A HULL construction company has been praised for reaching a major industry milestone.

Hobson & Porter has completed 100 building projects under the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS), a barometer by which delivery standards are measured across the industry.

The company achieved this milestone after undertaking extension works at Beverley Leisure Complex’s Tone Zone fitness suite – a project which forms part of East Riding Council’s YORbuild delivery framework.

Mike Petter, chairman of the Considerate Constructors Scheme, said: “Many congratulations to Hobson & Porter Ltd for registering its 100th site with the Scheme – the Tone Zone Extension at the Beverley Leisure Centre.

“I would like to extend my grateful thanks for its continued track record as a considerate constructor and hope its valued efforts to improve the image of the industry will continue into the future.”

The CSS is the national initiative set up by the construction industry to improve its image.

Construction sites and companies that register with the scheme are monitored against a Code of Considerate Practice, designed to encourage best practice beyond statutory requirements.

The scheme is concerned about any area of construction activity that may have a direct or indirect impact on the image of the industry as a whole. The main areas of concern fall into three categories: the general public, the workforce and the environment.

Dave Blades, Director at Hobson & Porter, said: “To reach the milestone of delivering 100 projects under the Considerate Constructors Scheme is a fantastic achievement and we are delighted the 100th build is on our doorstep.

“As a Hull-based business, we are very proud to have completed the majority of the 100 builds under this framework in this region and we look forward to completing many more in the future.”

Work started on the extension in May after users complained the existing facility was too small. The new gym, which will have 90 stations, is expected to be completed early next year.

The new gym, together with a car park extension and other improvements, represents a £1.2m investment by the council in improving and developing the complex.

STUDENTS at Bishop Burton College are being given a “unique” chance to put their studies to test thanks to a new collaboration with construction firm Hobson & Porter.

Construction students at the East Yorkshire college worked with the Hull-based builder throughout the last academic year on the college’s new multi-million pound Agrii Crop Technology Centre.

The collaboration allows students to apply their learned skills on Hobson & Porter project sites and, following a successful first year, is set to be delivered again.

Dave Blades, business development director at Hobson & Porter, said: “We were delighted to be able to offer students at Bishop Burton College the chance to get hands on experience of working on real-life construction sites while they are learning the skills needed to work in the industry at the college.

“At Hobson & Porter we are very conscious of the need to offer future industry workers the chance to develop their experience while training and this collaboration is helping to do that. The benefits of this collaboration are already being seen at the college with some fantastic coursework being produced by the students during the last academic year.”

At each stage of the construction process, from concept to completion, students are able to visit a Hobson & Porter site to tie in with the curriculum that is being delivered at Bishop Burton College. The curriculum can also be tailored in such a way as to ensure there is a Hobson & Porter site at the desired stage of works.

As well as having the chance to work on the Agrii Crop Technology Centre, construction students at the college have visited a number of operational sites over the past year.

As part of the collaboration, Hobson & Porter also arranges for guest speakers from its supply chain partners to deliver talks to the students about relevant aspects of work that they are learning about and have experienced on construction sites.

Jeremy Hara, course manager for construction at Bishop Burton College, said: “Students were offered a unique experience at Bishop Burton last year, helping to play a key role in the construction of the new Agrii Crop Technology Centre. Working closely with Hobson & Porter, the College planned its course teaching to fit with the building schedule. Students were able to learn about key elements of a build, and then experience it first-hand on site.

“Students were given the opportunity to work alongside experienced tradesmen, getting involved in the build, helping to enrich their learning experience and apply theory to practical work. Students will also benefit this year, as they will also have the chance to work alongside Hobson & Porter on the new Campus at Riseholme.”

Hull construction company Hobson & Porter has been praised for its work to keep Haltemprice Leisure Centre open as it completed a £6m refurbishment at the site.

East Riding Council is spending the money to upgrade the centre, which has been re-launched as East Riding Leisure Haltemprice.

Since Hobson & Porter began work on the site, the centre has recorded a staggering 900,000 visits.

Councillor Stephen Parnaby OBE, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “I am delighted with the transformation of East Riding Leisure Haltemprice into a superb facility with state-of-the-art equipment, pool and a wonderful environment for local residents to benefit from.

“I would like to thank our contractors, Hobson & Porter, for a job well done, and look forward to the opening of the library and customer service centre in November, and full completion of the work in early 2015.”

The latest phase of improvements has seen the opening of a new Tone Zone, extended gym and the reopening of the swimming pool, which now features a moveable floor – one of only two of its type in Europe.

The developments included a new entrance, 60-seater café with outside eating area and a library.

Other improvements as part of the scheme include new offices, a doctor’s surgery, upgraded car park, refurbished 3G football pitches and an improved sports hall featuring new lighting, floor and ceiling.

With 80 tradesmen on site per day at the peak of the works, ensuring the facility remained operational produced a series of logistical challenges, all of which were overcome by Hobson & Porter’s team working closely with the council’s project manager Simon Spencer and senior assistant facility manager at the centre, Hugh Pidgeon.

Dave Blades, business development director at Hobson & Porter, said: “Keeping the leisure centre open while we carried out the extensive works provided many logistical challenges but was essential as East Riding Leisure Haltemprice is an extremely busy facility throughout the days and evenings.

“There were many different elements to this project and the team on site worked closely with East Riding of Yorkshire Council and management at the centre to ensure the impact on members and users of the facility was minimal.

“We are delighted to have now reached a stage where we are close to final handover and look forward to seeing the facility fully open and visitors enjoying the new environment.”

It is one of thousands of bricks to be laid as part of the country’s first new-build agricultural college in half a century.

