Building Briefs – May 5th

Employees from Kier Construction Scotland, part of the Kier Group, have tackled their most ambitious charity challenge yet; using green transport to travel from Kier’s most northerly construction site in Orkney to its most southerly project in Cornwall.

The 2020 Challenge – so-called because the goal is to complete it in 2020 hours, or about 12 weeks - is a relay that’s being done entirely by non-motorised transport.

Scottish employees started the challenge from Kirkwall in Orkney on Easter Sunday, and the relay will see the team visit all of Kier’s regional offices on its way to the Cornish capital, Truro, where it will arrive on 14th July.

Over 140 of Kier’s Scottish employees have just racked up 685 miles to complete their leg of the challenge as part of a 2,000 strong UK team, as the company aims to raise £200,000 for charity. Employees have been walking, running or cycling, together with more unusual modes of transport such as rickshaws, rollerblades and even a unicycle. The journey has taken in significant Scottish landmarks including the Tay Bridge, the Forth Road Bridge, Edinburgh Castle, George Square and the SSE Hydro.

Thanks to generous donations from sponsors and its supply chain across the UK, Kier has already raised £100,000 towards its ambitious target. Money raised will be split between the Kier Foundation, an independent charity that raises funds for Kier’s charity partner The Alzheimer’s Society, and local charities Alzheimer’s Scotland, the Beatson Cancer Charity and Forward Assist.

Brian McQuade, managing director, Kier Construction Scotland, said: “This is the largest and most complex charity commitment the company has ever been involved in. We’re very proud to take on this challenge, which will provide much-needed funds for our local and national charity partners.

“Everyone taking part has been incredibly committed to this challenge and the fundraising response is fantastic – we are already halfway towards hitting our £200,000 goal. We hope that our Scottish team alone will raise somewhere in the region of £25,000, which would be a really impressive achievement.”

James Frew’s Lauren flies the flag for Scotland in euro champs

Lauren Ferguson is celebrating a top achievement having returned from representing Scotland in the European Tae Kwon Do Championships in Liverpool last week.

Twenty-six year old Lauren, who lives in Saltcoats and works as a design assistant with local company James Frew took part in both individual and team sparring categories and was one of 800 competitors to take part representing more than 32 countries.

In the U69K individual weight category Lauren, who holds a first dan black belt, was narrowly beaten by a Russian athlete, who trains professionally and went on to win the gold medal. The Scottish adult female team were drawn in a tough group and were beaten by England.

James Frew provided Lauren with £250 sponsorship towards her accommodation for the event along with three days additional holiday to enable her to compete.

Lauren only took up the sport nine years ago when she found herself at a loose end having left behind sports activities when she left school and decided to try at a UKTC class based in Ardrossan. Coached by former champion, Stacey Cummings, Lauren was the only adult to be selected from North Ayrshire for Scotland but was joined by a staggering eight other Ayrshire competitors, making up almost a quarter of the 42-strong Scotland squad.

A form of self-defence, Tae Kwon Do is one of the oldest forms of martial arts in the world originating in Korea.

NHBC’s technical guidance to reduce problems with render

New technical guidance highlighting best practice for the application of render was published in NHBC Standards 2017, which came into force at the start of the year.

The new Chapter 6.11 ‘Render’ is a key element of NHBC’s on-going campaign to reduce defects in external walls.

The rigours of exposure to external conditions can soon start to test the durability of render on a new home and it is anticipated that the technical guidance and advice in the new chapter will help reduce damage.

A summary of the new guidance includes;

Full details of the chapter are freely available online at NHBC’s Techzone.

Upgrade work at Lochgair waste water treatment facility complete

Corrie Construction has completed upgrade work at a waste water treatment facility in Argyll.

The £470,000 scheme was carried out in the village of Lochgair, located on the shores of Loch Fyne.

The project involved installing two new 30 cubic metres septic tanks and associated infrastructure to increase the waste water treatment capacity in the village.

Resurfacing work to start on A77 in Girvan

Scotland TranServ will start repairing 620 metres of the A77 road in Girvan from Shallochpark Roundabout to Young Street on Monday.

Work will begin at 7am on a 24-hour working basis and completion is scheduled for Thursday, 11 May.

The scheme will help address issues with potholes and structural cracks, delivering long-term road improvements for local commuters and freight traffic alike.

Lothian Veterans Centre receives funding boost from Mactaggart & Mickel Homes

Dalkeith-based veterans’ support charity Lothian Veterans’ Centre has received a donation of £1,000 from family housebuilder Mactaggart & Mickel Homes’ Building Communities Fund.

The Centre assists veterans transitioning back into the local community and civilian life, with advice and support, training and social activities available through their drop-in centre. The much-needed donation will allow Lothian Veterans’ Centre to develop the support services it offers to both veterans and their families, helping them with housing, employment and training courses.

Mactaggart & Mickel Homes has a history of supporting good causes. The Building Communities Fund was created to continue the company’s ongoing efforts to help organisations and projects which enhance the lives of people within their local communities.

The fund is open throughout the year to applications from charities, community groups, sports teams and schools within a five mile radius of any live Mactaggart & Mickel Homes development like Thornybank Green in Dalkeith.