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Astutis Celebrates 10 Years of Leadership and Learning

Dylan Garton
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Astutis Celebrates 10 Years of Leadership and Learning

Astutis, an industry leader in workplace health, safe­ty and environmental training, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary – having reached the impressive milestone of partnering with more than 100,000 customers across 3,000 organisations in 180 countries. All in the name of helping to make the world of work safer, happier and more eco-conscious.

Improving the world of work

The environment and our health and safety are fundamental to our very existence. Both require increased awareness, understanding and continuous improvement.

The risk of injury, or even death, at work remains ever-present – while global pressures for increasing sustainability in business continue to rise. Which is why first-class health, safety and environmental training is an absolute must for businesses across all industries worldwide.

For the past ten years, Astutis has been dedicated to delivering a world-class suite of fully accredited and globally-revered health, safety and environmental training courses.

Success through transformation

Managing Director, Steve Terry, reflects on Astutis’ achievements: “We’re delighted to be celebrating these fantastic milestones, especially after a year in which we’ve seen a global pandemic change the world. 2020 was a year of adapting and evolving, and for our business it’s been a period of transformation.

“Our 10th birthday isn’t only a mark of how far we’ve come as a business, but an opportunity to reflect. The world of work has changed dramatically over the last decade, and so have we.

“Now more than ever, our approach centres on offering support in a way that meets our customers’ changing needs. This has been particularly important over the last 12 months.

We’ve actively sought the opinions of our customers to better understand what they need. By doing so, we’ve been able to adapt to suit them and offer the support they need.

Most notably by accelerating the rollout of a full suite of virtual and online training courses.

“Regardless of how far we’ve come, we’ve remained steadfast in our mission statement: to develop and provide reliable and relevant information and training to advance knowledge, raise awareness and exchange occupational safety and health information.”

The Astutis story

Astutis’ journey began in 2011, when it offered its first online training course. Today, it employs over fifty people across the UK and Dubai. The last decade has been a true success story.

  • In 2013, Astutis opened 17 UK training centres.
  • In 2014, Astutis secured its ISO 9001 accreditation before opening a Middle East office in 2015 and branching out into the wellbeing market with its stress and wellbeing course in 2018.
  • 2019 saw a crowning achievement, with Astutis awarded NEBOSH Gold Learning Partner status. This cemented its position as a leading training provider of the NEBOSH General Certificate, the most widely recognised health and safety qualification of its kind.

More recently during the pandemic, Astutis has broadened its virtual capabilities. In 2020, it secured Cyber Essentials accreditation, launched Astutis TV (which has already reached over 1,000 subscribers), its first online environmental skills training course, and a new global virtual training academy for live-online course delivery

Today, Astutis is the UK’s fastest-growing provider of HSE services and enjoys a worldwide reputation for excellence.

A human approach

On what sets Astutis apart, Steve said simply: “Our people, and a human approach. None of this would have been possible without our team of exceptional tutors and highly skilled men and women dedicated to supporting our learners.

They all have a tremendous passion for what they do: helping others and, ultimately, improving people’s lives in the workplace. Each team member can share fond memories of specific learners who have touched us with their stories of success. That’s testament to the human approach we adopt and reflected in our 98 per cent customer satisfaction rate.”

For more information and guidance with choosing the right course for you and your team, visit www.astutis.com, email enquiries@astutis.com, or call +44(0)345 241 3685.

See more on health and safety with Skill Builder.

EMMA Safety Footwear Will Improve Your Carbon Footprint

Dylan Garton
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EMMA Safety Footwear Will Improve Your Carbon Footprint

Safety Footwear that’s a step ahead in taking the environment seriously.

EMMA is a socially responsible brand that delivers a 100% circular footwear offering that is set to change the way we buy and use safety footwear.

Businesses from all industry sectors, from construction to manufacturing, to logistics, warehousing, office and retail, are making huge strides in sustainability and making bold public commitments to improving their social impact and encouraging their supply chains to do the same.

As part of these efforts, many businesses are embracing the circular economy and looking for opportunities to eliminate waste and find ways to continually use resources.

EMMA Safety Footwear
EMMA Safety Footwear

That’s where EMMA steps in to be an active part of the corporate sustainability programme.

