Does a tradesman really need insurance in the UK?

Working as a tradesman can be quite a perilous career choice. After all, whilst you may choose to solely work on housing projects, if you go into public projects, you can face heavy equipment, electrical rerouting, structural problems and potential hazards that could actually become a public threat or cause an accident. That is why you truly need to consider how helpful Tradesman Insurance can be to make sure that you and your workers are fully covered during all of your present and future projects.

Non-Negotiable Insurance

Whilst you may not think that you or your workers need insurance, it is important to keep in mind that over 64,000 non-fatal injuries happend to trade workers each year in the UK. If you want to take this risk, then you do not have to buy insurance. However, the government has made it a legal necessity to always possess Employers Liability Insurance  when you hire employees to work with you on your projects.

This insurance will make sure that your employees are fully covered if they are injured or become ill due to the work. This can be on or off site and you may even find that your former employees attempt to claim compensation for previous incidents. Not only can this save you from a hefty compensation bill, but it can also help you avoid the government from fining around £2500 a day for refusing to purchase this insurance.

Additional Insurance Options- Tradesman Insurance

Although you are only legally required to purchase Employers Liability Insurance, Tradesmen insurance ensures you’re covered whilst working and will give you peace of mind knowing that your finances will remain safe if you are asked for compensation. Your Tradesman Insurance can include:

• An Employers’ Liability Extension
• Tools and Equipment
• Contract Works
• Hire and Own Plant
• Vehicle Insurance

If you are looking for a form of tradesman insurance which can be personalised to fit all of your business needs, why not start by looking online for an insurance comparison websites. Each of these websites will allow you to choose insurance policies that you can personally fit to your business.

Additional Liabilities

If you are looking for the essential insurances to include within your tradesman insurance, then you may also want to consider investing in Public Liability Insurance and Professional Indemnity Insurance. Not only will these policies protect you from any accidents that may happen to the public or your clients whilst you are on the job, but should your clients accuse you of any damage or any additional problems that have come about as a result of your work, then you will be financially covered if these complaints become lawsuits.

How much insurance do I need?

The amount of insurance that you will need will depend on the level of any future jobs that you undertake either as a sole trader or through a company. Your cover should reflect how much risk your projects actually pose to you, your employees and the public. The more risk there is, the more insurance you should have.

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The Future Workplace: 4 Key Design Considerations

 

 

Building a workplace fit for the current working landscape and beyond is certainly a design challenge, but one that’s inevitable considering the changing face of work in the modern era.

This post will explain some key design considerations that construction companies and designers should be aware of, to make sure that workplaces are fully optimised in the future.

 

 

Place eco-friendliness at the core

No ifs ands or buts – new buildings must be eco-friendly. Whether you’re using less carbon or even striving to carbon-neutral status, offices, like other buildings, need to be built in harmony with the environment. This will lead to businesses having less of an impact on climate change – as well as benefiting from lower energy bills.

From the construction stage onwards, there are numerous ways you can reduce your building’s impact. Modular construction techniques, for example, outsource a lot of the actual construction to factories, so the immediate impact on the site’s surrounding area is reduced. In terms of design, eco-friendly windows and ventilation can help workers to keep cool (and avoid overuse of air conditioning in the process).

Promote wellbeing amongst workers

Many studies have been conducted that conclude with the same uncomfortable fact – working in an office is not beneficial to our long-term health. In order to combat these scary stats, new office buildings must leave ample room for various features that’ll improve health and wellbeing amongst workers.

From a quiet room where workers can find respite from a busy sales floor to a shower and changing area where active commuters (either cyclists or runners) can get ready for the working day, there are possibilities galore. This room could also be used as a secure space to store commuters’ cycling equipment, reducing the risk of theft when cycles are parked on the street outside.

Make it a flexible space

The age of the wholly open-plan office is coming to an end, following a recent groundswell of opinion against such workspaces. What should replace the open-plan era? Something flexible that allows for collaboration as well as singular focus.

