RECENT NEWS

The government could tighten up the rules restricting the use of global warming refrigerant gases – including speeding up phase-out programmes and introducing new bans, according to a spokesman from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

The trade body for Britain’s pest control industry says tackling issues with vermin in hospitals will become a greater challenge, ‘due to legislation affecting control methods in the sector’.

The official launch of a new Standard for building safety was held today (1 May) at the House of Lords, at an event hosted by his Lordship the Earl of Lindsay (pictured).

A new 44-bedded inpatient mental health hospital for women has officially opened in Oldham, creating 135 local jobs – from clinical and nursing positions to catering, domestics, and administrative roles.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting (pictured), has announced what he dubbed ‘a comprehensive support package to tackle violence and improve the working lives of NHS staff’.

The simple act of looking at a piece of visual art can boost wellbeing, a new research study has found – with the benefit gained just as much in a hospital setting as in an art gallery.

Allianz Engineering has introduced a new inspection service for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.

New Jersey-headquartered, The Clarient Group, which describes itself as ‘a leader in smart building consulting and technology engineering’, has joined architecture, engineering, and design firm, CannonDesign.

Roads, railways, schools, and hospitals, will be delivered more efficiently as the government ‘gets a grip’ on vital infrastructure delays, and ‘goes further and faster to kickstart economic growth and improve the lives of working people across the country’, with the recent announcement of the creation of the new National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA).

VES, which supplies and manufactures air-handling, heat recovery, and supply and extract units for public, commercial, and industrial buildings across the UK, has announced the recent addition of Ben and Will Peters as shareholders and directors of its holding company, Ventilating Equipment Supply Holdings.

Compliance Group, a UK specialist in integrated safety and regulatory compliance across electrical, fire, and water, has announced the appointment of Sarah Dixon (pictured) as its new CEO.

Pinpoint, which manufactures staff alarm systems ‘for high-risk workplaces’, has launched a new website to mark what the Leven-based business says is a ‘fresh direction’ as it seeks to drive sales of its ‘cutting-edge’ P2 System.

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has announced the appointment of Paul Eagle (pictured), Executive Board Technical director at BESA member company, Dalkia UK, as the new Chair of its Technical Committee.

Stannah Lifts is calling on businesses and Facilities managers to ‘act now’ and upgrade their lift communications systems to ensure that they are ready for the UK’s new high-speed, GSM digital network.

Cistermiser, a leading UK provider of water and energy saving management solutions, says it welcomes the launch of Ofwat’s £100 million Water Efficiency Fund ‘as a crucial investment in securing the UK’s future water supply’.

NHS staff at Scarborough Hospital’s Emergency Department have recently welcomed a new ‘colleague’ – a research robot called DAISY.

Babor Qureshi (pictured), just appointed by Stephen George + Partners (SGP) as Principal architect in the practice’s Healthcare team, based at its Leeds office, brings over 18 years’ experience to the AJ100 practice, primarily in the healthcare sector – working closely with NHS Trusts and contractors across the UK.

Vantify, claimed to be ‘the first UK-based full service compliance software ecosystem’, has launched today (31 March) as part of a multimillion pound investment in its technology.

Community Health Partnerships (CHP) has appointed Stephen Talboys, Chief Operating Officer – Campus 2030 for the Open University (pictured), as its new Chief Property Officer – an executive and Board Director position.

‘Hundreds’ of schools, NHS Trusts, and communities across the UK will benefit from new rooftop solar power and renewable schemes to save money on their energy bills, thanks to a total £200 million investment from the UK government and Great British Energy, it was announced on 21 March.