Every piece of footwear in the EMMA range is made entirely from recycled or recyclable materials. They’re safe for the environment with a 100% ‘circular’ manufacturing, usage-mapping and recycling process for every shoe and boot produced under the EMMA brand.

Part of the Hultafors Group portfolio of market-leading PPE brands, EMMA complements the Solid Gear and Toe Guard safety footwear ranges by including all the Hultafors Group hallmarks of hi-tech designs that combine top-quality materials for ultimate comfort, maximum safety and wellbeing at work.

So, to make a positive social impact in your workplace, if your ordinary safety footwear just isn’t contributing to your sustainability policy, you can be sure there’s an EMMA product that is.

To get more information on EMMA Safety Footwear, visit the website at www.emmasafetyfootwear.com , call the Snickers Helpline on 01484 854788 or email sales@hultaforsgroup.co.uk

See more from EMMA with Skill Builder.

Insulation and Plasterboard ~ 35A Extension #7

Dylan Garton
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Insulation and Plasterboard ~ 35A Extension #7
Back in 2007, Roger, Steve and Jono take care of the sliding doors, insulation and plasterboard on the 35A Extension.

Does Klip-ez Make Cutting Plasterboard More Accurate?

Dylan Garton
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Does Klip-ez Make Cutting Plasterboard More Accurate?
The easy-to-use tool makes cutting plasterboard accurate, allowing a single user to cut boards quickly, without any help..

This Tool Makes Your Board Cuts Fast & Accurate. James tries out Klip_ez.

ABOUT KLIP_EZ

KLIP_EZ is a new concept in board technology; compact and affordable allowing you to measure and cut boards with accuracy.

Easy to store on a tool belt or in a toolbox, your KLIP_EZ will soon be your favourite time-saving companion!

Social Media: Are You Getting It Right?

Dylan Garton
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0
Social Media: Are You Getting It Right?

Sarah Woodhouse, Director at AMBITIOUS PR, shares her top tips on making the most of social media when it comes to marketing your business …

Whether it’s sharing a funny video clip, your holiday photos (remember those?) or your thoughts on how your favourite football team performed in last night’s game, social media is a great place to connect with friends and family. And these days, it’s also a powerful business tool.

The Coronavirus pandemic has had a mixed impact on the trades, with many tradespeople suffering a loss of income, particularly during the initial lockdown when so many projects had to stop.

If your own business has been impacted, ramping up your marketing activity is especially important and social media is a great opportunity to raise your profile.

But how can you turn something you’re used to using in your personal life as a way of promoting your business? And if you’re already using social media to support your business, can you be sure you’re doing it right?

A ‘shopfront’ for your work

People don’t always trust companies without a website (or with a very poor one), so it’s best practice to have both a website and a social media presence. Good, simple websites are fairly cheap to set up as a hub of information for your potential customers, including links through to your social media accounts.

Setting up a business page on Facebook is easy and free to do and works well as a complement to your website, so it’s not hard to see why small businesses are increasingly relying on this platform.

A Facebook page is particularly useful for the amount of information you’re able to include in one place – and the fact more and more potential customers are likely to be relying on local Facebook groups when seeking recommendations for tradespeople.

It sounds obvious, but make sure you’ve included all key contact details for your business, including a link through to your website, plus plenty of photos of your work and reviews from customers. Encourage previous customers to leave a review and it will help build confidence in your ability to do a good job.

Social Media and the trades

What to post

Social media is a great place to show off the quality of your work and there’s no better way of doing that than by using photos – especially if you’re working on home or garden renovations.

Depending on how confident you are in front of a camera, sharing videos is a great way to inject some personality into your profile while showing off your expertise.

You could do a quick video of a particularly tricky piece of work and explain how you overcame any challenges involved, or share something you’re proud of and why you think it works particularly well. You can find more tips on creating videos for social media here.

Remember, always ask permission from your customer before taking photos of work you have completed at their property and try not to include any details that can easily identify where they live (such as door numbers) and licence plates.

In addition to filling your feed with photos of your work, you can share posts about your availability, the areas in which you work, any job opportunities you may have at your business or positive feedback you’ve had from customers.

Choose the right tone

It’s often been said that people do business with people, not companies. So it’s good to show some personality in your posts, but just be aware of keeping things professional.

Photos of you and your mates messing around on-site don’t always go down well with potential customers and are best left for your personal social media accounts.

