Construction Consultants Celebrates Completion Of Hospital Refurbishment Project

Construction consultants Haldons Limited celebrates the completion of the newly-refurbished Sidmouth Victoria Hospital by presenting the staff and Chair of the Comforts Fund with a special cake marking the firm’s 10^th anniversary.

Martina Harrison, Clinical Manager/ Mark and Maria Coton, Co-directors Haldons Ltd/ Graham Vincent, Comforts Funds Chairman

A multi-discipline firm with offices in Exeter and Torquay, Haldons provide a wide range of professional services in many sectors across the South West region and throughout the UK as a whole.  These include Architectural Design, Project Management, Quantity Surveying, Cost Management and Premises Compliance.

Haldons recently completed the extensive £1.25m refurbishment project at Sidmouth’s community hospital for Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, working closely with the Trust’s in-house facilities team.  Co-directors and husband and wife team Mark and Maria Coton presented the cake to Comforts Fund Chairman Graham Vincent and the occupational therapy (OT) and *MSK physiotherapy team led by Clinical Manager Martina Harrison.

Haldons’ Director Mark Coton was the lead designer, contract administrator and CDM Co-ordinator.  The company also provided cost management services, and the build took 52 weeks to complete with Sidmouth-based contractors, Skinner Construction.  The refurbishment programme provided a new entrance canopy; reception; waiting room; kitchen; two minor injuries treatment rooms plus an office and gym for the MSK (musculoskeletal) department as well as three treatment rooms. In addition, there is new office accommodation and a treatment area for the occupational therapy team for ADL (Activities of Daily Living).

Martina Harrison, Clinical Manager for MSK physiotherapy (Eastern area) for the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, says: “The cake as a thank you to the team was a lovely touch from Mark and Maria. Throughout the building works the staff have continued to look after patients and it has been a real partnership with Haldons, Skinner Construction and Graham Vincent and the Trustees.  We all worked together towards the same outcome of creating a space shared by OT and musculoskeletal *(See notes to editor) (MSK) physiotherapy, which works well with patients.  We were very confident in Haldons’ ability to deliver and they were very professional throughout.  We developed a relationship of trust with Mark, who really understood the needs of the staff, and working with Andrew Sturgess the Contracts Manager of Skinner Construction and his team was a delightful experience.”

The latest development is the fifth phase of a project which originally began 25 years ago with a total spend of £4.5m, with virtually all the money being raised in the local community.

The Sidmouth Victoria Hospital Comforts Fund initially put in £750,000, with Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust contributing £200,000.   The Comforts Fund Trustees had an appeal to raise an additional £255,000 by means of concerts, Flag Day, fete, open gardens, donations and legacies.  

Graham Vincent, Comforts Fund Chairman, comments: “Matron, Emma Bagwell, had to produce a clinical case for Phase 5, and I had to present a business case for Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust. Extra fundraising activities were carried out by Comforts Fund as building works were happening.  It has been a challenging but enjoyable project and it has created a real community spirit.”  He adds: “Haldons were very responsive and willing to review plans to make sure we were within budget. The staff had a lot to put up with keeping the hospital functioning throughout.  Haldons developed a good relationship with the Trust and we are looking forward to working with them again.  The Comforts Fund’s next project is to upgrade the courtyard garden for patients to sit with family and visitors, which is due to be completed by Christmas 2014 and will make a great deal of difference to the enjoyment and recovery of the patients.”

www.haldons.co.uk

http://www.northdevonhealth.nhs.uk/services/community/sidmouth/

Financial Planning Is A Matter For The Head And Not The Heart

Your emotions can seriously hamper your wealth, warns Tim Walker Head of Office and Divisonal Director at Brewin Dolphin in Exeter, who says he sees many clients allowing their heart to rule their head, to their financial detriment.

 

Tim Walker Head of Office and Divisonal Director at Brewin Dolphin in Exeter

“It can be difficult to look at your personal financial circumstances from a purely objective standpoint,” he said. “Emotional attachment to certain assets, fear of upsetting friends and family and even superstition mean that people do not fulfill their financial goals even if the desire is there. It may help to engage a professional adviser who can not only advise you from a legal or tax perspective, but can also ask you testing questions you might not confront otherwise.”

Here are the most common emotional mistakes he sees people make with their money, and how to mitigate them.

Misplaced loyalty
Investors hold onto too many shares or assets in the company they work for, putting many of their eggs in the same basket. Similarly, entrepreneurs who sell their company often retain a large stake because of their emotional attachment to the business. Remember to diversify your assets to spread risk.

Hiding from reality

Many people are guilty of procrastination, especially if they are worried about their financial situation. While it is best to start saving for a pension as early as you can, it’s never too late. Claiming “it’s not worth starting a pension at my age” is not a good enough excuse not to save for your future, particularly given the tax reliefs which come with pension contributions.

Avoiding uncomfortable issues

While many people find it uncomfortable talking about succession planning, to avoid making a will on the grounds of superstition or because it is a bad omen is irrational. It may help to undertake this process with a professional adviser.

