Author: James Anderson, FRSA, CMgr MCMI

This lull creates the ideal conditions for completing essential flooring upgrades with minimal impact on day-to-day operations. This early-year slowdown provides the lowest footfall, lightest production loads and safest working conditions for completing epoxy resin flooring upgrades. It also allows businesses to maintain peak hygiene and safety standards while keeping disruption to an absolute minimum. “The post-holiday window of January to February is the quietest period for food production, retail and hospitality” agrees Graeme Stewart, director at ISG Resin Specialists based in Springburn, Glasgow. Harvey Nichols Edinburgh BEFORE (Image: ISG) Harvey Nichols Edinburgh AFTER (Image: ISG) The company launched in…

Morgan Sindall strode to top spot in the November league tables, largely thanks to a £130m fit-out job in the City of London.The contractor’s fit-out arm Overbury scooped the £130m project on 2 Aldermanbury Square for international law firm Clifford Chance.Along with a £100m science scheme in Manchester for the contractor’s construction arm, the job thrust Morgan Sindall into first spot in November, nearly £100m clear of its nearest rival.In total, it scooped 16 jobs in November, worth a combined £352.8m, according to construction data provider Glenigan. With that, the UK’s second largest contractor did one better than it did in…

A man has been charged with murdering an 80-year-old in Worthing, Sussex Police have said.Officers were called to an address in Westcourt Road in Worthing for a welfare check following a report at around 8.20pm on September 11.Anthony Scarrott, known as Tony, was taken to hospital with serious injuries, where he died three days later.Arno Engels, 39, of no fixed address, has been remanded into custody to appear at Crawley Magistrates’ Court later on Thursday September 18.The victim and suspect were known to each other, Sussex Police have confirmed.Engels was initially arrested on suspicion of assault and released on bail pending further inquiries,…

An inebriated raccoon was taken into custody after allegedly breaking into a Virginia liquor store on Black Friday, partaking in what officials have deemed a “liquor-fueled rampage.”A trail of smashed liquor bottles led police to the masked suspect, who was found passed out in the sploot position on the Ashland business’s bathroom floor, according to Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter.In an embarrassing photo shared by authorities, the plastered procyonid could be seen lying next to a garbage can and toilet.The town later identified the four-legged intruder as “Cole,” noting he may need a ride home after the “wild weekend.”Officials…

York Handmade Brick supplied 90,000 bespoke bricks to The Shard, an 87-storey skyscraper which opened in 2013 – Richard Seymour/Cultura RM Exclusive The brickmaker that supplied The Shard has collapsed into administration amid a protracted slowdown in construction. York Handmade Brick filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators on Friday, according to court records, and is represented by Addleshaw Goddard. The manufacturer supplied 90,000 bespoke bricks to The Shard, which opened in 2013. The 87-storey skyscraper is predominantly glass and steel but has bricks on its first few floors, including a dramatic brickwork façade. York bricks have also been…

BRIGHTON welcome West Ham to the Amex for the first part of Super Sunday this weekend. And new Midnite punters can get a whopping £30 in free football bets when they sign up and stake just £10 on the encounter. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Find The Sun’s betting publishing principles here How to claim £30 welcome bonus Midnite offer Download the Midnite app or create an account online HERE* Register using the code: BETGET30 Deposit a minimum of £10 Place a £10 sportsbook bet at minimum odds of 1/1 Free Bets will be credited upon settlement…

The UK construction sector suffered its worst downturn in November for five and a half years in the run-up to the Budget, according to a survey released on Thursday.The S&P Global construction purchasing managers’ index slid to 39.4 from 44.1 in October. This marked the lowest level since May 2020 and was again below the 50.0 level that separates contraction from expansion. New orders fell to the greatest extent since May 2020. S&P said many construction firms commented on weak client confidence, alongside delayed spending decisions ahead of the Budget. Housing activity, commercial construction and civil engineering all experienced the…

MILLIONS of households are in line for a special cost of living payment to helping with heating bills this winter. The cash, known as the cold weather payment, is issued by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) between now and 31 March. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! CXGG2H temperature control valve on a radiatorCredit: Alamy These payments are made in locations where residents experience continuous below-zero weather. Eligible households get £25 during each seven-day period of low temperatures until March 31. The DWP has today confirmed that 4.4million households will be eligible for payments this winter. The support is offered to…

The name “dark kitchen” may sound sinister, conjuring up images of a sketchy hideaway hidden deep in a dingy alleyway.But the reality is actually much more harmless than it sounds. Put simply, a dark kitchen (AKA a “ghost” or “cloud” kitchen), is a restaurant that specialises in producing food for delivery without dining areas or customer seating. For entrepreneurs looking to start a restaurant business, dark kitchens offer a low-risk entry point into the food industry, while established restaurants can use them to expand into new locations without the expense of setting up a full-scale restaurant. What is a dark kitchen?The “dark…

Designing – or redesigning – your outdoor space can be a fun and creative process, but can also be overwhelming. Make things that bit easier by firstly exploring your garden landscaping possibilities. When planning what garden you wish to explore, you’ll find that garden landscaping is at the heart of most – of not all – of them. By understanding the best ways to approach this, the less fuss you’ll have in creating your dream space. In order to understand how to landscape a garden, we have to understand what it actually means. ‘Landscape design is just the outdoors version…