Keep posting

Update your feed regularly (it doesn’t look good if the last post your potential customer can see is from over a year ago) and it will help to show how in-demand your services are.

Social media is a commitment, so start small by focusing on one platform only and make a point of updating your feed once every week if you can.

Address any criticism

Having a social media presence for your business makes it easier for customers to leave feedback. This is great when it comes to positive customer reviews, but be prepared that, for those who are less than satisfied with your work, this also gives them an outlet to share their disappointment.

Whether or not you feel any criticism is justified, it’s important to respond quickly and reasonably. Politely reply to their post and do your best to take the conversation offline.

Something along the lines of: “I’m sorry you feel that way and I’ll give you a call to talk about how we can address this” usually works.

You’ll see I haven’t suggested a public, direct apology – and, for legal reasons, that’s something you should avoid – but it shows sympathy for your customer and that you’re willing to listen and see what can be done to put things right.

Getting social media right requires time and effort, but once you’re in the practice of regularly updating your news feed, checking and responding to customer feedback and building your reputation with positive reviews, the rewards to your business can be significant.

AMBITIOUS PR is an award-winning agency with expertise in the construction sector. For more information on PR and marketing for the property sector, including case studies, visit www.ambitiouspr.co.uk/property-pr-agency

See more on social media with Skill Builder.

Building The Stud Walls ~ Extension Build #9

Dylan Garton
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Building The Stud Walls ~ Extension Build #9
James builds the interior stud walls..

Part 9 of our How To Build An Extension series.

We love ForgeFast Elite Performance wood screws! https://www.forgefastelite.com

Knightsbridge lighting & wiring accessories: https://www.mlaccessories.co.uk

Home USB Charging Just Got Faster Thanks to Knightsbridge

Dylan Garton
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Home USB Charging Just Got Faster Thanks to Knightsbridge

Domestic USB charging points continue to grow in popularity with homeowners, and Knightsbridge – one of the UK’s leading manufacturer of wiring devices, accessories, and lighting – is leading the trend with the introduction of 230V 13A two-gang switched sockets that uniquely support FASTCHARGE* in two USB ports.

The sockets have either a Type-A USB port, for the most encountered chargers, and a Type-C, which is fast becoming the device charging standard; or two Type-A ports. In either combination, however, both ports are FASTCHARGE enabled. This means that a device compatible with QC2.0/ QC3.0 (Quick Charge) or PD FASTCHARGE can achieve up to a 50% charge in 30 minutes or less.

ML2105FC Knightsbridge USB charging sockets

Both outlets are capable of delivering between 5V DC and 12V DC at a maximum of 3A. Standard charging mode provides up to 10W for both USB types; although charging rates depend on the type of device, for instance, mobile phones ‘determine’ how much power to draw.

The total output is a maximum of 4A when both outlets are in use. The Knightsbridge sockets are unique in the market in being able to shift voltages up to 9 or 12V in either port to achieve 18W.

For instance, the typical Type-C smartphone will draw a maximum of 3A. FASTCHARGE increases that to 18W by switching up the voltages so that 12V x 1.5A = 18W. On the other hand, competitor products will typically languish at 15W (5V x 3A = 15W).

The Knightsbridge FASTCHARGE ports are instantly recognisable over standard items with a distinctive orange port insert colour. Finish options for both socket types include Matt White, Matt Black and Brushed Chrome from its Screwless range and Brushed Chrome in Raised Edged Square. A choice of pin inserts in white, grey or black is available for all Brushed Chrome models.

Finally, all Knightsbridge USB FASTCHARGE 13A two-gang switched sockets are warrantied for two years.

For further details of the Knightsbridge innovative wiring accessories and lighting products, please visit www.mlaccessories.co.uk or call 01582 887760.

*Apple devices do not support PD FASTCHARGE, but the use of certified cables will achieve an optimum charge rate of up to 5V 3A.

See more on electrical wiring accessories with Skill Builder.

Enhanced Visibility and Safety With Snickers Workwear Hi-Vis

Dylan Garton
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Enhanced Visibility and Safety With Snickers Workwear Hi-Vis

A Superior Range of Hi Vis Protective Wear – for all kinds of light conditions.

Snickers Workwear takes personal wellbeing at work very seriously. That’s why this range of Hi-Vis protective wear is streets ahead of anything else.