Not letting go

It is very easy to hold onto an investment – whether ‘cherished’ inherited assets or a large family home after your children have long fled the nest – for emotional reasons. If you want to pass these assets onto your family, it may make sense to sell up and release cash to facilitate IHT gifting.

Panicking about the future

Many people would like to pass their wealth onto their children, but fear giving away assets in case they can’t afford their living expenses – when clearly they will still have more than enough to live on. Mapping out your inflows and outflows with an adviser, and planning for future expenditures or liabilities, will help you work out exactly how much you need to keep and how much you can give away.

Not fully trusting your spouse with your assets

Some clients fail to make full use of their spouse or partners tax allowances, which is one of the most common mistakes. Often the main earner pays 40% or even 45% tax on their investments when their spouse is a basic or even non-taxpayer. If the assets were transferred to the lower earner, the couple would benefit by using both tax allowances to the full. Trust, it seems, is a valuable commodity!

HLM 5th Anniversary Party

Award-winning architects, HLM celebrated the group’s 50^th and the Plymouth Office’s 5^th anniversary in style.  Members of the HLM Board joined Ajay Sharma, Director of the Plymouth office based in Mills Bakery and his team to jointly celebrate this milestone Birthday.  The dynamic architect practice hosted a fun party in a magnificent marquee decorated with bunting and a laser lighting show in the stunning grounds of Residence One at the Royal William Yard.

HLM Board:

Ajay Sharma (Associate Director Plymouth)/ Chris Liddle (Chairman) / Nick Beecroft (Director) / Caroline Buckingham (Director) / Jeremiah The Bear (Jermiah’s Journey)/ Karen Mosley (Director)/ John Clarke (Director) / Mark Staniland (Director) / Richard O’Neil (Director)

Over 130 guests enjoyed wine and delicious barbequed food with live music entertainment provided by Chairman of HLM, Chris Liddle on guitar and his daughter singer, Faye Liddle. A charity raffle on the night saw much needed funds pledged to Jeremiah’s Journey.  This added to donations received from the HLM fun day event held in August, raising a total of £850 for this local worthy cause.

Click here: Glen King PR's Facebook for social diary pictures from the event! 

www.hlmarchitects.com

Hansom - Plaudits And Brickbats

There’s a lot to celebrate this week – both at the Holcim Awards in Moscow and at HLM’s 50th.
Elsewhere, though, the industry is in the dock and a hideous building gets planning approval in Brum.

Original Article

Taking shots

It’s not every day my hacks get to knock back vodka shots in a grand neo-classical Moscow building built in the time of Catherine the Great while overlooking the Kremlin, but that’s exactly the situation one of them found themselves enjoying last week. The journalist in question was a guest of Aggregate Industries, UK arm of Swiss building products giant Holcim, on the European leg of its global Holcim Awards to celebrate innovation in sustainability (see page 15) at Moscow’s famous Pashkov House. Russian hospitality was in abundance in the form of acrobatic circus acts, ballet performances and copious amounts of alcohol. The awards cycle is held every three years, probably because it takes that long for Holcim to save up for the party. Not that my man is complaining.

Back in the U.S.S.R.

An informal understanding of “don’t mention the Ukraine” was generally observed among guests at
the Holcim Awards. It should be said that our man in Moscow was made to feel very welcome by all the Russians he met during his stay. A couple of guests did nonetheless suggest that perhaps the long-in-the-making awards might have been held elsewhere had the hosts known what would unfold in the former Soviet bloc nation. A reminder of Russia’s former control of the country was never far away. The Soviet-era Radisson Royal Hotel that Holcim’s guests were staying in was called Hotel Ukraina.

Who’s the ugliest of them all?

What’s worse than designing the UK’s ugliest building? Perhaps it’s the local councillor saying
your plans are destined to become the UK’s ugliest building before they have even got
planning permission. Birmingham Councillor Barry Henley told the local press that Coventry
architect D5’s planned conversion of a thirties brick warehouse into fats was a “shoo-in” for next year’s Carbuncle Cup – run by Building’s sister publication Building Design. He told the Birmingham Post: “This is the ugliest building I have seen come forward for planning permission. The images are just utterly dreadful, it is hideous. “Having seen the Tesco in Woolwich win the award for Britain’s ugliest building, I would say this is a shoo-in for next year.” Planning officers were not deterred, however, and have since recommended the scheme – called, with apparently no irony, Concord House – and it has now been approved.


Trials and tribulations 

I am tempted to dust of my powdered wig to attend the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) mock trial next week. The HSE is inviting construction bosses to sit as judges for a pretend trial as a means of highlighting dangers in the work place and the possible consequences for directors of construction businesses. The trial will focus on a fctional prosecution arising from an incident wher an employee of a painting and decorating from working on a refurbishment project has suffered serious injuries after falling from height. The case will be heard by a real magistrate, and a qualifed legal team will prosecute and defend, just as would happen in a real case. It’s certainly a novel way of pressing home the point that we should never take these issues lightly– falls account for more than half of construction workplace deaths.