That first brick, of what will be the new £13m Riseholme College, was laid by Jeanette Dawson OBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Bishop Burton College, and Dave Blades, Business Development Director at Hobson & Porter.

Riseholme College was recently taken over by Bishop Burton College and, with only short-term leases available on its existing site north of Lincoln, a deal was made with the county’s agricultural society to build a brand new college campus within the Lincolnshire Showground.

Jeanette Dawson OBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Bishop Burton College, said: “I would like to thank the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society and the whole county for the enthusiastic support they have given.

“I am really looking forward to seeing the building coming together over the next two years. We have a fantastic relationship with Hobson & Porter and we are looking forward to working with the team throughout the building process.

“We believe this is the first land-based college to be built in 50 or so years, which pays testament to our commitment and determination to support the industry in Lincolnshire and beyond.

“As well as state-of-the-art facilities, the new campus will allow for closer links with Lincolnshire’s thriving agricultural community, agri-business and agri-food industries.”

Bishop Burton’s Skills Funding Agency Capital Investment Fund bid will provide more than £6m of grant funding towards the total investment, which is expected to top £13m.

Dave Blades, Business Development Director at Hobson & Porter, said:“We are delighted to once again be working with Bishop Burton College to deliver what is going to be a fantastic new facility for Riseholme College and one that will benefit the entire region.

“Lincolnshire, and the Humber region in general, boasts a strong agricultural industry and ensuring there are facilities of the highest quality for future workforces to learn their trade is essential. The new campus will offer state-of-the-art teaching areas and equipment on a site that is at the heart of the county.

“It will house science labs, agriculture, engineering and arboriculture workshops, an animal management facility, a farm and halls of residence for students.”

The primary impact of the new campus project will be to sustain and grow land-based education in Lincolnshire, recognising the importance of associated industries to the local economy.

Bishop Burton College has a national reputation for quality and is the only College in the UK to hold Centre of Vocational Excellence status in both Agriculture and Equine.

The new facility will welcome its first intake of students in September 2015, and will be fully operational by 2016. The new campus is expected to engage more than 450 local businesses in skills training within two years.

The project will also increase the number of learners, to more than 800 students on campus by 2016. This will include new learning opportunities for local residents that are not currently in education, training or employment and will offer a number of new apprenticeship and trainee programmes to link learners into local industries.

It is music to the ears of one of the region’s top performing independent schools that its new music block has been completed in time for the start of the new academic year.

Hymers College, based in Hymers Avenue, west Hull, has a long-standing reputation for nurturing musical talent amongst in its students. Indeed, it was recently ranked the highest independent school in Yorkshire for GCSE results and second for A Level results.

Now, teachers at the college are hoping the new £2.3m facility will further enhance these standards when it comes to fostering musical excellence. Hull-based Hobson & Porter, a renowned family-run construction company founded in 1971, has worked around the clock to ensure the state-of-the-art development is ready on time.

Headteacher David Elstone said: “All of our students will take part in some form of music studies during their time at Hymers College. A large percentage of our students also further this education by learning a musical instrument full-time, taking part in orchestras or choirs every week and staging public performances either individually or as part of a group.

“We have made an investment of £2.3m in the new music facility to build on our existing reputation as a centre of musical excellence. The new music centre will boost our capacity to develop musical talent and further enhance students’ experience of music studies at school, no matter their age or ability.”

The music block includes several private tuition rooms, a recording studio and a state-of-the-art IT suite. Mr Pybus, Head of Music at Hymers, said: “The new music block’s facilities are among the best available in the country for students – the design of the facility is the result of a significant level of research into national best practice. The investment demonstrates our continuing commitment to music both as an academic and as an extra-curricular pursuit.”

Dave Blades, business development director at Hobson & Porter, said: “We were delighted to work with Hymers College on this exciting development, which will add to the school’s rich musical heritage.

“I am certain that this new music block will provide plenty of positive opportunities for students at Hymers College to further enhance their experience of music studies – something we are proud to have played a pivotal role in.”

The music block will be used for the first time in September 2014 and the redevelopment of the music block is part of a larger project that Hymers College is currently undertaking to revamp the school that will also include the construction of a new, hi-tech learning resource centre.

A £17m regeneration project in Scunthorpe is moving closer to completion almost a decade after initial plans were unveiled.

Hull-based construction firm Hobson & Porter is building five two and three bedroomed houses and 19 one and two bedroomed apartments on West Street and neighbouring Gurnell Street. Around 30 car parking spaces will also be created.

Dave Blades, business development director at Hobson & Porter, said: “The need for affordable housing is growing and we are delighted to be working with The Guinness Partnership to deliver this project.

“At Hobson & Porter we are always looking for projects to work on that will make a real difference to the local community in which they serve and I have no doubt this one will do just that. The original properties were beginning to create a bit of an eyesore in the town and we are looking forward to providing a fresh new look to the area.

“Works are progressing well on site and we hope to be in a position to hand over the keys for the apartments by the end of March 2015 and the houses a few months later.”

The development is being funded by The Guinness Partnership, which provides a range of services including care and support, neighbourhood investment, housing management and rental or ownership opportunities to more than 60,000 homes nationwide.

Allan Ramsay, director of investment and regeneration in the North at The Guinness Partnership, said: “The Guinness Partnership is pleased with the progress made on site and looks forward to offering these high quality homes to local people for rent. We are also delighted to able to kick-start the regeneration of this part of the town centre and are particularly grateful for the support of the council and the Homes and Communities Agency for contributing £413,000 grant subsidy to help make the rents on these homes affordable.”

Works on the remaining Advance Crosby Regeneration Project site are set to be completed over the coming years.