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Author: Siobhan Martin

NEWS | Keystone Group launch ‘Future First’ Sustainability Strategy

Posted on by Siobhan Martin

The Keystone Group is delighted to launch its sustainability strategy, Future First, outlining how it is building decarbonisation into all business operations on its path to becoming one of the first UK manufacturers in the construction sector to achieve carbon net zero. 

Founded on the pillars of Our Planet, Our Products and Our People, Future First represents Keystone’s passion and commitment to driving sustainability in every aspect of its business to help create a better future for everyone. Under the Science Based Targets Initiative, a global organisation responsible for setting the world’s targets to ensure a more sustainable future, Keystone has embarked on a journey of monitoring and improving its carbon emissions and has committed to the ambitious target of becoming Net Zero by 2050.

Each brand within the Keystone Group has set targets to reduce their operational impact as well as source responsible materials, whilst continuing to deliver  innovative solutions at minimal expense.

Sean Coyle, Keystone Group Chairman said: “Our journey to becoming a sustainable business is a critical objective for all Keystone Group brands as we progress towards 2030 and beyond. We all have a key role to play in achieving this objective.”

Jemma Ison, Group Sustainability Manager said: “With the built environment and construction sectors accounting for around 38% of global carbon emissions, the journey to becoming a sustainable manufacturing business holds greater significance than ever before. We are delighted to be launching our Future First sustainability strategy, which demonstrates the steps we are taking on our route to net zero.  This is essential for our customers and for the future of the built environment.”

Keystone recognises the importance, as well as the urgency, to focus on protecting our environment by improving its business operations. At a critical juncture for our planet, Keystone is playing a part in this global challenge by operating responsibly and putting our future first.

To find out more about the Keystone Group’s Sustainability Strategy visit www.keystonefuturefirst.co.uk.

NEWS | Innovating Times Issue Four Now Available

Posted on by Siobhan Martin

Issue four of Keystone Group’s inspiring architect magazine, Innovating Times, is now available online.

The Keystone Group is the UK’s largest steel lintel manufacturer and Europe’s fastest-growing roof window manufacturer. Comprising 13 market-leading brands, the company has grown to its present position in the marketplace by establishing a reputation for the reliable supply of quality specialist products and its continuous focus on innovation.

The architect-aimed magazine Innovating Times, first published in 2017, features interviews, blogs, insights, and case study examples of Keystone Group’s brand innovations, and fulfils its usual remit to inform, educate and entertain.

Sean Og Coyle, Commercial Director at Keystone Group, said: “We’re delighted to publish our latest issue of Innovating Times. From interviews with architects to explorations of how our brand’s products are meeting the demands of today’s architecture, the magazine features some fantastic content we hope you will enjoy reading.”

Icon DownloadDownload Innovating Times Issue Four

 

NEWS | Supporting rising construction stars with sponsorship of Skillbuild 2023

Posted on by Siobhan Martin

The Keystone Group has been announced as the main sponsor of SkillBuild 2023, the largest and longest-running construction skills competition in the UK.

The contest has support from four companies within the Keystone Group: IG Masonry Support, Keyfix, IG Lintels, and Keystone Lintels. Each brand will not only be lending their name to the competition, they will provide their industry-leading products to ensure entrants are well-equipped to showcase their skills.

Owen Coyle, Divisional CEO, Keystone Group said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring this year’s SkillBuild event. It’s a fantastic contest featuring talented apprentices and trainees of all ages. The construction industry is in real need of new, skilled recruits. SkillBuild provides an excellent platform to showcase new construction talent, as well as act as a catalyst to inspire others to take up tools and join the industry.”

Organised by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), SkillBuild pits entrants against each other in a contest involving 13 regional qualifying heats. The one-day events will test competitors on their technical abilities, time management, problem-solving and skills working under pressure. Winners from each qualifier will be invited to take part in the SkillBuild National Finals, taking place in November 2023.

Ten trade categories will be contested in SkillBuild: bricklaying, carpentry, joinery, painting and decorating, plastering, plastering and drywall systems, roof slating and tiling, stonemasonry, wall and floor tiling and furniture and cabinet making. Level 1 competitions are also available in wall and floor tiling and bricklaying.

A recent CITB  ‘Construction Skills Network’ (CSN) report states that nearly 225,000 additional workers will be required to meet UK construction demand by 2027. Despite the current economic challenges, the report states that demand for new recruits in the building industry will remain high.

