In this edition:

FIG WARRANTY AVAILABLE

The sought-after suite of ASUC insurance guarantees has now been extended to include Foundations.  This follows the inclusion of an Engineered Foundation Solution standalone category of ASUC membership, which was launched at the end of 2016.
The new policy has the acronym of FIG, following ASUC’s DIG – 12 year Defects Insurance and the BIG – 10 year Basements Insurance Guarantees.

The FIG is a two-year policy intended to dovetail with NHBC / Premier / LABC and other similar new home warranties that commence after year two of the new build completion.  As with all the ASUC policies, this unique latent defects insurance policy is between the client and the insurance company, and therefore any claim is not dependent on the health of the contractor company.

The insurance is only available for ASUC members who are specialists in installing engineered foundation solutions, in the domestic and light industrial sector.  This includes foundation systems with ground beams and/or slabs.  ASUC define an Engineered Solution as any foundation with a depth in excess of 1.5m, all of which it believes should be engineered and not just trench fill.

To download the new ASUC Guarantee Leaflet – click here.

LABC ANNUAL CONFERENCE LEICESTER

ASUC was pleased to be able to support the conference for the first time this year and with well over 200 delegates it was a worthwhile expedition to Leicester.

Most LABC regions were represented and we were able to talk to, and hopefully influence, a number of them with regards to services ASUC offer.

In the Basement sector delegates from RBKC and Westminster understood the need for competent contractors and we will now seek to get further recommendations on their sections of the web for members future enquires   In the Foundations sector we were able to promote the new FIG scheme and a number of authorities took away ASUC promotional literature for their files.   LABC warranty took a particular interest in the 2 year FIG warranty for engineered foundation solutions.

INCREASED DEMAND FOR ENGINEERED FOUNDATION SOLUTIONS EXPECTED

Gavin Barwell MP, the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, gave some interesting figures in his keynote speech at the LABC conference.  Of the 277,000 planning consents issued last year for new house developments only 180,000 were built out. The current reliance on less than 10 major house developers to do this only strengthens the need for the SME  and self-build sector to step up to contribute to the difference in numbers.   ASUC members are well placed to support the SME sector with Engineered foundation solutions for these projects and grant the 2 year FIG warranty.

ASUC EVENTS

ASUC General Meeting – 1 June 2017

This year’s Summer General Meeting will be held on 1 June at the Oxford Belfry, near Thame.

The day will start with coffee and bacon rolls (from 09.00), the meeting will start at 10.00 and will include an open forum for members to raise any current issues.Oxford Belfry Exterior

This will be a members only meeting, and as well as an opportunity to meet with colleagues, it is an opportunity to have your say in shaping the direction of the association and also discuss the future of the CITB. There are many important issues facing the specialist sector and ASUC is well placed to make sure it presents a strong case when representing the industry – so make sure your voice is heard.

ASUC AGM & Awards Lunch – 24 November 2017

Last year’s Awards event was a sell out and we are returning to London this year, this time to the Cafe de Paris on Friday 24 November. The formal business of the AGM will be held in the morning, following which there will be a some short presentations on current topics of interest and, following a three course lunch, will be the eagerly-anticipated ASUC Awards.

The Awards Lunch is open to all members and their guests and is a popular pre-Christmas opportunity to enjoy a lunch in convivial surroundings.

MEMBERSHIP – NEW ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

We are delighted to welcome the latest company you join as an Associate member of ASUC:

Delta Membrane Systems Ltd

Delta Membranes provides products for basement drainage, structural waterproofing and underground wall and floor protection.Delta Membranes Logo

Cost effective, simple to install, DELTA® membranes keep hydrostatic pressure away from walls, ceilings and floors keeping living spaces dry and insulated.

Systems can be used on domestic and/or commercial properties from small scale basement conversions to major public works, such as the London Underground. The channel tunnel for example claims over 70,000m² of DELTA®-MS.

DELTA Systems can easily deal with aggressive ground water conditions, where basements are liable to flooding, or indeed where simple dampness, contamination or salting problems are prevalent.

Delta’s membership of ASUC coincides with the launch of a collaboration with Packaged Pump Systems to create the next generation intelligent pump station high level alarm.
Delta’s AlertMaxx2 paired up with the PPS ‘PumpSecure’ monitoring plan, provides home owners total piece of mind and worry free pump station operation.
To find out more about this innovation in submersible pumps – click here…..

Delta House, Merlin Way, North Weald, Epping, Essex CM16 6HR / www.deltamembranes.com / 01992 523523

TRAINING NEWS

Structural Waterproofing qualification reinstated

Good news for those seeking a qualifications in structural waterproofing. This has been resinstated and is now a Diploma level 2 NVQ (previously it was only a certificate NVQ).

In order to keep this vital qualification live it is important that employers put forward candidates regularly. Please contact Jeff Haggerty on 07885 659798 for more information.

