BSEE NEWS


The adequate pensions delusion


A new regular column from the fastest growing UK SME crowdlender in the UK


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f you think that because you have an


occupational or private pension you have enough to retire on, you may need to think again.


With most of these schemes there is a requirement within the rules that a large proportion of the money is held in very low-risk assets, such as Government Gilts, from which the return is between 0.1% and 1.35%, depending on the length of the term. This means it is almost impossible for these schemes to produce the returns to pay the pensions that members expect. If you joined a scheme 20 years ago, when interest rates were in double digits, you would have been advised that you and your employer would need to contribute enough to put £1m in your scheme to achieve a pension of £50,000. These days, because of the fall in interest rates, you would need around double that amount to get the same pension. The problem is that the tax-free size of contributions to a pension fund is capped at £1m; above that and you have to pay tax.


For all practical purposes, you cannot save enough in a pension scheme to get the pension you are looking for and it will not grow because


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For all practical purposes, you cannot save enough in a


pension scheme to get the pension you are looking for and it will not grow because the interest rates are too low. To get the type of retirement most business people are looking for, you will have to do something else.


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following its merger with Tyco, the fire and security solutions provider. The union of the building efficiency solutions company with Tyco positions Johnson Controls as a leader in products, technologies and integrated solutions for the buildings and energy sectors.


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With $30 billion in revenue and 117,000 employees (following the anticipated spin-off of the Adient automotive business this month), the development unites best-in-class product, technology and service capabilities across controls, fire, security, HVAC and energy storage, to serve end markets including


newly-formed Johnson Controls began operations last month (September)


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Johnson Controls and Tyco complete merger a month ahead of schedule


large institutions, government, commercial buildings, retail, industrial, small business and residential. In a press statement, the company says that Tyco and Johnson Controls’ buildings platforms create immediate opportunities for growth through cross- selling, complementary branch and distribution channel networks, and expanded global reach for established businesses.


“We are more than just two businesses that have come together – we are now one team uniquely positioned to create value,” said Alex Molinaroli, Johnson Controls’ Chairman and CEO. “Our combined insights and world class technologies will help build even smarter, more secure and more


sustainable environments that help our customers win and broadly move the world forward.”


As a result of the robust integration planning already in place, the company is on track to realise $1 billion of savings related to previously announced merger synergies and productivity initiatives.


“In addition to identifying significant synergies and improvements, our integration teams put us in position to complete the merger a month ahead of schedule so we can hit the ground running and realise the value of the merger for customers and shareholders,” said George R. Oliver, Johnson Controls’ President and Chief Operating Officer.


By Angus Dent,


CEO of peer to peer lending specialist ArchOver


the interest rates are too low. To get the type of retirement most business people are looking for, you will have to do something else. The best plan would be to build a portfolio across a wide variety of investments that offer higher interest.


Although secure high interest investments are rare at the moment, they are out there. For example, the ArchOver peer-to-peer platform provides lenders with secured and insured loans that return 6-7% pa, with the minimum loan amount being as low as £1,000 for periods as short as three months. The loans go to established companies with solid accounts receivable ledgers. Some people are already trying to make their own extra provision by getting into buy- to-let, but this is becoming unpopular with the Government because it is helping to push up house prices. Others are using their money for equity investments in start-ups and SMEs; not for the dividend return, but for the growth potential. This last is, of course, a high risk strategy, but that is not necessarily a bad thing, as long as it only forms a small part or your portfolio; the wider the portfolio, the greater the chance of sufficient income without catastrophic loss. uFor more information email angus.dent@archover.com or call 020 3021 8100.


www.archover.com


Financial engineering with ArchOver


Technologies has completed a high- pressure boiler make-up water treatment plant for Multifuel Energy Ltd’s new £300m power station at Ferrybridge, West Yorkshire.


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The station can generate 68MW of low carbon electricity using a range of fuels including municipal solid waste, commercial and industrial waste and waste wood.


In March, following a 12- month proving trial, the make-up water treatment plant was handed over to main contractor Hitachi Zosen Inova, whose Head of Energy Systems, Philipp


Veolia demineralisation plant for new Multifuel power station eolia Water


nuclear grade resin to meet the treated water


specification of conductivity <0.1µS/cm, silica <5µg/kg and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) <0.1µg/kg.


A mobile rig allows in situ cleaning of the RO


uVeolia Water Technologies’ bespoke high‐pressure boiler make‐up water treatment plant in situ at Multifuel Energy Ltd’s new £300m Ferrybridge power station.


Ziegler, was pleased with the result.


“The plant was delivered on schedule and it has


performed outstandingly,” he said.


The bespoke engineered plant was designed to treat a blend of borehole and towns mains water. It consists of two streams, each capable of


REL is awarded £1.76m design‐and‐build contract for office refurbishment


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EL Electrical has been awarded a £1.76m design-and- build contract for the refurbishment of a six- storey commercial building in the heart of London.


Appointed by Kershaw Mechanical Services, REL is currently onsite at Abacus House in Gutter Lane, close to St Paul’s underground station. The team is providing electrical services


throughout the 64,986 sq ft property, which is being upgraded into high- specification office space for tenants.


The 10-month project includes all power, data, security and access control installations as well as specialist lighting, including in the main reception area.


Toby Buckley, Managing Director at REL, said: “This is a high-end office fit out requiring close liaison with the project team to ensure the programme is managed


6 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER OCTOBER 2016


as effectively and efficiently as possible.


“Input from our senior management throughout the project combined with our directly employed workforce, will ensure that the work is delivered to the highest standard, on budget and on time.”


Kier is the main contractor for the project.


producing up to 8m3/h of high purity demineralised water, which can operate as duty/standby.


Each stream has duplex softeners and a MegaRO reverse osmosis unit followed by CEDI-VNX continuous electrodeionisation and final non-regenerable mixed bed polishers charged with


membranes. The plant is skid mounted to the highest possible degree and factory tested to reduce site installation time, and is fully compliant with Hitachi’s specifications. It is controlled by a motor control centre with a process control section using a Siemens S7-300 programmable logic controller which interfaces, via a Profibus DP


communication link, with the site DCS.


Former football star and electrician Stuart Pearce headlines at Live North


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ormer England football star Stuart Pearce will be guest speaker at this year’s NICEIC and ELECSA Live North event in Liverpool. Pearce was one of


England’s greatest ever left backs, making 78 caps for his country and more than 700 league appearances for clubs including Coventry City, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City.


Previously, Pearce was an electrician, once advertising his services in the Nottingham Forest programme and being asked to carry out some domestic work for the then manager, Brian Clough. Pearce will be discussing his time as an electrician along with some anecdotes from his football career.


Mark Smith, Marketing and Communications Director, said: “Over the last five years NICEIC and ELECSA Live has firmly established itself as the


leading event in the electrical contracting industry and we are delighted that Stuart will be joining us.


“His experience of life as an electrician and world class footballer will be an added attraction for everyone coming to this year’s event.” Live North takes place at Liverpool’s Aintree


Racecourse on November 24. www.niceic-elecsalive.com VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.bsee.co.uk


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