The Keystone Group’s commitment to addressing the building industry skills shortfall includes the launch of ‘Keyskills’, a brand-new education initiative providing support to skill-up a new generation of bricklayers in UK and Ireland. The initiative, also involving Keystone Group’s IG Masonry Support, Keyfix, Keystone Lintels, and IG Lintels, showcases a wide range of construction methods through free training support and materials. It’s a generous offering that is designed to focus on relieving financial pressures on education establishments to allow extra funding for the development and recruitment of bricklaying training courses.

Owen Coyle continued: “We see it as our duty to help inspire young people and show them that traditional trades offer a career that is fulfilling and rewarding. It is vital that we continually bring generation after generation into the fold for construction; it brings fresh new ideas and adds energy to our industry. The flipside, an aging workforce that will never be able to keep up with demand. That is why we whole heartedly believe in Keyskills. Every ‘brickie’ counts!”

To take advantage of the new Keyskills programme, visit our Keyskills page to find out more.

EVENT | Exhibiting at CABE Built Environment Conferences 2023

Posted on by Siobhan Martin

The Keystone Group is pleased to announce that its companies IG Masonry Support, Keystone Lintels, IG Lintels and Keyfix are exhibiting at the CABE Built Environment series of regional conferences for 2023.

The Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) is redefining its conference season, and is introducing six new events as part of its new Built Environme

nt Series. The CABE event programme consists of four major regional events across the UK, taking place in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Each event will showcase the expertise of both regional and national professionals, providing attendees with a valuable experience. Distinguished guest speakers from various disciplines will share their insights, engaging in topical discussions and interactive Q&A sessions. Moreover, participants will have the chance to network with industry professionals and suppliers during the trade exhibition, facilitating connections and collaboration.

The first event in the series will be Built Environment England, which will take place at the University of Salford on Tuesday 20th June, followed by Built Environment Wales at Cardiff Metropolitan University on 22nd June.

The Built Environment England Technical Conference will focus on themes of performance, compliance and safety. The discussion will look at key areas of the built environment sector, including the challenges presented by the journey to net zero carbon and the new duty holder regime. The event not only offers the opportunity to learn from a variety of speakers, attendees have the opportunity to explore the trade exhibition and network with other professionals. The event will conclude with the opportunity to tour the Energy House 2.0 facility developed by the University of Manchester. Energy House 2.0 is currently the largest test and research facility focusing on fuel-efficient technologies in Europe.

In support of the Group’s mission to create smart construction solutions beyond equal, Keystone’s companies will be exhibiting at the conferences. The Keystone Group comprises eight brands located across four regions, boasting a workforce of over 1,000 dedicated employees. Their collective commitment to innovation and providing outstanding customer service unites them. By consistently challenging the status quo and embracing innovations, the Keystone Group has emerged as the largest manufacturer of steel lintels in the UK and Ireland, as well as the fastest-growing manufacturer of roof windows in Europe.

Sean Og Coyle, Commercial Director of Keystone Group commented: “I am excited to announce that the Keystone Group companies, Keyfix, Keystone Lintels, IG Lintels, and IG Masonry Support, will be exhibiting at the CABE Built Environment conferences for 2023. These regional events provide a valuable experience, featuring guest speakers, topical discussions, and networking opportunities. We are looking forward to connecting with our peers, sharing knowledge and contributing to the advancement of the industry.”

Icon DownloadFind out more and book your place

 

 

NEWS | Gold Series Volume 2: Available Now

Posted on by Siobhan Martin

IG Masonry Support, dedicated to delivering intelligent engineering with offsite craftsmanship, has launched it’s Gold Series Volume 2’, highlighting its most prestigious and award-winning projects.

The ‘Gold Series’ celebrates IG’s ability to push the boundaries of design, delivering innovative masonry support including solutions that create the illusion of floating soffits of brickwork hidden under steel. Following the success of Volume 1 launched in December 2018, Volume 2 has been published to showcase up-to-date projects from 2019 to 2023.

The range of bespoke masonry support solutions offered by IG Masonry Support delivers design versatility, helping architects and brickwork contractors to achieve intricate brick detailing and complex bond patterns using offsite technology.

IG’s product range is manufactured within a strict quality-controlled environment, using a consignment of the brick being used onsite to guarantee the product blends seamlessly with the surrounding brickwork. It is then delivered to site ready for installation helping to speed up the pace of construction and reducing the need for onsite labour.

The ‘Gold Series’ explores a range of projects demonstrating IG’s ability to develop offsite solutions for a wide variety of applications including schools, large residential and commercial developments, and private luxury residences.