OSAT Training & Assessment Costs 2017

ASUC’s assessor, Jeff Haggerty has not increased the charges for OSAT in 2017. Please contact him on 07885 659798 to discuss your training requirements in any of the following:

Structural Repairs Reinforcement  (level 2 diploma)

Structural Repairs Replacement (level 2 diploma)

Structural Waterproofing (level 2 diploma)

Excavated Underpinning (level 2 diploma)

Underpinnning Mini-piling (level 2 diploma)

Occupational Work Supervision (level 3 diploma)

The cost for the level 2 diploma is £756.80 per candidate and £885 for level 3 diploma.
In scope companies (CITB levy payers) can claim back a grant of £400 per candidate plus a bonus of 22% (subject to conditions).

NVQ level 3 diploma in Occupational Work Supervision

As mentioned above, this course to further progress employees is delivered for ASUC members under the Supplementary Upskilling Programme and is aimed at skilled employees with NVQ level 2 to who are ready to take the next step in their career and upskill into supervisory management.
Enhanced funding is available to CITB levy payers to help meet the £2,100 fee for this course, which  consists of eight classroom-based modules and takes between 6-12 month to complete.  The training programme is very flexible and can be tailored to meet the needs of each company as to the location, duration and timing.

Further details on this course are here: https://asuc.org.uk/training_NVQ3.html
These courses are being supported by additional funding from CITB, but the offer will be withdrawn if members do not take advantage of it.

NVQ level 6 diploma in Construction Contracting Operations

We can now offer a Level 6 NVQ diploma in Construction Contracting Operations Management.

This is designed for Technicians and Project Managers, working in a general role and managing people, who wish to achieve their Black CSCS Card.

The qualification has several routes and a range of optional units so it can be tailored to accurately reflect the role being carried out in day-to-day work. It covers competency standards in Planning, Estimating, Surveying and Buying.

This is a work-based qualification that requires a portfolio of evidence to be compiled in collaboration with an Assessor. It typically takes 6-9 months to complete, and usually requires 3-5 on-site visits by the Assessor. The cost for this qualification is £2,400.

For more details on NVQ3 and NVQ6 are available from Jeff Haggerty on 07885 659798.

CITB CONSENSUS VOTE

As an Industry Training Board, CITB is asked by the Secretary of State to show that it has continued support from the construction industry every three years. The Government can then authorise CITB to collect a construction levy from employers and invest it in the training that the industry needs. The consultation and vote will take place this year.

CITB currently seeks the views of 13 Federations as part of the Consensus process and Build UK, of which ASUC is a member, is one of those Federations.

This item will be discussed at the ASUC Summer meeting in June which will include a members’ forum to obtain members views on the vote and also what are the options should CITB not continue.

In the meantime, CITB is consulting extensively with the industry before we go to consensus in Summer 2017. You can make your voice heard now by telling CITB what you think of the current levy options, or by joining the Levy Working Party Reference Group.

SUCCESS FOR M J ROONEY AT CONSTRUCTION NEWS SPECIALISTS AWARDS

The winners of the Construction News Specialists Awards were announced at a ceremony held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane. These are the only national awards for specialist contractors and the winners represent the best of the best in the UK construction industry.Specialist Contractor Award 2017 Rooney

Congratulations to ASUC member, M J Rooney who scooped the Specialist Contractor of the Year (turnover up to £25m)

The quality of this year’s finalists made deciding a winner “extremely difficult”, the judges said. But for its “passion, innovation and organisation as well as a clear commitment to upholding the values on which the business was founded”, the panel was unanimous in declaring M J Rooney a hugely deserving winner of this year’s award.

Director, Cormac Rooney, said; “We are absolutely delighted to receive this award in recognition of the hard work put in by an incredible team. Our emphasis has been towards searching out the latest technologies and developing complex and innovative temporary works schemes to help deliver some incredible projects in 2016. To receive this on our 30th anniversary makes it even more special.”

NEWS FROM BUILD UK

Guide to Apprenticeship Levy

From 1 May there will be changes in the way apprenticeships in England are funded. Build UK and CITB have issued an Apprenticeship Funding Guide to provide an overview of the changes and how they affect you.

Immigration Skills Charge

As of April 2017, businesses may be required to pay the Immigration Skills Charge for workers sponsored from outside the European Economic Area. Please see Newsline for details.

ASUC GUARANTEE LEAFLET AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD

Following the introduction of the FIG scheme (see item above) a new leaflet has been produced which covers all three of the ASUC guarantees – the DIG, BIG and new FIG.ASUC Guarantee Leaflet

The leaflet provides brief details on all three schemes and their benefits as well as a checklist of ten good reasons for having an ASUC guarantee.

The brochure freely downloadable from the website and can be printed as required.
To see a copy click on this link

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