In this edition:
- New ASUC Privacy Policy and Log In Area
- The ASUC Summer General Meeting
- ASUC welcomes new H&S Auditor
- Payment Practice Update
- Events this year
- Guide to Using Social Media
- Training & CITB News
- ASUC Guidelines and Publications to Download
- R&D Tax Credits
DON’T MISS OUT ON THE LATEST NEWS FROM ASUC
In line with other organisations we are changing our website to obtain permission to send you this enewsletter. If you already subscribed then you will continue to receive it, but if you have not then you will not receive it directly although it can still be viewed via the enews page of the website. All ASUC member companies receive the enews automatically.
To check if you are registered or not visit the Log In Page of the website, where you can view your details, recover your password and, if not registered, you can do so. If you have any queries please email gdpr.compliance@agmhouse.com
ASUC does not pass any details to third parties and new ASUC Privacy Policy can be viewed here.
ASUC SUMMER GENERAL MEETING
This year’s Summer General Meeting will be held on 7 June at the Oxford Belfry, near Thame.
The day will start with coffee and bacon rolls (from 09.00) and the meeting at 10.00.
We are delighted to welcome Suzannah Nichol, CEO of Build UK who will give an update on the industry post Carillion. Liz Steel from CITB will also provide an update on the changes within CITB.
A buffet lunch will follow a discussion forum and an opportunity to raise questions.
You can reserve a place by contacting ASUC direct – programme here
If you would like to display a pop-up banner at the event please download the form here. Places are limited and the cost is £250 plus VAT.
Following lunch there will be a meeting on the FIG (Foundations Insurance Guarantee) to which all members are welcome – particularly those with an interest in this sector. If you would like to attend please call or email ASUC.
ASUC WELCOMES NEW AUDITOR
A benefit of using an ASUC specialist contractor is the knowledge that all members have been independently audited to ensure best practice in H&S, monitored training programmes, are financially stable and can offer the ASUC insurance backed guarantees.
ASUC is delighted to announce that it has appointed Russell Mott of ATAS – Auditing, Training & Assessment Services UK – as its independent H&S auditor
Having worked in the construction and specialist sectors for most of his career, and more recently with trade and industry bodies, Russell set up ATAS UK offering audit, training and assessor services. With a strong and practical foundation in Health & Safety, he holds NEBOSH and IOSH certification. He has wide experience in SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) and providing quality assurance regimes (Audit the Auditor) to maintain UKAS certification. He is also an approved IRCA (International Register of Certified Auditors) SSIP Assessor.
ATAS delivers quality independent auditing, training and assessment services to the construction and specialist sectors in the built environment, cost effectively structured on the size and complexity of each individual organisation.
Russell Mott is based in Essex and you can contact him on: 07826 556787
PAYMENT PRACTICES – DO YOU HAVE A DUTY TO REPORT?
Recent changes in legislation mean ‘large’ companies have a duty to report publicly on their payment policies, practices and performance every six months. This means all companies who meet at least two of the following three thresholds in the last two preceding financial years:
- £36 million annual turnover or above
- £18 million balance sheet total or above
- 250 employees or above
The reports have to be produced per entity meeting the thresholds (i.e. not on a group basis) and need to be signed off by a director of that entity.
If you think this may affect your company see the detailed information about what is required in the Government Guidance.
Build UK will be benchmarking its contractor members on their results from the end of July to ensure that the information is accessible for the construction supply chain.
OTHER EVENTS THIS YEAR
Subsidence Forum Annual General Meeting
This year members enjoyed a well attended AGM at the Oxfordshire Hotel, and following a networking coffee were given an update by the Chairman, Mark Scoble. There were presentations on the work of the special interest groups: Training and Education from P Issacs and Tree Root Claims Liaison from Ian Brett-Pitt.
Once the formal AGM business had been conducted there were presentations from Clive Edmonds of Peter Brett Associates on the ‘Pinner Wood School Project’ and John Parvin of Zurich Insurance on Catastrophe Claims.
The day concluded with a networking lunch and a chance to talk to exhibitors Helifix Ltd and Shire Structures.
UK Construction Week 9-11 October 2018
The UK’s largest built environment event, UK Construction Week (UKCW), is free to attend and consists of nine shows: Timber Expo, Build Show, Civils Expo, Plant & Machinery Live, Energy 2018, Building Tech Live, Surface & Materials Show and HVAC 2018 plus Grand Designs Live.
ASUC’s Technical Consultant, John Patch, will be speaking on Tuesday 9 October at 14.30. The session is From Wasted Space to Living Spaces – availability of brownfield land for housing development in England. Sunday Times journalist Helen Davies will host the discussion afterwards.
For more details visit www.ukconstructionweek.com/
Property Care Association Conference
Robert Withers, ASUC’s Chief Executive has been invited to present a talk on Basements at the PCA’s Conference. This will be held on 13 September at Warwick University.