 

Revolution 2 Safety Trainer

With updated styles and designs added to the extensive range of Jackets, Trousers, Shorts, Toolvests, Shirts and Fleeces for men and women, there’s a host of garments in the range to satisfy the specific requirements of Classes 1, 2 and 3 protection levels.

These ‘outstanding’ products combine Snickers’ unrivalled hallmarks of functionality and comfort with the requirements of the EN20471 standard for high visibility warning clothes.

With advanced designs and high-tech fabrics that are windproof and water-repellent, all the garments have durable, colour-fast protection that will last for wash after wash, retaining shape and comfort throughout the life of the garments.

Added to which, Snickers Workwear Hi Vis garments can be custom-profiled to ensure ‘stand out’ coverage for your corporate brand.

Getting more information on the Snickers Workwear range of ProtecWork and Snickers Workwear Hi-Vis protective wear is easy. You call the Helpline on 01484 854788; check out www.snickersworkwear.co.uk and download a digital catalogue; or you can email info@snickersworkwear.co.uk

Seismic Savings in Blast Protection

Dylan Garton
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0
Seismic Savings in Blast Protection

Seismic activity may be rare in the UK, but many buildings and critical infrastructure need to be protected from blasts. The cost of specialised equipment capable of withstanding the forces and violent movement caused by seismic and blast activity can be extortionate. However, there is an alternative, more efficient way of providing this blast protection than the traditionally expensive ‘ruggedisation’ method. Here, Adam Fox, director of vibration control specialist Mason UK, explains how you can provide effective blast protection in projects, including where vibration isolation is also required.

Say ‘seismic activity’ in the UK and you might just think of a few damaged chimney pots. Yet while genuine seismic activity might be rare, the engineering expertise that is used to protect buildings from seismic activity still has relevant applications. Bomb blasts or terrorist activity can subject buildings and critical infrastructure to what is euphemistically referred to as ‘accidental loads.’

Faced with these accidental loads, buildings need to remain viable. They must remain stable enough for people to evacuate and firefighters to enter if needed.

Seismic Savings with Restrained spring mount and housing

You also want to avoid the ventilation or water supply being taken out by the blast. Consequences like these could be disastrous, especially in military installations or for critical infrastructure like power stations.

Engineers, therefore, design buildings with these criteria in mind. The basic engineering principles were set out in the International Building Code that was designed with the help of our big brother across the pond, Mason Industries, in the 1970s.

In many conventional buildings, the volume of steel and concrete provides sufficient blast protection, but in situations where you need to introduce a structural break for vibration isolation reasons, you require a different level of engineering expertise.

For example, let’s say you have a building that is mounted on a series of columns and is near a train line. You might place one of our bearings on top of the column, to protect the building from the vibration caused by the train.

Suddenly, you have a soft connection between the column and the structure it is supporting. So how do you make sure the column is fit to withstand the accidental loads referred to before?

In these situations, where vibration isolation meets blast protection requirements, there are two solutions. The more simple, traditional approach is to apply heavy restraints which can be seriously expensive and if poorly designed can easily negate the benefit of the vibration control measures It is more efficient for cost and performance to design a connection that respects both.

Ensuring building services remain operational can keep a building running. Expensive ‘ruggedised’ plant equipment can cope with forces but the smarter, far cheaper engineering solution would involve combing anti-vibration mounts with inbuilt restraints.

The former provides general vibration isolation but will also reduce any forces from a blast or accidental load down to levels that standard, off the shelf equipment can withstand.

The equipment in the video shows spring mounts with seismic restraints cushioning a pump and motor. It may look violent but the goal is to reduce forces down to less than the equipment would see when being shipped to site.

We have worked on many projects for the military and government, as well as for buildings whose function just cannot be interrupted for repairs. We worked to provide a holistic engineering solution, ensuring the entire system was designed to withstand accidental loads and protect critical infrastructure.

If you need to introduce structural breaks for vibration isolation, or need to meet blast protection criteria, you face a problem. However, the problem is not that we lack a viable engineering solution in these situations.

The problem is, so many developers, architects and engineers are simply not aware that this kind of engineering solution is available and therefore fork out extortionate sums on ruggedization and extra testing.

Mason UK is a vibration isolation specialist with extensive expertise in seismic engineering. To discover how their products and engineering can assist your projects, visit mason-uk.co.uk, email info@masonuk.co.uk or call (01252) 716610.

