Construction giant Morgan Sindall Construction has launched its second Knowledge Quad as part of its work on the University of Salford’s new Science, Technology and Environment (SEE Building) building.
The Knowledge Quad is a versatile training and learning facility on a Morgan Sindall live construction site. It delivers value by engaging in activities that focus on the four key areas of skills, education, employment, and discovery.
It also establishes an important link between industry and education, ensuring that curricula meet the needs of employers and that students, trainees and trainees at all levels are equipped with the relevant knowledge and skills to be successful.
Morgan Sindall Construction has worked with the University of Salford on a number of educational programs for several years. This relationship is now being taken to a new level of partnership with the introduction of the Knowledge Quad. Its position within the SEE construction site allows the work in progress to be used as a live textbook, giving those using the facility a unique insight into the implementation of a large-scale built environment project.
The new facility will initially open its doors as a soft launch, offering community programs for small groups in accordance with social distancing guidelines, followed by a more extensive program schedule as lockdown restrictions wear off. The first event at the new facility was led by Build Salford, an internship program that enables 16- to 24-year-olds to take the first steps towards starting an apprenticeship with leading construction companies.
The Knowledge Quad began at Morgan Sindall Construction’s £ 150 million multi-project Paddington Village site in the Knowledge Quarter of Liverpool City Council, the scale of which has enabled a significant investment in addressing the deteriorating skills gap in construction and maximizing the socio-economic value of development . To date, the Liverpool Knowledge Quad has resulted in more than 6,950 students attending engagement events, 1,442 hours of volunteer hours donated across the Morgan Sindall Construction workforce and supply chain, and more than 1,900 apprentice weeks on Morgan Sindall Construction projects.
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Brit European Transport
NS Cheshire Holdings has received a seven-figure financing package from HSBC UK to facilitate a management buy-out of Brit European Transport Group, a Crewe-based specialist logistics company.
As a result of the MBO, Brit European Transport and all of its subsidiaries will be transferred to new ownership by NS Cheshire Holdings, a company led by the current Managing Director of Brit European.
Brit European Transport’s previous owners, Rod Carman and his wife Sally, will be handing over the baton after running the family business for several decades. As part of the MBO, the company will keep all 60 jobs at the Radway Green site in Crewe.
Graham Lackey, CEO of Brit European Transport, said: “The business will continue to be conducted with great care and consideration for the long-term benefit of all employees. I am humble and honored to continue this journey with all of my British colleagues in Europe and I look forward to the years to come as we continue to develop the business. “
James Long, Relationship Director at HSBC UK, said: “We are excited to support NS Cheshire Holdings and Brit European Transport in the transition to a new owner. This MBO will support the company in further developing innovative transport services for a growing customer base. “
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Fog nozzle in one of the buses
D&G Bus, which serves the Greater Manchester area, claims to be the first in the UK to introduce a COVID-safe bus fog system that makes public transport safe for passengers.
The bus company, which has a fleet of 169 buses and operates in Staffordshire, Cheshire, Shropshire, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester and Wrexham, has tested an automated system that disinfects an entire bus in minutes.
The intelligent disinfection mist system uses an alcohol-free solution developed in partnership with Singapore-based chemical company Biocomm and manufactured by Future Developments Manufacturing in Stoke-on-Trent to kill up to 99.99% of viruses and bacteria in seconds.
The V-Stop solution has traditionally been used to clean operating rooms and dentists. It has been laboratory tested and is 80 times stronger than bleach, but completely harmless to humans and leaves no residue.
Kevin Crawford, Operations Manager at D&G Bus, said: “We are very proud to be the first bus company in the UK to introduce this pioneering technology. This enables us to completely and automatically disinfect our entire bus fleet in the middle of the night while they are parked in the depot and have no human contact. Not only is this a faster and cheaper way to disinfect, it gives us confidence that our fleet is COVID safe and reassures our passengers that our buses are as clean as possible. “
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AMC brand new electric fleet
The national crane rental company AMC, which has a Knowsley depot, has taken over its brand new fleet of electrically powered mini cranes. This is a significant six-figure investment and a commitment from the company to be at the forefront of the electrical revolution.
AMC has welcomed six Maeda MC285CB-3 and five Hoeflon C6e – the first UK company to do so – fully battery-powered mini cranes located in the two depots in Knowsley and London, demonstrating the best in carbon neutral lifting technology.
The newcomers have already helped AMC win a number of new deals worth around £ 20,000 in 2021, including the Moxy Southampton Hotel, Livingstone Academy Bournemouth and Borough Market near London Bridge.
Mark Davenport, owner and managing director of AMC, said: “Our mission is to continue to innovate as a future-oriented company so that we can offer our customers more choice, quality and reliability in tailor-made lifting solutions. Our new electric cranes will help us get this 10x and I am proud that the company leads the competition in this area. Electric cranes are the future of our industry – and AMC is right at the forefront. “
AMC has invested in seven environmentally friendly cars for its sales team in both depots, including a fully electric Golf and six BMW 330 plug-in hybrids.
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CNC team from left: Jason Barker, Bart Simpson, Philippa Glover, Madina Barker
The robot integration specialist CNC Robotics, based in Bootle, Liverpool, has joined the Silverstone Technology Cluster
(STC), which was founded to support the growth of the high-tech cluster and attract investment to the region.
STC was launched in January 2017 to encourage innovation and develop future technologies. It supports advanced engineering, electronics and software companies like CNC Robotics. Companies that join the growing network of companies gain access to a variety of benefits as well as corporate growth programs such as SME Advisory Boards and Mentoring for Growth.
STC has several active Special Interest Groups (SIGs) in areas such as future mobility and wearable technology and intends to establish a Robotics Special Interest Group.
Philippa Glover, General Manager of CNC Robotics, said, “As a company across the UK with a variety of activities in the region, membership of STC enables us to further raise awareness, encourage collaboration and share best practices.”
Pim van Baarsen, CEO of STC, said: “We are very excited to have CNC Robotics on board as they play a key role in the industry. They are a welcome addition to our active network of leading technology companies and demonstrate real leadership in their field. “