Designers should consider walls that can be rolled back at will, to allow the space to be adapted for different circumstances and applications. Are half the team swamped by a high-pressure project? Create a room so they can focus, while the rest of the office can collaborate on other important issues.

A flexible workplace needn’t necessarily have a standard array of desks – you could opt for a ‘coffee shop’ style atmosphere instead, with collaborative tables and moveable furniture to encourage the free exchange of ideas. Make sure there’s high-quality Wi-Fi up for grabs throughout the building, as well as plenty of power sockets so that laptop-bound workers’ flows aren’t interrupted by a lack of power.

Make it accessible & ergonomic

A purpose-built office shouldn’t feel cramped or suffer from poor sight lines or a lack of access for disabled workers. Make sure there’s plenty of room for wheelchair turning circles, and that multi-level areas have ramps rather than steps.

In the same vein, the office should also be welcoming and bright – so leave plenty of room for floor-to-ceiling windows that allow generous amounts of light.

 

Following these forward-thinking considerations will lead to a workplace that is functional and future-proof – a winning combination at the heart of every successful office development.

 

 

 

 

Author bio:

Alex Jones is a features writer for Start Fitness – providers of running, cycling, gym, football and outdoor products.

 

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Event Design: Constructing A Memorable Exhibition

Put in its simplest terms, event and exhibition design is focused on the reconstruction of a space, transforming it into a place that inspires and indeed optimises the overall attendee experience, whatever that might be.

When done correctly, a well designed and constructed event space can generate an atmosphere tailored for engagement and subsequent success, so today we’ll be focusing on all the essential core elements of event construction to ensure your next event goes off without a glitch.

 

Space

Let’s start at the beginning, shall we? The space in which you’re working is the fundamental building block of your event, and every little nook and cranny should subsequently be explored and detailed.

A thorough understanding of the features and dimensions of your space will allow you to start planning all the logistics, being able to visualise key elements such as guest entry and exit points. Space management becomes a crucial part of the construction process here, with importance placed on finding a positive balance between furnished and empty space to create a seamless equilibrium that contributes to a hassle-free visitor experience.

 

Lighting 

Lighting is a key element of any event space and can be utilised to further the purpose of your event or exhibition.

The general atmosphere and mood of a space can be heavily impacted by lighting, so it’s vital that this isn’t a simple afterthought of the construction process. Experiment with external light sources to see what fits best with the purpose of your event – with options ranging from LED strips to spotlights, there’s bound to be something that fits the bill.

This doesn’t mean you should underestimate the use of natural light, however. Look at the entry points for natural lighting and consider how this will change throughout the day, optimising your layout plan to make the most of natural light entry points to enhance or alter your event’s overall aesthetic and mood.

Colour  

You can further influence the tone and atmosphere of an event through a carefully constructed colour scheme. Tap into colour psychology to subconsciously influence your attendees and encourage active engagement with your exhibition.

Remember, a colour scheme should complement a room, not overwhelm it. Come up with a scheme that accents the represented brand and the overall purpose of an event, incorporating it into fundamental spacial elements such as lighting and signage. If there are multiple brands attending the event – for example, at a tradeshow – try and implement a neutral colour palette so that brands don’t feel they’re fighting against an obtrusive venue house style.

Sensory

The most successful events pander to the senses – after all, we’re sensory beings. Consider a mixture of patterns and textures across the event to keep the senses of attendees tingling.

There are a variety of ways you can achieve this, once more depending on the overall purpose of the event in question. Whatever direction you ultimately decide upon, the eventual is the same – stimulation.

Use of music, either through playback devices or (if the budget allows it) performed live is a great means of engagement. Bear this in mind during the construction process, ensuring the logistical demands of either option are able to be accommodated.

 

For visual stimulation, consider embracing technology through large interactive screens, or bring in an eye-catching exhibition trailer for that extra ‘wow factor’. Whichever avenue you decide to explore further, it’s vital that you plan its incorporation well in advance, as the success of any event – and particularly one with interactive elements – depends partly on its pre-planning.

Following these construction tips will help you design an event or exhibition guaranteed to attract and engage, keeping people talking for days (or even weeks) to come.