Scott Denham, Sales Director at IG Masonry Support, commented: “We are delighted to launch Volume 2 of our ‘Gold Series’, showcasing the incredible projects and finite architectural details which have been made possible with IG’s technical expertise.

“IG Masonry Support strives to deliver high-quality products using offsite craftsmanship. Our team works very closely with architects and contractors to deliver innovative masonry support solutions for the projects featured in the ‘Gold Series’ and acknowledges the people involved in all these projects.”

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NEWS | IG Masonry Support sponsors AJ Architecture Awards 2023

Posted on by Siobhan Martin

IG Masonry Support is proud to be sponsoring the AJ Architecture Awards for 2023.

In its sixth year, the prestigious awards celebrate and reward design excellence in UK architecture and highlight the very best projects across 17+ categories from housing, health, and wellbeing to workplace and cultural projects.

IG Masonry Support has chosen to sponsor the Masterplan category which rewards an overarching vision for a new development that creates a new building ensemble or neighbourhood.

Scott Denham, Sales Director of IG Masonry Support said: “IG Masonry Support is delighted to be sponsoring the AJ Architecture Awards for the first time. After visiting the awards ceremony in the past two years, we identified that these awards are a great opportunity to recognise the talented architects we have in the UK and whom we have the pleasure of working with on a range of projects.”

The shortlist is expected to be announced in August and the winners will be revealed at a celebratory event that will take place on 22 November 2023 at London Hilton Metropole.

To book your place for the event, visit www.awards.architectsjournal.co.uk.

EVENT | IG Masonry Support presents ‘Ministry of Masonry’ at CDW 2023

Posted on by Siobhan Martin

Join IG Masonry Support as they host the hottest party of Clerkenwell Design Week 2023, Ministry of Masonry.

Clerkenwell Design Week is the UK’s leading design festival and go-to event for architects and interior designers in London. Hosted over three days (23 – 25 May 2023), visitors can explore the world’s leading design brands, undiscovered talent, specially commissioned installations, and brand activations as well as hundreds of design-led events, workshops, talks, parties, showroom presentations, and more.

‘Ministry of Masonry’, hosted by IG Masonry Support – designers and manufacturers of the most practical and advanced range of stainless steel masonry support products and revolutionary brick slip soffit systems – will take place on Wednesday 24th May from 6 pm till late at EH Smith Design Centre on St John Street. The party will invite visitors of Clerkenwell Design Week to relax and enjoy the surrounding design excellence with DJs, saxophonists, and free food and drinks.

Prior to the party, IG Masonry Support will also host a design-led presentation from 5-6 pm exploring how their prefabricated Brick Slip Feature Arches contributed to the success of Radley College Chapel’s recent extension build.

Siobhan Martin, Senior Brand Executive of IG Masonry Support said: “Clerkenwell Design Week is always a fantastic opportunity to explore and discover products that contribute to the architectural excellence we see in buildings throughout the UK.

“IG Masonry Support is thrilled to be going bigger and better this year by hosting these two exciting events supported by our longstanding partners, EH Smith Architectural Solutions. We hope visitors will enjoy exploring the EH Smith showroom, learning about our offsite solutions, and relaxing with some food and drink in hand.”

Clerkenwell Design Week is free to attend and anyone planning to attend should check out a full programme of events and register for their free visitor badge at clerkenwelldesignweek.com

BLOG | Prefabricated masonry techniques elevate brick’s status as a sustainable building material

Posted on by Siobhan Martin

Brick is one of the world’s most sustainable building materials. Reliable, durable, and recyclable, bricks’ evolution as a low-impact product has been hastened by the introduction of increasingly innovative masonry support systems. As Jemma Ison (Keystone Group Sustainability Manager and IG Masonry Support Specification Executive) highlights, these prefabricated techniques have not only expanded the architect’s palette in terms of brickwork design, they have advanced and simplified the build process to give bricks a sustainable advantage over other established materials.

Masonry is a classic and timeless building material that achieves superior, maintenance-free results. Utilising masonry in prominent areas can be essential to delivering an architect’s overall vision, or fulfilling a client’s brief to ensure a project remains in keeping with the local surroundings. Brick Slip Systems are adaptable to suit any application. Ideal for small openings over window heads but also deliver effortless results spanning an entrance of a commercial building. Whatever the desired finish, IG Masonry Support‘s prefabricated units provide high-quality results at low environmental impact.

