Company News Roundup: 11 March 2014

Unite eyes 10 towns for student schemes after £100m share issue

Student accommodation developer Unite has announced plans to raise £100m through a share issue partly to fund new projects.

Progress at Nestle's Coffee Manufacturing Centre

Progress for O'Brien at Nestle's £200 Million Coffee Manufacturing Centre O'Brien Contractors have been at the heart of the construction for Nestle's new £200 million coffee manufacturing centre, the project is progressing well into 2014. After one year of construction the buildings are substantially in place. Site clearing started in January 2013 and over the summer the building frames were constructed with cladding commencing in late 2013. Some of the large processing equipment was installed in late 2013 with the majority due for installation in 2014.

New electricity, gas and water supplies are being brought to site to support the increased scale of the factory however the new installation is the most energy efficient factory of it's type to have been built by Nestle. As the factory is seen as a long term investment in a manufacturing centre, the size and durability of the factory have been designed accordingly. The concrete frames provide significant fire protection compared to steel frames and the cladding is designed to diminish noise emission as well as insulate the building. Over 300 hundred people are active on the site each day and in 2013 there were no lost time accidents.

The project team have strong safety management procedures in place and contractors are selected with a strong emphasis being given to their safety track record. The new Nescafe building will be fully operational late 2014 and already the first new starters have joined, spending their first fortnight working through the factory induction process and then moving onto the general overview of coffee manufacture before specialising.

ISG's order book soars 26% but construction profits dip

ISG's order book has swollen by more than £200m, but operating profit from construction fell nearly £600,000 to £100,000 in the final six months of 2013 compared with the same period in 2012.

Balfour Beatty looks to invest after 'disappointing' 2013

Balfour Beatty is on the look-out to invest in new UK schemes, after a “disappointing” 2013, according to UK chief executive Nick Pollard.

 UK construction performance was highlighted in the group’s 2013 results as having dragged down its performance, and Mr Pollard admitted it had underperformed.

Source: Construction News. Visit the Balfour Beatty page on Glenigan.