Company & Charity News


Who said women don’t want to work in construction? WORKING for a block-making company wasn’t necessarily Jade Homer’s intended career path - but the Psychology graduate could not be any happier at Besblock. The 23-year-old, originally from Kingswinford near Dudley, started working for


the Telford-based concrete block manufacturer in September 2016, having graduated from Aston University a year earlier. And the graduate trainee’s secret


to success at award-winning Besblock? “You need your wits about you


and you need to take a joke - we enjoy a harmless laugh and a joke sometimes, which I think underlines the strength and morale of the company,” said Jade. “I absolutely love it here - it’s so


friendly and so warm to new members of staff. “My colleagues are great to work


for. I was a bit nervous when I joined as I was the youngest and coming into a male environment. “I’d been for other jobs before I


joined Besblock. I graduated in 2015 so I’d been looking for a while.” “I never thought ‘I know, I’ll go


into block making’ but when I came for the interview it seemed like a nice company to work for. She added: “I did psychology at Aston for 4 years… I’ve not really had to use


that here but no matter what you learn at uni there is something you can bring to a company. It was a valuable experience to do those four years and a lot of those skills I’ve brought here. “I’ve really settled in. I’m happy here and it’s a well-known company in the sector, with a very strong reputation.


Revealed: The Trade Industry is the


UK’s Healthiest Profession TRADESPEOPLE are the healthiest workers in the UK, according to new research. The survey of 2,014 UK adults by IronmongeryDirect revealed that those


working in the trades such as plumbing, construction, and electrical installation are the healthiest workers in the UK. Due to the nature of their job, a tradesperson is active for up to 7 hours per


day, burning up to 2,500 calories - more than any other type of worker. And when it


comes to getting physical, trade workers are even healthier than health and fitness professionals. Despite the nature of their job, these workers are, in fact, the second healthiest in the UK,


being physically mobile for 5 hours per day. Unsurprisingly those working in offices are the most sedentary, with marketing,


information and communications, and call centre workers all failing to be active for an hour per day, burning less than 300 calories through work related activity. Wayne Lysaght-Mason, managing director of IronmongeryDirect said:


“Incorporating elements of a healthy lifestyle into your working day is essential. A balanced diet, regular breaks, fresh air, and moderate exercise are important. “Those with active jobs, such as individuals working in the trade industry,


should ensure they are consuming the correct number of calories to avoid running out of fuel during busy or strenuous days. However, those with lower activity levels should also be conscious of what they eat, being aware that they are burning less energy.” For more information, please visit: www.IronmongeryDirect.co.uk


26 ToolBUSINESS+HIRE


Centurion Looks to the Future with Launch of ‘Clarity Counts’


University Centurion, the leading above-the-neck personal protective equipment specialist, has unveiled a brand-new training and product-innovation suite at its global headquarters in Thetford, United Kingdom. The six-figure investment in the Clarity Counts University - and other


substantial improvements in the head office - will provide customers and employees with a dedicated education and training centre offering the very best insight and understanding of above-the-neck safety standards and Centurion’s innovative product range. Officially opened on Wednesday 10th May by Bill Davis, a former Director of


the business, development of the Clarity Counts University forms part of a wider investment at the Thetford headquarters to support Centurion’s current growth and future ambitions. This includes several new


meeting rooms that have been specifically designed to host customers; a new open- office design that extends across two storeys, with 12 additional workspaces; a variety of factory refurbishments including revamped rest facilities; LED lighting, and other energy- saving investments across all the production and warehouse areas. Recent investment in a new brand identity for Centurion has also been bought


to life through signage at the front of the building and bold imagery throughout the interior. Jeff Ward, CEO at Centurion, said, “The renewed building and showrooms


mark an exciting chapter for us. It’s a chance for us to strengthen relationships and create strategic partnerships with our customers and suppliers, ensure we offer the best training in a future-thinking working environment, and showcase our range of premium product solutions.”


Four-month wait for good builders,


new research reveals Home owners should book in their builder at least four months before their project begins or risk working with a cowboy, new research from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has revealed. The research also shows that an alarming number of consumers don’t ask their


builders for essentials such as a contract or references when embarking upon a major piece of building work. Key statistics from the research show: 90% of builders say that the majority of home owners do not ask for a written


contract; 80% of builders report that most consumers do not ask for an agreed payment


schedule; Fewer than 10% of builders say that clients normally request to see vital


insurance policies such as public liability or employer’s liability insurance Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “If a builder is free to start work


tomorrow, alarm bells should ring. Demand for building work is incredibly high right now and it should be no surprise that almost one in two builders need to be contacted at least four months in advance of when a client is looking to start a home improvement project.” Berry added: “The vast majority of builders say that most clients fail to ask for


references and even fewer ask for a written contract on their work. There is a similar trend when it comes to asking for critical things like an agreed payment schedule and key warranties on work, as well as checking whether the builder has any external accreditation from professional trade association like the FMB. A quality builder will insist on these things and if they don’t, consumers ought to question why.”


www.toolbusiness.co.uk


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