Time and energy saver

The average time it takes to create intricate masonry details with prefabricated brick slip solutions is estimated to reduce time by 90% in comparison to traditional onsite methods. As well as the time-saving factor there are many other benefits associated with offsite production, from improved construction efficiencies and reduced onsite waste to minimal site impacts due to the fit-and-forget design. Furthermore, a prefabricated unit is produced in line with manual handling guidelines. Therefore, designed to be easily managed and handled onsite. This eliminates the consumption of any fuel or electricity needed to aid the installation process.

Skills shortage

Whilst highlighting the direct and indirect sustainable benefits of these prefabricated methods, it is also a recognised challenge that traditional techniques require the services of a highly-skilled bricklayer. In the current climate, this might not be an appointment that is easy to secure. The bricklaying sector, as with the construction industry as a whole, is in the midst of a well-publicised skills shortage. Indeed, the Construction Skills Network (CSN) has forecast a need for 1,450 more bricklayers per year over the next five years to help fulfil UK building projects. Therefore, it could mean an appropriately-qualified bricklayer travelling many miles to work on a particular project, a journey that would incur additional fuel consumption and environmental impacts.

Natural hindrances to efficient brick detailing 

When it comes to achieving intricate brick details, a building site is far from the ideal environment. Poor weather can hamper high-quality workmanship and build consistency. This can lead to reworks and additional project time, cost, and material waste. Whereas offsite manufacture takes place in a controlled environment, enabling products such as brick slip systems to be produced with greater skill and accuracy.

Safe and adaptable solution  

Due to their A1 fire-rated finish, IG Masonry Support’s prefabricated brick slip products provide peace of mind to specifiers due to their reliability and compliance with building regulations. The product range includes the company’s ultra-lightweight brick on soffit system, B.O.S.S A1. A component building part, the product’s superb performance is supplemented by its sustainable credentials, which are supported by its carbon neutral classification. In addition, IG Masonry Support’s Brick Slip Arches have increased design options for architects looking to use masonry in evermore striking and imaginative ways. Manufactured offsite, the Brick Slip Arches are bespoke designed to order, and delivered to site replete with brick slips adhesively bonded to a stainless-steel unit. These lightweight units facilitate fast and efficient installation and integrate seamlessly with brickwork constructed onsite.

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Environmental Product Declarations

IG Masonry Support is committed to becoming a net-zero carbon business in line with the Science Based Targets. Its adoption of Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) is further evidence of its sustainable ambition. The company is the UK’s first masonry support supplier to issue EPDs on its products, thus providing full transparency of their environmental impact. The declarations are in accordance with GreenBook Live EPD system.

A Type III environmental label, an EPD is generated using data obtained through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). This is performed via a peer reviewed Product Category Rules document (PCR) in line with EN 15804 (the European Standard for the generation of EPD for construction products), ISO 14025, and other related international standards.

Dual benefit

In terms of their installation, IG Masonry Support is the only UK manufacturer to offer a solution that has dual security using an A1 fire-rated adhesive as well as a secondary stainless steel mechanical fix, providing safety and added aesthetic consistency.

In short, prefabricated brick slip systems are ideal for wherever an intricate brick detail is required. Their specification and installation are made all the easier and more effective through engagement with a prefabricated brick slip specialist such as IG Masonry Support. The company’s single point of contact controls the design, pricing, and manufacturing process, providing tentative support and expert communication throughout a project.

Quality, consistency, and greater sustainability are the ultimate outcomes of the correct specification of prefabricated brick slip solutions, which are gaining in popularity as developers and architects look to expand the use of one of the world’s oldest, most reliable building materials.

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NEWS | Bond between businesses and schools helps inspire a new generation of construction-based talent

Posted on by Siobhan Martin

An enterprising tie-in between businesses and local schools is bearing fruit by helping students gain a foot on the career ladder whilst addressing the construction industry’s recruitment crisis. 

Leading masonry support manufacturer, IG Masonry Support, based in Swadlincote, Derbyshire has taken on three employees from nearby Pingle Academy. It follows the company’s joining of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, which connects employers and education in the east Midlands area. Over the past 10 years the government-backed initiative has secured £1.5 billion investment and 20,000 jobs across the region.

The programme has been a resounding success for IG Masonry Support and its Managing Director Andy Neal, who was recruited as a D2N2 Enterprise Advisor in 2021.  He said: “When I was approached to a be a Career Enterprise Advisor, I didn’t really know what the role entailed. But I was interested in linking-up with a local school to help benefit the local community. It was also an opportunity to see if the Academy had a pool of talent that could benefit IG Masonry Support.”

