Dylan Garton

Dylan Garton is a co-founder, video producer and editor for the Skill Builder social media platforms.

Bosch launches thermal camera

thermal camera

Bosch Professional has added a high-quality thermal camera to its measuring device range. Its development is said to draw on the manufacturer’s deep understanding of practical problems faced by electricians, plumbers, builders and other trade professionals. The Bosch GTC 400 C Professional Thermal Camera is designed to bring competitive advantage to their businesses at an affordable price. Multiple uses It …

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Getting back to basics – Training & Development in the Construction Industry

ITC Concepts

Serena Kennedy, HR Manager for fit out and refurbishment experts, ITC Concepts, explains why she believes investing in the future of employees working in the construction industry pays dividends. In October 2017, ITC Concepts won the Croydon Business Excellence award for Employee Training and Development. We couldn’t have been prouder – investment in our employees, through various types of development …

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The Capel Build part 1: The foundations

Capel Build

This is the start of our second building project series on Skill Builder. The Capel Build follows the renovation and extension of an unusual property designed by architect Michael Newberry in Surrey. Carpenter and Builder Robin Clevett is taking the first glass and steel house in the UK which was built in 1957 and extending it and refurbishing it while …

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Panasonic Impact Driver review

Panasonic Impact Driver review

In Part 5 of our mega-roundup, Roger puts the Panasonic EY75A7 Dual Volt 18v/14.4v Impact Driver through its paces; see how he gets on. The Panasonic EY75A7 impact driver is a dual voltage model, which means it’s compatible with 18v and 14.4v Panasonic batteries. This particular version is the body only packaged without batteries or charger. Improvements over the previous …

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Stay warm on site with body mapping workwear

Body mapping workwear

A change of season means a change of focus on what you wear on site. With this in mind, Snickers FLEXIWork, RUFFWork, LITEWork and ALLROUND Workwear is said to ensure you keep your cool when the heat is on or stay warm and comfortable when the temperature drops. Interweaving 37.5 Technology fabric into Snickers’ working clothes means that you’ve got …

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Lightweight beanie fits under hard hats for warmth and safety

Lightweight beanie

As the chilly weather sets in JSP has launched a new thermal helmet beanie called the Surefit Beanie which is fully approved to be worn with all the JSP Evo range of Safety Helmets. Compatibility is key when combining PPE and this new Beanie will prevent workers from wearing incompatible and dangerous alternatives such as hoodies under their helmets. Designed …

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Average Tradesperson Earns £781 per Week

what trades earn

Hudson Contract has revealed this year’s winners and losers across 10 regions and 17 trades in its annual Construction Pay Trends Index with plumbers enjoying biggest pay rise in 2017 while electricians have experienced a pay drop. The index shows that self-employed builders in England and Wales have seen a year-on-year increase in average weekly earnings of 3.8% – with …

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Bright idea: ProVan LED light review

ProVan LED light

Roger Bisby lets a lot more light into the black hole that was the back of his van. There are few things more frustrating than rummaging around in the back of your van trying to find something and not having enough light to see. As winter draws in I find myself in this situation once again, I know it is …

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BMF Welcomes Commitment to Housebuilding

tax laws

Responding to the Budget, the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) has welcomed recognition by the Chancellor that housebuilding needs to be one of the Government’s main priorities.

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Jewson closes online store following data security breach

Jewson closes

Builders’ merchant Jewson has taken its online store www.jewson.co.uk offline amidst fears that customers’ data may have been stolen by hackers. The breaches are believed to have taken place between 23 August, 2017, and 3 November, 2017. Jewson notfied its customers of the breaches in a recent letter which stated: “As a Jewson Direct customers, we regrettably are writing to …

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Excavation company fined after worker set on fire

Construction boss jailed

A company undertaking excavation work has been fined for safety breaches, when a worker was burned after striking underground electrical cables. Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court heard that in February 2016 an employee was excavating the ground at a site on Spare Lease Hill in Loughton, Essex. He struck an electrical cable and was set on fire. He received significant burns to his …

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Plumbers hit hard by tool thefts – 27% of Plumbers targeted in 2017

tool thefts

Plumbers incomes are said to have been seriously damaged this year by tool thefts from vans and job sites, with 27% reporting the loss of tools which damaged their ability to earn a living. The research carried out by warm.co.uk suggests that thefts are on the rise, and Plumbers are fully aware of the damage to their livelihoods of the …

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Construction Still One of the Most Dangerous Industries

construction dangerous

The latest annual injury and ill-health statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that the construction sector continues to suffer significantly higher injury rates than other industries with slips, trips & falls remaining the biggest cause of injuries. The latest HSE stats show 1.3 million workers were suffering from work-related ill-health – a decrease on 2015/16 (144) – …

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Eurocell Raises the Bar With Lower Threshold

PVC-U low threshold

As a part of a drive to continuously improve its systems, Eurocell – one of the UK’s leading manufacturers, distributors and recyclers of PVC-U window, door, conservatory and roofline products.

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Real Deals for You: Jack Classic 50cm/20″ Handsaw Twin Pack review

Jack Classic 50cm

Skill Builder has once again teamed up with Real Deals for You to take a look at a selection of products from their Christmas campaign.  In the second installment of this series Roger Bisby takes a look at the Jack Classic 50cm/20″ Handsaw Twin Pack. Real Deals for You is a year-round campaign run by one of Europe’s leading hand …

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