Call Dee Welsh on 0121 607 6129 for more information on the event.

Happy 50th

One of my staff recently helped judge architect HLM’s research and art competition held in
honor of the firm’s 50th anniversary. Entrants were asked to put together a piece of art that told
the story of one of the practice’s many buildings. The standard of entries was incredibly high but
architectural assistant Damien Doonan’s winning interpretation of the brief (left), which
featured the frm’s Broxbourne Civic Ofces, edged above the rest. There was some suggestion of bias as Damien had organised the competition, but my lackey and his fellow judges – none of whom knew who the entries belonged to – were unanimous. It was a worthy winner.

send any juicy industry gossip to hansom@ubm.com

Local Contractor Hands-Over New Medical Centre Refurbishment

Mark Dowse, Managing Director of MD Business Interiors hands over the newly refurbished Admiral House at Exeter Business Park to Exeter Medical Directors, Christopher Stone and David Olivier.  Exeter-based MD Business Interiors was successfully selected as project manager and refurbishment contractor for the substantial £350,000 contract to relocate Exeter Medical from their former premises at Exeter Airport Business Park to the new site in Grenadier Road.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ED MASH

Image 7065 – Christopher Stone (Director of Exeter Medical Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgeon) / David Oliver (Director of Exeter Medical Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgeon) / Mark Dowse ( Director of MD Business Interiors)

The ambitious expansion programme now offers additional office space, a larger reception, consulting rooms, a conference centre, three new operating theatres and a cosmetic suite. The extensive programme also included specialist air conditioning and an air exchange ventilation system. In addition, Exeter Medical also made further significant investment on medical equipment and furniture to furnish the new premises.  This includes a suite of medical lasers for the treatment of acne, sun damage and birthmark, thread veins and tattoo removal.

MD Business Interiors, which provides office furniture and complete commercial refurbishment services to create professional successful environments for business.  They are currently busy with a number of projects located at Pynes Hill, Marsh Barton Trading Estate and throughout the County as a whole.

The local company first worked for Exeter Medical in 2006 when fitting out the Exeter Airport premises before the company outgrew the space. The firm was fully responsible for the project from conception to completion including design, space planning, refurbishment, building works, office furniture and soft seating.  MD Business Interiors obtained the planning permission for change of use and also secured building regulations approval.  The project took a total of 14 weeks and was completed successfully on budget and within a very tight deadline.

Mark Dowse, Managing Director of MD Business Interiors says: “The Directors were very happy with the initial fit-out we undertook at Exeter Airport and as a result contacted us again to carry out all works for the new premises. The brief was to keep the same corporate style but on a much larger scale with a modern twist to include three new operating theatres. This meant working within the stringent Care Quality Commission (CQC) guidelines for surgeries and medical buildings with regular site inspections at various stages to check on standards of work and compliance. The design of this project and the pedestrian flow was crucial as visitors have to be guided to various areas, some with limited access. Our scope of works included the AutoCAD design and space planning, partitions, electrical and plumbing work, M&E (Mechanical & Engineering) installation, new office furniture, flooring and full decoration throughout.  It was a pleasure working on a diverse project with a high specification and with such interesting clients.” 

Exeter Medical is the South West’s premier independent healthcare and cosmetic centre.  Directors, Christopher Stone and David Olivier Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons are seen as pioneers in the medical world running their own business alongside their primary roles as well-respected surgeons.  With the larger and spacious new premises the company has been able to increase staff by around 50%, taking the number of personnel from 9‑13 plus two additional part-time employees.  Exeter Medical also welcomes a new collaboration with the Exeter Eye Ophthalmic Surgeons who share the Admiral House facility.

Christopher Stone, Director Exeter Medical said: “When we decided to upgrade new premises it was an easy decision to instruct Mark Dowse to project manage the re-fit as he designed and constructed our first clinic building.  Mark and his dedicated team fully understand the nature of our business, our objectives and company philosophy and we are absolutely delighted with the new building which came in on time and on budget.  Over a three month period, MD Business Interiors transformed a generic office building into a modern healthcare facility, which not only meets the clinical requirements for a range of medical and surgical specialties, but also offers beautiful and inspiring surroundings for both patients and staff alike.”

David Olivier, Director Exeter Medical further comments: “MD Business Interiors has worked very closely with us at all stages to produce a contemporary spacious healthcare environment. We are particularly pleased with the modern design of our dedicated cosmetic suite within the building and the state-of-the-art operating theatres.  It has enabled us to expand our comprehensive range of facilities even further, including the new eye surgery available from the well-respected Exeter Eye Ophthalmic Surgeons who now share our new premises.  It resolutely puts us at the forefront of the market place, firmly placing us as the premier independent healthcare and cosmetic centre in the South West.”

www.mdinteriorsdevon.com

www.exetermedical.co.uk