 

 

 

 

Author bio:

Justin Isles is the Director of The Events Structure, the UK’s only single-source provider of state-of-the-art exhibition trailers, promotional vehicles and other event marketing solutions.

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Get more done with GPS time and location tracking from Hubstaff

The construction industry has seen a decrease in productivity in recent years. Aside from labor shortages and outdated safety standards, ineffective project management is a huge obstacle to a more efficient workflow.

According to PlanGrid’s report on construction productivity, an alarming 37% of respondents reported wasting too much on administrative tasks. That’s partially due to a reliance on paper-based processes.

Constantly monitoring a team’s progress consumes a huge chunk of the project managers’ time and effort. On top of that, owners and managers have to make sure that every hour is accounted for, and that the project doesn’t go over the budget.

From a bird’s-eye perspective, it’s easy to see that not making use of modern digital tools can cause major setbacks to unlocking better productivity.

This is why time tracking and productivity software like Hubstaff was created: to help construction teams overcome these challenges and increase their work efficiency.

Accurate tracking of hours down to the second

Manual time tracking methods are unreliable. Not only are they difficult to organize, but they are also susceptible to discrepancies caused by human error.

At the core of Hubstaff is an accurate time tracking app. It easily eliminates the trivial and draining task of going through paper time cards to make sure that everyone is clocking in eight hours per day. Track time from your browser, desktop, or mobile, even when you’re offline.

Hubstaff’s time tracker is remarkably simple to use. It’s a start-stop button with a list of all the tasks assigned to that team member. With Hubstaff, you can view specific team members’ work hours, along with all time tracked toward a project, and everything in-between. Streamlined time tracking ensures that every hour worked is recorded and paid.

Easy-to-use scheduling and online timesheets

Scheduling is a central component of construction projects. It dictates how quickly you can get a job done, and who is available without hitting overtime. Scheduling can also become time-consuming if not closely monitored.

You can create team schedules right in Hubstaff. These include one-time and recurring work hours, as well as holidays. Hubstaff also sends alerts when anyone is late or has missed their shift.

The online timesheets that Hubstaff generates are easy to understand. They can be accessed by account owners or managers anytime they need verification on which employee has worked how many hours. Hubstaff’s online timesheets remove the guesswork from the process, which is often one of the more stressful aspects of being a manager.

GPS location tracking to monitor team progress

Checking in to see what the construction team is doing throughout the day will burn through precious work hours. And asking each and every team member what they have accomplished for the day is a tedious task.

Due to the nature of work in construction, team location tracking is an ideal time-saver. Hubstaff monitors where everyone on the team works or has worked via GPS location services. This can then be accessed by the business owners and the project managers at any time.

For business owners, a history of where the contractors have worked can assure them that schedules are being met and a project is on track. For contractors, on the other hand, location data and time tracked gives a clear, easy record for their workday. They don’t have to keep mental track or remember to fill out a paper timesheet at the end of the day. Hubstaff takes care of it for you.

Automated payroll and invoicing

The inconveniences that come with outdated time cards and paper-based processes extend beyond inaccurate hours. Per this article by Zlien, it takes an average of 73 days for construction companies to get paid. That’s more than two full months.

With Hubstaff, the payment contractors will receive is based on their hourly rate and the hours they have worked. This is processed automatically by the app. You can even add timesheet approvals so that you see every timesheet before it’s paid.

Invoicing with Hubstaff is also organized and accurate. It allows contractors to create a list of their clients and set unique billing rates for each. From there, Hubstaff will automatically compute the total charges. All that’s left is for the contractor to send the invoice and the work is done.

Effective project budgeting and cost management

It’s important to constantly check if the team is operating well within the budget. However, keeping track of time and expenses can become more difficult over time. This leads to miscalculations, which can lead to delays in schedule.

Equipped with a fully automated budgeting capability, Hubstaff makes project cost management easier. Contractors can set expense and hourly limits, effectively preventing employees from working excess and unnecessary hours. The time limit can be overridden in case someone in the team is required to put in extra work.