For more details visit: www.property-care.org/
Subsidence Forum Training Day
The 2018 Subs Forum Training day will be held at Tewin Bury Farm Hotel, Hertford Road, Welwyn, AL6 0JB on Wednesday 17th October 2018.
This year the event will include practical demonstrations, taking delegates out of the classroom and offering them the chance to view live displays.
ASUC members have the opportunity to support the event by providing demonstrations on the day – for instance piling rigs and structural repairs. This is an excellent opportunity to reach a wider audience and you can call Emma Simmonds for more information or complete this form.
ASUC AGM & AWARDS
This year’s AGM and Annual Awards will be held on Friday 23 November at 1 Moorgate Place, London. The venue is a beautiful grade-II listed venue in the heart of the City of London, located just five minutes’ walk from Liverpool Street, Moorgate or Bank underground stations, and only eight miles from London City Airport.
We are delighted to announce that MPW Insurance Brokers will be the headline sponsor. MPW has long been associated with ASUC and worked closely on our auditing procedures and supporting members.
Full details or the event, award entries and sponsorship opportunities will be available shortly.
GUIDE TO USING SOCIAL MEDIA
ASUC has produced a short guide to using social media and online marketing tools. Twitter and other platforms are a free way to publicise your own company and ASUC. We add any posts from members into our own live stream on the ASUC website.
For more details click on this link – or pass it on to your marketing team so they have the ASUC tags to hand.
TRAINING NEWS
ASUC Online Survey
Each ASUC member has been sent a copy of its training record as at the end of 2017 to update and check on progress. The consolidated data will be presented at the General Meeting in June.
Qualifications
NVQ 2 OSAT (On Site Assessment and Training) is available in the following:
NVQ level 2 diplomas available for: Structural Repairs Reinforcement / Structural Repairs Replacement / Structural Waterproofing / Excavated Underpinning and also Underpinning Mini-piling
Further Qualifications
Occupational Work Supervision (NVQ level 3 diploma)
Construction Contracting Operations (NVQ level 6 diploma)
Contact Jeff Haggerty, ASUC Assessor, for details of costs and grants. Jeff is happy to discuss all your training and qualification needs and put together a programme that suits your working schedules. Contact him on 07885 659798.
CITB News
The Construction Training Directory is a searchable online directory of construction-related training courses, tests and qualifications which are delivered by Approved Training Organisations (ATOs) to defined training standards.
Searching for courses in the Directory is open to everyone, you do not need a login to access it.
Initially, only short duration training which last from 3 hours to 29 days are on the Directory. At launch we have a small number of ATOs advertising several hundred courses; this will grow as more training standards are published and ATO numbers increased.
Liz Steel, CITB Advisor, will be attending ASUC’s June General Meeting and will be able to provide an update on progress with the Directory and well as the various funds available to members to assist with training programmes.
ASUC PUBLICATIONS
ASUC has a range of useful publications which include advice on underpinning and mini piling, structural repairs and basement construction all freely available from the website. To download copies, please register or go the Log In Area if already registered.
- Guidelines to Contracts and Procurement
- Guidelines on safe and efficient basement construction directly below or near to existing structures (Endorsed by the HSE).
- ASUC Guidelines to Safe and Efficient Structural Repairs
- ASUC Guide to CDM 2015 changes for domestic underpinning, structural repair and basement contracts
- Guidelines on Safe and Efficient Underpinning and Mini Piling Operations
- TGN O1: ASUC recommended minimum site investigation for typical domestic 1, 2 and 3 storey buildings
- TGN 02: ASUC recommended minimum standards for underpinning typical domestic 1, 2 and 3 storey buildings Stage 1: Overview of the process
KENE PARTNERS – R&D TAX CONSULTANCY
Kene Partners is a specialist R&D Tax Consultancy that believes in superb client service delivered through a blend of talent and technology.
Not claiming R&D tax and wondering what all the fuss is about?
You’ve probably had calls and emails about this but never given it much thought. With Kene Partners can you see if you stand to gain from the legislation. If you are employing technical people, either directly or through contractors, who are working to improve your products, processes or capabilities then its likely to be a worthwhile conversation.
Why Kene Partners?
1. Well connected – it works closely with key industry Partners to ensure its knowledge of your industry is second to none
2. Talented consultants – our training school is tough, continuous and everyone has to complete it and maintain their score!
3. It uses the latest technology – to track your R&D activity to streamline future claims
Already claiming R&D tax?
Take advantage of Kene’s free claim review service and book to have a visit from a consultant who will analyse the claim for errors, ommissions and risk areas. If you decide to go ahead you will only be charged on the additional tax benefit you receive.
To find out more contact Kene Partners on 0207 11 888 33
