Health and Safety Don'ts

We all know Health and Safety is something to be taken very seriously in the workplace and on-site. So check out these photos on how NOT to do it:

Go to Construction Space's Rogues Gallery

Please don't attempt any of these!

PS - we can offer excellent Health and Safety training as well as Leisure and Event safety Consultancy. (And you are ever unfortunately enough to suffer an accident, we offer a Health and Safety Expert Witness service.)

Teams complete COINS 3 Peaks Challenge

Two teams from Capita Symonds’ recently took part (with 40 other teams) in the 'COINS 3 Peaks Challenge’ raising a total of £16,000.

Our teams were made up from memebers of the Church Village Bypass Construction Partnership. Capita Symonds’ Glamorgan office is providing client support, project management (in accordance with NEC 3) and site supervisor duties on the £90m Church Village scheme. They work alongside the project’s contractor Costain and designer Atkins.

The annual COINS 3 Peaks challenge sees teams of four walkers and two drivers climb the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales in just 24 hours. The event begins at Ben Nevis in the Scottish Highlands, moving to Scafell Pike in the Lake District, and ends at the foot of Snowdon in North Wales.

All funds raised go to projects supported by the COINS foundation which builds schools, hospitals and homes in areas of greatest poverty and need.

Liane Sheppard, Director of the Glamorgan office says: “The integrated team on the Church Village Bypass is an excellent example of partnership working to deliver what is a highly complex project. Events such as the COINS 3 Peaks Challenge really help us develop these key relationships even further.”

• Got to the the COINS 3 Peaks Challenge Website
  
• Read the COINS 3 Peaks Challenge Blog
  
• View the finish line photos

Liane Sheppard - a role model for women in the construction industry.

Liane Sheppard, Director of our Glamorgan partnership, has been recognised as a role model for women in the construction industry by ConstructionSkills Wales (the skills council for the construction industry).

At a recent awards ceremony Liane was praised for her role in running the Glamorgan partnership, her work in forging links with the local business community, and the key part she plays in the ICE and ConstructionSkills Construction Ambassador programme which aims to encourage more young people to consider a career in the industry. She is also chairwoman of the Ace Wales Progress Network and secretary for the Wales ICE executive committee. And has a black belt in karate! (So a very busy lady indeed!)

Wyn Prichard, director of ConstructionSkills Wales, said: “Women continue to be under-represented in both the craft and professional sectors of the Welsh construction industry, so it is great to be able to celebrate the success of women such as Liane. She is a credit to the industry and her commitment to the development and the future of construction is also highly commendable.”

Welsh Assembly Member Christine Chapman said: “If we are to break down the barriers and dispel the myth that construction is a male-only profession, it is women like Liane who will act as important ambassadors and role models, for those young women who wish to enter the industry. Their input is essential if we are to fill the skills gap and get the economy moving again.”

A massive "well done" Liane (again!)

Links:

• Institute of Civil Engineers
• ConstructionSkills
• ACE

Capita Lovejoy's plans chosen for Golden Square, Birmingham

Birmingham City Council has unveiled plans for a £1.5 million public square in the city’s Jewellery Quarter. Capita Lovejoy's designed were picked from a shortlist of 6.
Read the coverage:
Property Week
on PlanningResource.co.uk
The Birmingham Post

Capita Architecture - 5th in UK

Capita Architecture has been named the UK's 5th biggest practice by The Architect's Journal.

Find out more below

• View the AJ100
• Some stats about Capita Architecture
• An interview with Rob Firth

Go to Capita Architecture's website

Wimbledon rain raises a cheer

The Wimbledon roof had it's first official outing this weekend, at a special event put on to 'open' (and close) the court's latest addition.

Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, Tim Henman and Kim Clijsters played whilst, as if on cue, the skys opened, and the roof closed!

All four players expressed delight at the new roof, and the crowd certainly agreed.

Read more about the event, and see pictures on the Sky News website

Capita Symonds provided structural engineering consultancy on the project.

Prince Charles gives speech to RIBA

Further to all the discussions over the last few days, you can now see for yourself what Prince Charles had to say at the RIBA yesterday. (And make up your own mind).

Go to the Building Design website to read coverage, opinions and the full transcript.

Read some reactions on The Architects' Journal website

You can also watch the coverage from Channel 4 News:

A right Charlie?

Prince Charles is once again causing a stir in the world of Architecture.

HRH the Prince of Wales, an advocate of ‘traditional’ architecture, is to address the Royal Institute of British Architects tonight, to urge them that they must build to last and put the needs of people first.

The topic itself could provoke opinion, but the speech comes at a time when he has already been accused of meddling with plans for the Chelsea Barracks development in London, not to mention the last time he was at the RIBA 25 years ago, he famously described plans for the National Gallery as a ‘monstrous carbuncle’.

A number of Architects are now threatening to boycott the event.

Royal meddling or a valuable opinion? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

Find out what people are saying:

• See what people are saying on Twitter
• Adam condemns RIBA boycott of Prince Charles lecture - Country Life
• Since when was the Prince of Wales a pillar of democracy? - Blueprint Magazine
• Architects to hear Prince appeal - BBC
• Charles Tells Architects: Put People First - Sky News
• Top architects urge boycott of Prince Charles speech – Building magazine
• Prince Charles RIBA Speech Revealed - Building Magazine
• Architects call for boycott of Prince of Wales RIBA lecture – The Architects Journal
• Should Prince Charles criticise modern architecture? - BBC - 'Have your say'
  
  

Renewal - Capita Symonds' magazine

Did you know we produced our own update magazine?

Well we do.....and it's called Renewal.

Twice a year we'll keep you up to date with our latest news and projects, as well as giving you an insight into some of the key issues affecting our industry today.

The next issue is due later this month, but if you just can't wait, you can see previous copies via the links below:

Issue 8: Corporate UK goes green, Noise at work regulations, Designing our crime, Reducing child road casualties, leading the regeneration debate

Issue 7: News, Sustainability, acquisitions, school design, new rail service, eco-towns, waste

Issue 6: News, zero-carbon, flood prevention, Wembley Stadium, hospital design, ecology, Philippines, landfill allowance

Issue 5: News, sustainability, climate change and security, Paddington Bridge, microsimulation, superbugs, quarry dewatering

Other issues can be found on our website

If you like to talk to us about any of the news stories or issues covered in Renewal please contact Karl Blockwell, Communications Manager.

These and other Capita Symonds publications can also be found on Yudo: Link to our library:

Engineer completes Rideway 40 challenge

Jeff Ware, a Principal Mechanical Engineer at Capita Symonds’ Southampton office, completed the ‘Ridgeway 40’ walk for charity over the weekend.

The walk covers a massive 40 miles from Overton Hill near Avebury in Wiltshire to Streatley in Berkshire along Britain’s oldest road - the ancient Ridgeway track.

Jeff is raising funds for the Anthony Nolan Trust to provide a bone marrow transplant register to help people suffering from leukaemia.

You can still sponsor Jeff: https://www.anthonynolanevents.org.uk/JeffWare

More information:
Go to the Ridgeway 40 Website or
Find out more about the route on the National Trail's website