Hubstaff will send notifications if the project is nearing its budget limit. Instead of constantly worrying about the project costs, managers can instead pay closer attention to the team and make sure that they are working efficiently.

Why construction teams love Hubstaff

A lot of the work in construction project management is time-consuming, tiring, and repetitive. Hubstaff automates these processes and delivers quicker, more precise results. It ensures accuracy in the time and work put in by the team, simplifies payments, and mitigates budgeting problems.

With its features built for contractors, Hubstaff is a complete team management software that’s excellent for mobile teams. Hubstaff enables project managers to focus on more relevant tasks, while streamlining the way a construction team works.

By having more time to invest in more impactful responsibilities, construction teams can operate more smoothly and take a significant step toward better productivity.

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December 04, 2018 at 11:26AM

Top Mini-Golf Courses Designed by Architects

Top Mini-Golf Courses Designed by Architects

If you are looking to create a bespoke course for your clients, it is understandable that you turn to the professionals in the field. There are many ways to present a crazy golf experience to your audience but if you want to be seen as unique, providing a mini-golf experience like no other, an architect designed course is likely to be a fantastic option.

When you think about the number of top crazy golf courses in London, some are working hard to stand out from the crowd. There are many ways that a mini-golf business can differentiate itself, look at plonkgolf.co.uk to see a business which offers fun and excitement, and the layout of the course is one of the variables.

Hiring a well-regarded architect to design a mini-golf course could be expensive, but it all depends on what you deem to be value for money. If you think that the experience created by the architect will see people choosing your golf course over rival courses, it could be money well spent.

A challenging golf course promotes itself

Aficionados of mini-golf may know the names of the leading architects and the best-designed courses, but it is likely that a challenging or fun golf course will sell itself. In the social media era, you will have people lining up to share images and video content of a fantastic golf course, and this will provide you with the chance to reach new people and market yourself.

User-generated content is fantastic for many businesses and if your mini-golf course has content provided by your customers, you should take advantage of it. Share this content and tag the customers into the post, as this will make it more likely they will share your posts. This will place your golf course in front of more people while acting as a personal recommendation.

People want to see images and video clips of interesting mini-golf courses

In the social media era, it is natural that many people are wary of promotional claims and activities. However, there is a lot to be said for word-of-mouth reviews or praise which appears to come from a person. User-generated content fits this bill and having a fantastic looking or challenging mini-golf course can provide you with a greater level of interest that you would have received from a standard mini-golf course.

One time when London came alive with crazy golf courses designed by famous names and leading architects happened in 2016 for the London Design Festival. This event saw famous design names like Zaha Hadid, Mark Wallinger, Tom Dixon and Paul Smith create a hole of their own.

Given the respect that these names are held in, many people would attend just to see what they have created. However, given that these are names of people highly regarded for their design skills and strengths, there is no doubt that people will want to play on golf courses devised by these people.

You may not necessarily associate architects with designers but there are some fantastic mini-golf courses that have been designed by famous names and highly skilled professionals.

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KEEPING YOUR SITE SECURE OVER CHRISTMAS

KEEPING YOUR SITE SECURE OVER CHRISTMAS

Winter is upon us, Christmas looms and many sites are preparing to shut down for an extended break. Then January and February come round with the worst of the weather, especially in the northern part of the country, which can cause temporary site shutdowns in a freeze or snowy conditions. But are you prepared???  Leigh Hooper of site security experts, Clearway, has some simple reminders to keep your site secure and protected over the holiday break or through a winter freeze when work might be put on temporary hold.

Did you know, according to the last survey by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)¹, two of the most common forms of crime in the construction industry are theft and vandalism? These crimes contribute to the sector suffering millions of pounds’ worth of losses every year, not just due to the financial cost of replacement or reparation, but also the resulting extra penalties such as increased insurance premiums and project delays.