Moving Heavy Steel Beams ~ 35A Extension #6

Dylan Garton
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0
Moving Heavy Steel Beams ~ 35A Extension #6
Roger and Steve shift some heavy steel beams..

Another vintage episode from the 35A Extension series where we see around.

Why Doesn’t Every Decorator Know This? – High Performance Paint

Dylan Garton
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Why Doesn’t Every Decorator Know This? – High Performance Paint
Roger visits Handford + Green to see how they make their high performance paint.

https://www.hanfordandgreen.com

About Hanford + Green

Hanford + Green was established by a team with decades of experience in paint manufacturing, building and commercial decorating. They set out to provide high-performance paint that the commercial sector needs, meeting each of the challenges of large-scale commercial projects head-on.

Laying Clay Roof Tiles ~ Extension Build #8

Dylan Garton
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Laying Clay Roof Tiles ~ Extension Build #8
In Part 8 of our How To Build An Extension series, the roofers are in to show us a fine example of laying clay roof tiles, reclaimed clay tiles from Swallow’s Tiles.

http://www.sihg.org.uk/swallowsrooftiles

Hellberg Safety Launch New Safety Eyewear

Dylan Garton
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Hellberg Safety Launch New Safety Eyewear

Find Focus with Hellberg’s range of all-new specialist safety glasses and goggles.

Renowned for its hi-spec PPE that includes advanced hearing protection products, face protection and communication solutions, Hellberg Safety is launching a new range safety eyewear.

With a wide range of street-smart styles, from basic to premium – the new range ensures a consistently clear line of sight and safe vision for professional tradesmen and women wherever they’re working on site.

Built with lightweight, durable materials and specially developed lens technology, the eyewear provides complete protection, and comfort throughout the working day and can be easily combined with other PPE including ear defenders, safety helmets, and visors.

With a focus on enhanced safety in all conditions, Hellberg glasses and goggles have impact-resistant lenses with anti-scratch and anti-fog coating on both sides and there are styles that can be worn over prescription glasses.

Around the lens, the ergonomic design, incorporates practical features, like a soft nose bridge and ‘adjustable temples’, making sure the glasses stay in place and fit safely allowing you to keep your focus all day long.

See more from Hellberg Safety with Skill Builder.

Solutions for Treating Damp with Damian Wallis

Dylan Garton
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Solutions for Treating Damp with Damian Wallis
Roger is joined by Damian Wallis of Safeguard Europe, the leading manufacturer and supplier of specialist products for treating damp, damp-proofing and waterproofing.

https://www.safeguardeurope.com

Safeguard has grown to become a market leader in the UK and now exports throughout the world. All products are manufactured under an ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 quality & environmental control system, audited by the BSI. The product ranges are accredited by a wide range of industry authorities and international testing houses.

They pride themselves on industry-leading technical knowledge and an ability to innovate by developing and manufacturing new products.

How To Lay Paving Perfectly With Tobermore

Dylan Garton
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0
How To Lay Paving Perfectly With Tobermore

Sperrin on How To Lay Paving

Skill Builder travelled to Northern Ireland to see the boys from Sperrin Paving laying a patio and some paving using Tobermore paving products.

They also built a retaining wall and a boundary wall to complement the retaining wall. Roger Bisby has laid a few patios in his time but this method of laying the Historic Paving onto a dry sharp sand was a revelation.

Roger commented “Normally I would use a bed of mortar and tap each slab down. This is the way I was shown by the old-timers but it is a slow method and you do get problems with levels if one bit of mortar shrinks more than another and if you get a rocking slab it can mean putting down more mortar.

The Dry Bed Method

The dry bed method is not only quicker it also allows you to sort out any problems that might occur down the line. If for example, you get a bit of a dip over the top of a drain run you can simply pick up a few slabs, put down a bit more sand and lay the slabs down again.”

The dry bed method is made possible because Tobermore slabs are 50mm thick and they are absolutely uniform in thickness. Once you get the bed flat putting the slabs down is the quickest job ever.

The video shows Roger completely amazed to see that half the patio was down after day one and that also included building some steps and a retaining wall using Secura Lite walling. The wall is built completely without mortar and cleverly interlocks.

Another big advantage of the dry bed method is that it allows a lot of the water to permeate through the paving so it helps to reduce flooding.