Prior to the first meeting between the school and IG Masonry Support, an impromptu survey revealed that nine senior staff from across the company were educated at Pingle Academy. With many of the teachers still known to the former students, it enabled a beneficial partnership to rapidly establish between the two parties. It’s led to IG Masonry Support’s ex-Pingle Academy employees returning to their alma mater to give lectures on their post-education progress in the construction-based manufacturing sector.

Deb Holland, Assistant Principal at Pingle Academy, said the former students were as ‘delighted’ to revisit their old seat of learning, as the Academy was to host them. “It’s great to see that our students have gone on to do fabulous things,” she said. “It’s also quite special that they’ve given up their time to come and talk to current students. Hearing first-hand their account of what they’ve achieved at IG Masonry Support and what career options the company offers has helped to inspire students to follow in their footsteps.”

A key element of the mutually beneficial partnership is current Pingle Academy students being able to take part in pre-arranged tours of IG Masonry Support Group’s state-of-the-art production facility. One such visit led to an appointment that defies protocol and generally involves young talent being headhunted by an employer.

“Charlie, a Pingle Academy school leaver, managed to obtain my email address,” Andy Neal said. “His message was fairly succinct and straight to the point and essentially read, ‘I want to work for your business’. The direct approach paid dividends for Charlie who is currently making great strides as an apprentice at IG Masonry Support.

Statistics spell trouble in meeting future building needs

The ongoing skills shortage throughout the UK building industry has reached ‘alarming’ proportions, according to a recent Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) survey. It showed 75% of contractors had issues recruiting skilled operatives, a statistic that will do nothing to assist the government’s plan to tackle the country’s long-running housing shortage.

The UK’s journey to net-zero could also be impacted by a lack of building talent if a survey conducted by Balfour Beatty and the Supply Chain Sustainability (SCSS) is anything to go by. Of the 270 supply chain members in England, Ireland and Wales contacted for the report between August and October 2022, 96% of respondents said they had a shortfall in access to skilled people in the construction sector to meet net zero by 2050.

The building sector’s struggle to replace retirees with younger operatives is partly to blame for its diminishing talent pool. It highlights the need for greater links between employers and places of education to inspire a new generation to take up tools to help meet the country’s future infrastructural needs.

Andy Neal continued: “I would certainly advise other businesses to engage with their local schools. We can provide real-world experience in a range of jobs that also cater for non-academic youngsters. Gone are the days when construction-based firms could expect to have hundreds of career-hungry school leavers beat a path to their door. As a sector we are competing with many other trades and interests to attract the best young recruits.

“The Local Enterprise Partnership has been a superb vehicle in allowing us to get in front of students to promote ourselves as a business and as a viable career option. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Pingle Academy for its incredible support in establishing a relationship that I trust will remain beneficial to ourselves, the students and the wider community for many years to come.”

 

 

 

EVENT | Free CPD Webinar Series for 2023

Posted on by Siobhan Martin

IG Masonry Support announces the launch of a free Continuous Professional Development (CPD) webinar series for 2023. The series features both of IG’s current CPDs; ‘Achieving Intricate Brick Features’ and Specifying Sustainability.

The first webinar ‘Specifying Sustainability’ will take place on Thursday 20th April from 12 – 12:30 pm and will be led by our Specification Executive, Jemma Ison. Jemma will explore how offsite construction and conscious material selection can promote a circular economy. During the 30-minute webinar, she will delve deep into the global challenge and the need to decarbonise our sector, awareness of the sustainable benefits of offsite construction solutions, sustainable material selection to promote a circular economy, and how the Keystone Group is proactively delivering Net Zero applications.

Two webinar sessions will be available per month throughout the whole of 2023. As well as the ‘Specifying Sustainability’ CPD, on offer is also our ‘Achieving Intricate Brick Features’ CPD. This webinar explores brick soffit systems and the support of masonry cladding on framed buildings.

Jemma Ison, Specification Executive and Keystone Group Sustainability Manager commented: “IG Masonry Support recognises the importance of architects, specifiers, and engineers keeping abreast of modern methods of construction and how they can support and improve future projects. We truly understand that work time is precious and so is continuous professional development therefore we feel that short, concise webinar sessions will support this development in the most effective and time-conscious way.”

To book or find out more about the CPDs and dates available throughout 2023, visit our CPD page.