Theft alone is estimated to cost the UK construction industry more than a staggering £800m annually⁴ according to statistics from insurer Allianz Cornhill at the end of last year, although it’s hard to get an accurate figure as the CIOB believe many of these crimes go unreported. However, the CIOB survey highlighted theft as the most common construction industry crime with one fifth of responders experiencing it weekly and a shocking 92% affected weekly, monthly or annually.  Most responders were unable to put a specific cost on theft and vandalism to their individual business but 1 in 10 reckoned it was at least £100,000 pa.

With the uncertainty of Brexit causing fluctuations in the financial markets and on the Pound, thus impacting on the cost of materials, and concern around the future availability of skilled foreign tradespeople in the workforce, and the deadline for withdrawal almost upon the UK, the impact that losses such as this could have on some companies in the construction business, and the tight margins common in the industry, could be the tipping point for some.

Construction sites can be easy targets. The main reason is that they typically lack proper security and loss prevention practices. Studies have shown that simple security lapses are among the leading causes of construction site theft:

 

 

• Poor overall site security
• Open cabs, sheds, or containers providing easy access to thieves
• Multiple pieces of equipment sharing the same keys or keys kept in obvious locations
• Unsecured jobsites, particularly at night and over weekends or holiday shutdowns

Thieves target materials like copper and other metal supplies as much, if not more than they do equipment, although tool theft is currently at an all-time high according to the Federation of Master Builders in their latest report in October 2018³ and there are over 7,000 reported metal related thefts per month.

No matter what they are attempting to thieve, most criminals have been conditioned to believe that construction sites are easy targets. The sad truth is that, for the most part, they’re correct. If you don’t want your site becoming a costly statistic, you might want to try implementing some of these preventive measures either over the Christmas break, anticipating possible restricted working in January or February bad weather, or indeed for the duration of the development.

• Keep your site illuminated even when it’s closed

Thieves count on being able to remain inconspicuous. They like dark, unprotected jobsites where they can get in and out undetected. Bear in mind that most construction site thefts are committed by employees or other people with enough access to the site to know their way around in the dark. Even if they think someone might be watching, most thieves will seek out easier targets, especially knowledgeable employees, so don’t make life easy for them.

• Plan ahead

Don’t keep an excess of supplies sitting around. If you can, purchase or delay delivery of what you need for when you need it so it isn’t sitting there waiting to be stolen for weeks at a time. This obviously requires good planning and communication between you and your suppliers but why leave temptation lying around?

• Have a fortress mentality

Ensure your perimeter fencing and access gates are strong and as secure as possible and  carry prominent warning signs that CCTV is in operation.  The fewer access gates, the better.

 

 

• Remove temptation

Lock all tools and small or valuable equipment or materials away securely, or remove from the site to safe storage if possible.

• Keep out!

Consider temporary concrete barriers to block entry to the site. This will prevent ingress of vehicles and make it more difficult to load any heavy or bulky materials. They can be easily  and quickly  positioned and removed and are such a simple solution for a closure of a couple of weeks or so.

• We’re watching you!

Install a mobile CCTV camera tower.  There has been endless ongoing debate about the value of CCTV in the prevention and solving of crime but there is no doubt it definitely works.  In fact the College of Policing reckons it can be most valuable in deserted or open spaces, e.g. car parks², where figures have shown a demonstrable reduction in vehicle break-ins and theft, and it’s most effective in partnership with good site lighting. Why would thieves target a difficult to access site that is well lit, with remote cameras and movement sensors surveying everything, when they can find a dark, unsecured alternative?

For construction sites, mobile surveillance units using solar powered camera towers are an ideal solution for temporary use and MSUs can be moved as the construction site transforms throughout the project. For more extensive sites, designate areas to park vehicles and store equipment and materials and target those locations with the camera tower. The cameras give virtually 360? coverage with movements sensors and those from Clearway run with an extensive battery life and are remotely monitored 24/7 so any intrusion is immediately spotted and reported to either police or mobile security patrol units to deal with.

Managers and owners are entitled to a peaceful break, or any time away from their sites  without having to worry about what they’ll find, or rather not find, when they get back to work… and having a sense of security is so easy to achieve.  There’s a simple security solution for everything, you just need to consult the experts!

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