The video is packed full of useful tips for the competent DIYer who fancies laying their own patio but it also highlights the advantages of using a Tobermore approved contractor if are thinking of hiring the professionals.

Tobermore supports its network of Approved Contractors with a design service and product samples so the customer can see and feel the products before they commit to them.

Advanced Production Process

Arguably the best bit of the video is right at the end when Roger explains how Tobermore’s advanced production process produces a product that is not only colour-fast but extremely hard-wearing.

All too often concrete paving begins to fade and show signs of deterioration within a few years of being laid. The old method of making cast paving meant that the pigment was mixed through the whole thickness of the slab or block.

This sounds like a good thing when you first hear it but in reality, it means that you are spreading the pigment over parts of the paving that will never see the light of day.

By placing the pigment in the wear layer and adding the hardener in there as well, this Premium Top gives you unrivalled durability and colour.

You would imagine that this kind of extra quality comes at a premium but the cost is actually very competitive with thinner less durable products. Take a look at the video and see if you agree that it is not only the fastest easiest paving to lay but it is also one of the best-looking ranges on the market.

Tobermore Products Used

Secura Lite antique retaining wall blocks

Charcoal Step Risers

Historic Slate Paving Flags

Sienna Sandstone Setts

Tegula Bracken Setts

Support Docs & Guides

PDF Download IconTobermore Historic Circles Installation Guidelines.pdf

PDF Download IconTobermore Historic Flags & Circles.pdf

PDF Download IconTobermore Historic Flags.pdf

PDF Download IconTobermore Sienna Setts & Circles.pdf

PDF Download IconTobermore Tegula.pdf

Credits

Special thanks go to Tobermore and Sperrin Paving.

Check out the official Tobermore website.

See more from Tobermore with Skill Builder.

Britain’s Home Moving Hotspots Revealed

Dylan Garton
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0
Britain’s Home Moving Hotspots Revealed

Where have we moved home the most? – Britain’s home moving hotspots revealed

Nearly 800,000 home moves have taken place in the last year, meaning 2.6% of Britain’s entire property market chose to up sticks and moved home despite numerous periods of lockdown restrictions and the wider ongoing problems caused by the pandemic.

The latest market insight by national estate agent, Keller Williams UK, analysed the number of homes sold across England, Wales and Scotland over the last 12 months and what this equates to as a percentage of total residential housing stock, to highlight where Britain’s home moving hotspots.

Note: Home movers refers to the whole house rather than several individuals moving home who might live within the same property.

Scotland Moves the Most

The research shows that Scotland moves the most, with 81,751 transactions in the last 12 months equating to 3.1% of all homes in the country.

It is no surprise that Scotland accounts for seven of the top 15 home moving hotspots at a local authority (LA) level, with East Lothian seeing 4.1% of all homes hit the market in the last 12 months. Midlothian (3.9%), East Renfrewshire (3.7%), South Lanarkshire (3.7%) and Renfrewshire (3.5%) also rank as some of Britain’s most prominent home mover hotspots.

England Home Moving Hotspots

2.6% of all households made a move across England over the last 12 months, with the South West (2.9%), the South East (2.8%) and East Midlands (2.8%) ranking top.

However, it’s Harborough in Leicestershire that tops the table at LA level, with 1,477 transactions completed in the last year resulting in 3.7% of the total property market moving in the area.

South Derbyshire (3.6%), North West Leicestershire (3.5%), Central Bedfordshire (3.4%) and Bracknell Forest (3.4%) also moved the most of all areas in England.

Who is Wandering in Wales?

2.3% of the total Welsh property market decided to move last year, with Vale of Glamorgan seeing this figure increase to 3%, the highest in Wales. Bridgend also saw a large number of home movers with 2.8% of all homes in the area selling, along with Conwy (2.6%), Denbighshire, Newport and Flintshire (2.5%).

London the Lowest

At just 1.9%, the capital saw the smallest number of home movers in relation to market size, although this did climb to 2.9% in Bromley, making it the capital’s home moving hotspot.

Havering (2.8%), Bexley (2.7%), Richmond (2.6%) and Kingston (2.5%) also ranked high.

