thames Valley spec office job

The property investment arm of JP Morgan has awarded VolkerFitzpatrick a £14m contract to build a 70,000 sq ft office project in Maidenhead. Read more…

Morgan Sindall wins sixth Southampton port car park

Morgan Sindall has secured the latest stage in the Port of Southampton’s £50m expansion of car storage facilities. Read more…

Kier wins £40m Gloucestershire hospitals revamp

Kier has secured projects to modernised the Cheltenham General and Gloucestershire Royal Hospitals through the Procure 22 framework. Read more…

Striking HS2 Midlands stations designs revealed

HS2 has unveiled detailed designs for landmark stations at Curzon Street in Birmingham and the Solihull Interchange. Read more…

This September, the Advance TRS team marked 7 years of trading in style. Since establishing in 2011, Advance TRS has grown from one man’s idea into a £30 million turnover business, now with 2 office locations and over 35 staff recruiting across 4 key industry sectors.

Group Managing Director Andy Ridout’s unique energy and dedication has inspired and driven the team to place over 2,600 professionals, boasting over 1.5 million hours worked on the railway without serious incident.

In the last year alone, Advance TRS Ltd. have been presented awards including Leadership Team of the Year and Employer of the Year for Surrey. These add to the companies growing awards cupboard, as previous winners of the M3 Growth Hub High Growth Award and Finalists for the UKRIA Recruitment Excellence award.

With plans to more than double the workforce again in the next 3 years, the rapidly growing team shares Andy’s commitment to providing excellent customer service to both candidates and clients alike, finding the best candidates for each role.

Building on more than 150 years of combined industry experience and mobilising the dynamism of new recruits, the team are going from strength to strength.

The company has recently invested in a new Training and Development Director and Head of Facilities Managment to support the senior leadership team, with expansion plans including new recruits and new office locations.

All of this has been achieved whilst maintaining a singular dedication to excellent customer service, epitomized by the company’s Core Values of Quality, Commitment, Integrity, Honesty and Loyalty.

With business development plans firmly rooted in these five principles, Advance TRS aims to continue this pattern of growth whilst maintaining their strong reputation as dependable, effective and honest.

“Advance TRS’ success has been proven that hard work and a dedication to delivering excellent service pays off” Andy explains, reflecting on the last 7 years.

“Now, the team and I are more motivated than ever to continue this sensational track record of growth and are excited for what the future brings.”

If you’re interested in being part of an award-winning team, please contact Neil Wilkie on 01483 361061 or click here to visit our ‘Work for us’ page and apply for one of our current vacancies!