Elements Europe Shortlisted for CEW Awards 2014

Elements Europe has been shortlisted alongside other industry leading companies in the Construction Excellence in Wales (CEW) Awards 2014. Elements Europe is in the running to win an Innovation Award and the Sustainability Award and faces stiff competition from up to six competitors in each category.

Elements Europe prides itself on its innovation, from concept to completion, and to be recognised by CEW reinforces Elements Europe’s identity as a forward-thinking, innovative company within the industry. Similarly, Elements Europe takes construction sustainability very seriously, this nomination is a great accolade to its dedication in creating a sustainable future.

Glan Gors in Dolwyddelan is the project which has earned the awards nomination. Elements Europe worked alongside their parent company JR Pickstock Ltd to provide two pairs of semi-detached houses for their client Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd.

The project used Elements Europe’s Ty Unnos Modular, which is produced from locally sourced, sustainable Welsh Timber. The system also utilises innovative off-site manufacturing which ensures a high quality finish, build speed, efficiency and a flexible design.

Ty Unnos Modular can achieve the highest levels for the Code for Sustainable Homes and minimalises the amount of waste the build produces, for example offcuts can be recycled back into the build process. The system also supports the Governments need for swift delivery of homes, while supporting local employment markets throughout the UK.

Kevin Arthur, Sales Director for Elements Europe commented, “We are delighted to be nominated alongside some of the industry’s largest organisations. Being recognised by CEW is a huge testament to our business.”

CEW promotes excellence in the built environment, with aims to help deliver better quality and value for money. It champions collaboration and best practices across the industry, and promotes the sharing of knowledge and information. Their goal is to improve the construction process in Wales by ensuring that the principles of rethinking construction become mainstream industry practice. They work with and support both large organisations and SMEs including the Welsh Government, local Government, Health Authorities, developers, consultants, and construction contractors and suppliers.

Representatives from Elements Europe will attend the ceremony on the 4th July at Cardiff’s City Hall.

Elements Europe’s Recruitment Drive

Business is booming at Elements Europe, so much so that the company is currently looking for a number of skilled and qualified tradesmen to boost the factory workforce in Oswestry in order to keep up with demand for off-site building systems. Positions that are currently being recruited for include electricians, plumbers, tilers as well as tapers and jointers.

Furthermore, Elements Europe passionately believes in supporting the development of young people in the area and will offer the opportunity for up to 20 enthusiastic young apprentices to join the company on an apprenticeship programme, commencing in September. This programme will be available to all trades across the company, and will be undertaken with the view of retaining apprentices that complete the programme within the company.

Jo Davies, HR Manager for Elements Europe commented, “The increased demand on manufacturing due to the recent successful wins of various new projects across the country, has given rise to a number of vacancies here at Elements Europe.”

Jo added “Alongside this recruitment drive for experienced tradesmen, in September we will be welcoming a large number of new apprentices. We understand the value of apprenticeships and use the opportunity to tap into enthusiastic, skilled youngsters. We train, mentor and show them a career decision that is as valid as higher education.”

In recognition of the importance of apprenticeships to the company, representatives for Elements Europe will travel to London to attend a conference on the New Apprenticeship Standards. The conference is being run by the Federation for Industry Sector Skills & Standards, who work with over 7,500 training providers and 500,000 apprentices.

Key speakers at this conference include former Dragon from the BBC’s Dragons Den Doug Richard, the Minister for skills and enterprise Matthew Hancock, Shadow Minister for Education Rushanara Ali, and the Liberal Democrat spokesman on trade and industry Lord Razzel.

Quite a Sight on King Edward Quay in Colchester

The Pickstock Group’s student accommodation development in Colchester is standing strikingly on King Edward Quay.

57% of room modules have now been installed into the first phase of the development. Installation commenced just 8 weeks ago, in this time 216 room modules have been positioned.  This first phase will comprise of 381 student Room Pods of seven room types as well as 60 kitchen Pods for the shared cluster flat option available at the accommodation.

Concrete framework for each of the four blocks of accommodation is almost complete and the lift core and podium deck is being finalised to Block A. Work has commenced on the envelope of the building and cement board is being installed in preparation for the render.

Paul Rogerson, Site Manager commented “The development is a hive of activity. The team have been working to maximum efficiency keeping the construction programme on target. The next couple of months will be really exciting as the remaining modules are installed and the envelope of the building takes shape.”

Phase 2 of the site, due to open in September 2015 is now being prepared with remediation and stabilisation works due to be complete next week. Piling rigs will arrive on-site mid-April and the second tower crane will be installed on the 23rd April.

The second phase will comprise of an additional 398 student Room Pods, more than doubling the amount of student accommodation available to a total of 779 beds. In addition to this, 57 kitchen Pods will be installed to serve the communal kitchens for the cluster style of flats available at the scheme.

Meanwhile, at the on-site marketing suite, students have been visiting to view the show flats and book their rooms in Phase 1 which will open this September. Students are currently on their Easter half term break, the marketing suite is preparing for the demand the show flat will see on their return to university later this month.

The Pickstock Group Presents alongside Louis Vuitton in Milan

The Pickstock Group has been invited as special guests to Politecnico Di Milano (Polytechnic University of Milan) to speak at the University’s Careers Abroad Event run for students from the Schools of Architecture and Design.

The event has been arranged for international companies with a strategic focus on making their brand visible at Politecnico di Milano and would like to offer career opportunities for graduates outside of Italy, which presents a rare opportunity for The Pickstock Group.

The University is the largest technical university in Italy, with 37,000 students. Established in 1863, it is the oldest university in Milan. 15,000 prospective students sit the entrance exam each year, however only 8,000 of these are accepted to study. It is ranked in the top five universities in Europe for Engineering according to QS Top University World Ranking 2014. Amongst the prestigious alumni that have studied at the University are Italian billionaire businessman Stefano Pessina and the winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1963) Giulio Natta. Approximately 95% of students find a job within 6 months of graduating, reflecting the demand for this university’s students.

Sara Pickstock will make the journey to Milan to present The Pickstock Group to the students, giving an overview of the businesses in the group and the sectors in which they operate. The presentation will have a specific focus on the design requirements of The Pickstock Group and the opportunities available to graduates in the UK.

Sara will also run a workshop with two groups of pre-selected students. The workshop is aimed at testing the students on tasks relevant to The Pickstock Group. The first group will focus on product and communications design for the retail and the e-commerce sector. The second group will concentrate on architecture and urban planning and design for the construction industry.

Following the workshop Sara will get the opportunity to carry out speed interviewing, where each student will have a 10 minute interview, giving Sara the opportunity to ask more specific questions to individual students and attain a better understanding of their key skills and passion for design.

The Pickstock Group believes in investing in young talented people. Working in conjunction with a university such as Politecnico Di Milano is a great way of achieving this. Given the pedigree of the University and its location in Milan, the world’s capital for fashion and design, students will identify with The Pickstock Group, known for market leading innovation.

The Pickstock Group prides itself on its innovation and forward-thinking,” commented Sara. “Meeting students with fresh ideas and impeccable creativity that will soon be graduating from one of the best Engineering University’s in Europe is a great opportunity. Keeping up-to-date with architectural design techniques is key to our business, and investing in young people from top design universities will inevitably enhance our design teams within The Pickstock Group.

Alongside The Pickstock Group, other international companies presenting to students include: Louis Vuitton, Elica Group, Restore Solutions, and Snc Organisation Intragroupe des Achats (Auchan).