CEO of Keller Williams UK, Ben Taylor, commented:

“Although 2.6% of households choosing to move doesn’t sound high, it’s important to remember this is in relation to 28.5m total homes across Britain and against a backdrop of pandemic uncertainty and lockdown restrictions.

In this context, nearly 800,000 successful home moves is pretty impressive, and the fact we’ve managed it while also juggling the strange new normal of lockdown life is pretty commendable.

Of course, the dangling carrot of a stamp duty saving would have helped boost these figures. With a potential deadline extension on the way, we should see the number of us selling up and moving on remain high.”

The Data Explained

Data in the below tables is based on transaction data from Gov.uk over the last 12 months from the latest available point of October 2020. Source: Gov.uk UK House Price Index – Sales.

Demand for Rural Homes due to Covid
New Demand for Rural Homes

Estimated dwelling stock levels sourced from: –

England: Gov.uk, Live Tables on Dwellings Stock

Scotland: Gov.scot, Housing Statistics

Wales: Gov.wales, Dwelling Stock Estimates

Transactions as a percentage of dwellings stock is based on transactions divided by total dwellings.

 

Table shows the number of sales in the last 12 months by each area and what percentage of total housing stock this equates to
Location Estimated dwelling stock Transactions Transactions as a % of dwellings stock
England 24,413,501 634,815 2.6%
Scotland 2,605,000 81,751 3.1%
South West 2,579,210 74,528 2.9%
South East 3,943,537 111,553 2.8%
East Midlands 2,103,080 58,862 2.8%
East of England 2,705,425 74,896 2.8%
Yorkshire and The Humber 2,440,528 65,221 2.7%
North West 3,300,088 87,283 2.6%
North East 1,236,808 31,269 2.5%
West Midlands Region 2,512,503 62,837 2.5%
Wales 1,437,567 33,701 2.3%
London 3,592,322 68,366 1.9%
Great Britain 28,456,067 750,267 2.6%
       
       
Table shows the biggest home moving hotspots in Britain at local authority level
Location Estimated dwelling stock Transactions Transactions as a % of dwellings stock
East Lothian 48,000 1,954 4.07%
Midlothian 40,000 1,555 3.89%
Harborough 39,891 1,477 3.70%
East Renfrewshire 39,000 1,433 3.67%
South Lanarkshire 151,000 5,528 3.66%
South Derbyshire 45,363 1,619 3.57%
Renfrewshire 87,000 3,072 3.53%
West Lothian 79,000 2,742 3.47%
North West Leicestershire 45,513 1,579 3.47%
Perth and Kinross 72,000 2,481 3.45%
Central Bedfordshire 121,347 4,154 3.42%
Bracknell Forest 50,231 1,717 3.42%
Rugby 47,113 1,608 3.41%
South Norfolk 61,926 2,100 3.39%
South Northamptonshire 40,033 1,357 3.39%

Solar Energy Trends in 2021

Dylan Garton
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0
Solar Energy Trends in 2021

There are many advantages to using solar power. Harvested from the sun’s rays, solar energy helps both consumers and businesses. This form of renewable energy can reduce your energy costs, lower your dependency on fossil fuels, and much more.

It’s easy to see that going solar presents many benefits. With all of that said, how is the solar market doing in 2021? Here’s a closer look at how trends impact the future of the solar energy industry.

Solar Energy Trends in 2021

Growth of Solar Firms

You can see how fast the solar industry is growing by looking at the many companies in this field. This growth came through the Department of Energy awarding special funding to solar companies. The first company to receive this funding was First Solar, a fast-growing solar manufacturer that acquired a loan for $1.9 billion.

First Solar is far from the only company succeeding in this fast-growing field. Many other large solar manufacturers continue to bring solar power to the world.

The Top US Solar Firms

It’s now time to learn about some of the largest companies leading the solar energy industry. The leader in this industry remains First Solar. With a market cap of $7.4 billion and revenue of $3.1 billion, First Solar has a bright future in the solar industry.

The second-largest solar firm in the United States is SunPower Corp. Based out of San Jose, California, SunPower Corp designs and manufactures solar systems. This company posted revenue of $1.9 billion in 2020.

NextEra Energy is another renewable energy company that’s making lots of waves. While not strictly a solar company (they also provide wind energy), NextEra Energy recently toppled ExxonMobile as America’s most valuable energy provider. It’s unknown if NextEra Energy will hold on to this top spot, but it’s encouraging news to renewable energy supporters.

