Construction Surgo Pick up £ 3.5m contract

Construction SURGO took two contracts worth more than £ 3.5m despite the industry's current tough market. Companies based in Newcastle has won the ISO Housing scheme in North Tyneside for £ 2.23m and £ 1.3 million contract for improvements at Redcar Community College. Work with Coronation Street housing site in Wallsend ISO related. As the prime contractor, has been awarded a contract Surgo 35-week build wood-framed, brick-faced building. The area consists of 28 apartments on the fourth floor and Surgo also built two houses and two Tyneside-style apartments on the site. The company works on ISO on several occasions, including the form of the closure of 16 bungalows and protection of domestic violence. Lea Smith, development and regeneration manager for ISO Housing, said: "We are very pleased to be working with Coronation Street Surgo After a successful partnership projects in the past. "We believe the scheme was delivered on time and within budget." This contract is another new Surgo for Redcar Community College is a 21-week project to repair the front facade of the existing building and provide accommodation for Adult Learning Service. Scheduled for completion by the end of August the project. The company, recognized throughout the region as a building contractor established in the education sector, working with a large contract with the city. It has developed an innovative £ 8.3m Redcar Hub, to provide high-quality center and work space for the digital and creative industries from all over the place. Hub building is in a prominent position on the seafront Redcar and will help to create 60 new jobs and support 50 businesses. Surgo director Jeff Alexander said: "We continue to meet these challenges head and rejoice in the construction sector with the latest victory in what continues to be a challenging market. "Our reputation for reliability, quality and value for money are the most important when the market is very sensitive to price. "Quality is the foundation for our success in winning contracts across all sectors of our chosen markets." Our reputation for reliability, quality and value for money are the most important

Exposing the hidden dangers of asbestos

During the months of February and March 2012, Health and Safety Executive campaign targeted inspection visit more than 3,200 sites in the UK repairs. Here in the North East, a total of 215 inspectors visited the site and had to take formal enforcement action at 56 sites with a better enforcement of the notice given to inhibit the activity of work, or to get things to put right. Worryingly 30 of this notice is related to the issue of asbestos. Ten prohibition notices to stop work provided a place where they have conducted asbestos surveys, or surveys are not adequate for the level of work performed. An additional 20 improvement notices provided requires workers trained in asbestos awareness. Asbestos was widely used in the construction industry until 1999 for a variety of uses. Furthermore, we have a legacy of buildings where asbestos-containing materials are present. Given that the material is in good condition, and not corrupt, it may be better to leave it. However, it became clear during the campaign hotfix, a number of these sites are evaluated, they are not aware of the work controlling their legal duties relating to asbestos and their businesses are not aware of the potential risk of work that they are exposed. Even where the whole obtrusive survey was done, was not found to contain asbestos materials can survive and become exposed only during work activities. It is a fact that exposure to asbestos fibers is the primary cause more than 4,000 premature deaths each year. It is also a fact that the number of newly diagnosed cases of asbestos-related disease in those who work in the construction industry. Therefore it is extremely important to reduce the possibility of personal exposure, widespread contamination and potentially exposing others to asbestos when doing work can release the asbestos fibers. Is not surprising then that there is a legal requirement for asbestos awareness training given to anyone who works could foreseeably expose them to asbestos. Asbestos awareness training should be provided to all demolition workers, trade workers repair, maintenance and allied suspect where their work will disturb the structure of the building. Training with the nature of asbestos, its effects on health, the type of asbestos, such as what, which can be used, emergency procedures must be disrupted and how to avoid the risk of exposure. Course asbestos awareness training is available locally and only take half a day to attend.

AIM companies surprisingly confident

LAST year was an important year for the North Eastern PLC. Over 12 months we lost five listed companies; EAGA, Wellstream, Northumbrian Water, Southern Cross and ROMAG. In it, the two businesses sold to foreign corporations - Wellstream U.S. company GE, and Northumbrian Water to Cheung Kong based in Hong Kong. Besides Arriva sold in the second half of 2010 with the German company Deutsche Bahn appears that the increase in global trade combined with the relative weakness of sterling British companies appear attractive price. Of the remaining companies in the North East 13 of them, more than half, listed on AIM. Although the company's current global economic turmoil AIM surprisingly confident about their prospects for PwC survey finds. Participants thought the AIM market has emerged leaner and fitter because of the recent shake-out of the company from the stock exchange. But companies should consider developing a 'Plan B' to address the impact of renewed recession. Thriving in the AIM report, PwC found that the average target for revenue growth over the next 12 months is 24%, some way to continue the surveys comparable FTSE 250 companies (on average 12% growth target) and private companies (an average of 18 % growth target). One in five AIM companies are looking to expand turnover of more than 50% next year, due to higher expectations may have been tempered by fears of higher market months earlier. There are some encouraging signs about profitability, but also a real danger that AIM companies use aggressive growth strategy can be obtained with the recent global macroeconomic events and fall back into recession. An important finding in the survey of AIM companies we look into new geographic markets as a source of growth seen in the U.S. (28%) and the EU (24%) as their main focus. In the euro zone difficulties recently and the issues that are taking place in the U.S. economy, I would encourage more companies to consider the AIM market of developing countries as a potential market for growth. Almost all of the companies in our survey recognized the importance of strong growth story in the win over investors. However, most felt that the maintenance of effective relationships with investors is the toughest challenges they face. 28% believe that investors are looking for greater transparency 21% of respondents think investors are looking for good corporate governance 4% of investors think wanting more diversity of their boards. Small AIM company is always easy to disinvestment in difficult economic conditions. But with a hostile market, it is essential that all AIM companies will continue to focus on effective communications market and maintain the highest possible standards of governance and transparency. The government has an important role to play in supporting investment in AIM companies which may be an important part of our economic recovery. AIM companies calling the tax system simpler, lower rates of corporate tax and labor and higher investment incentives. They also recognize the importance of a skilled workforce and recognize the investment in education as a priority for the government.

Uncertainty slows the completion of the deal, but price increases in 2010

Paul Makin, corporate finance partner at PwC researching deals for North East market in 2010. :: Click here to download the 2010 Annual Survey of Deal - around the table Despite a strong start to the year and the overall volume of transactions in the past year, transaction activity remains quiet towards the end of 2010, the majority shareholder in the company's North East is shown by the UK-based and international trade buyers. There were 141 deals completed in 2010 with the completion of the traditional end-year deal likely not materialize. The last three months of this year remained static at 21 companies bought or sold only in the region. This may be due in part to slow down the activity of the uncertainty surrounding the Government Spending Review in October. Although some subsequent transactions completed before the end of the year, the majority are not sophisticated enough to be completed before the beginning of 2011. Disclosed deal value for the year 2010 is significant but up to two years to nearly £ 2.03bn although most of the increase is for 1.6 billion pounds acquisition by Arriva. It is the biggest deal in the region for nearly four years. Deutsche Bahn announced the acquisition of Arriva agreed in April to take over the course of Tyne and Wear Metro earlier this year. North East companies continue to attract strong interest from trade buyers despite the uncertainty surrounding the impact of public sector cuts. Lancashire-based Daisy has two local businesses during the first half of 2010 to spend more than £ 14m, BNS Telecom in February and Fone Logistics in June. Stadium Group disposed plastics division, based in Kent EUROPLAST gas cooker for £ 2.5m in June and also insurance intermediary Cullum Capital Ventures three North East businesses acquired in the current year.