Another company that deserves mentioning is a business that’s arguably more well-known: Tesla. While many people connect Tesla with Elon Musk and electric cars, this company also installs residential solar panels.

Solar Industry Growth Expectations – 2021

It’s understandable to wonder if or by how much the solar industry will grow in 2021. Fortunately, things look good for this industry in the near future. In 2020, both China and the United States broke records for solar installations. During the first half of 2020, Europe generated 40% of its power from renewable energy.

As the adoption of solar energy continues growing, 2021 looks to be a great year for renewable energy. The Solar Energy Industries Association reports that solar capacity will double and surpass 100GW in 2021.

Top Solar Industry Stats

You can also learn a lot about the solar industry by looking at a few solar energy statistics. Here are a few of the most interesting statistics showcasing the popularity of solar energy.

  • Solar energy accounts for 1.6% of all electricity generated in the United States.
  • America’s solar energy industry provides jobs to over 242,000 people.
  • When polled, 89% of people in the United States supported more solar farms.
  • Community solar looks to grow 20-30 times by the year 2030.
  • Currently, 12 states in America are working to make solar energy easily available for low-income families.

Solar Energy Trends – 2021

So far, you’ve learned many interesting statistics about the solar industry. With that in mind, you’ll now learn more about the biggest solar energy trends to watch out for in 2021.

One of the most popular trends in 2021 is solar roof tiles. These items function the same way as solar panels. But they’re much smaller, essentially the size of a shingle. Solar shingles are attractive options for homeowners or property managers that want solar energy without traditionally bulky solar panels.

You likely remember the automobile industry changing with the invention and popularity of electric vehicles. These vehicles operate partially or fully on electricity, reducing the need for fuel from gasoline. With that in mind, it appears that solar energy will soon be powering lots of automobiles. Research shows that the solar vehicle industry will be worth $329 million by 2023

In recent years, the world has experienced dangerous weather. Two notable examples of this took place in the United States. There were the 2019 wildfires that took over large parts of California. Recently, the southern state of Texas experienced week-long power outages from harsh winter weather.

To solve weather-related power outages, companies are utilizing stored solar energy to provide power during times when electrical grids go out. Solar storage works by having large modules collect energy. This energy is then collected and distributed in the event of a power outage.

As you can see, there’s a lot to get excited about regarding the future of solar energy. If you’d like to experience everything this type of renewable energy has to offer, consider going solar.

See more on solar with Skill Builder.

Straight String Line Trick ~ 2-Minute Tip

Dylan Garton
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Straight String Line Trick ~ 2-Minute Tip

Before he pitches the roof on our new extension series, James shows us a quick 2-minute tip for getting a super straight string line.

Snickers Workwear High-Performance Jackets

Dylan Garton
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Snickers Workwear High-Performance Jackets

Workwear – Protectivewear  – Performancewear – Leisurewear.

With street-smart designs for men and women, all Snickers Workwear high-performance jackets include must-have features that focus on fit and freedom of movement as well as using innovative fabrics that deliver long-lasting protection and stretch comfort.

Whatever you need – if it’s for work, play or protection against hazards – Snickers Workwear has Jackets that will work on-site, are ideal for leisure, always ensuring optimal performance, comfort, good looks and visibility.

ALLROUNDWork Jackets are just what the name suggests, delivering a great all-round performance.

There’s also FLEXIWork Jackets that provide superb comfort and weather-proofing if you’re always on the move and LITEWork Jackets that keep you feeling cool and looking good whatever you’re doing in warm weather.

So check out the performance, comfort and protection features of Snickers Workwear Jackets, there will be one to suit you – wherever you are, whatever you need, whatever you’re doing.

See more with Snickers from Skill Builder.

Rain & Snow Delay Brickies ~ How To Build An Extension #6

Dylan Garton
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0
Rain & Snow Delay Brickies ~ How To Build An Extension #6

Rain and snow delays force James onto the blockwork in part 6 of our 2 storey extension series.

How To Build An Extension series playlist: https://bit.ly/2LnUhG5

Keystone Windposts
https://keystonelintels.com/products/windposts

Our thanks go to James and Ian of The Supreme Finishing Company.

◾ https://thesupremefinishingcompany.co.uk
◾ https://www.facebook.com/thesupremefinishingcompany

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