Jones Building Group Spring Newsletter

In Spirit

A business update for clients and the industry from Jones Building Group Spring 2021

Construction Painting &
Decorating

Social Cyclical
Housing Maintenance

Refurbishment Fire Safety
Solutions

In Spirit

In the Spotlight
with Jane Firth:
Administrator to
Contract Supervisor

Jane Firth has progressed from an
Administrator to Contract Supervisor
with Jones Building Group, gaining
valuable experience, skills and
knowledge throughout her journey.

Jane joined Jones Building Group in 2014 as an 3 Construction Contracting Operations, AAT Level 2
Administrator in the Property Services Division before Certificate, CSCS Gold Supervisors Card and most recently,
progressing onto Contracts Co-Ordinator where she was the a NCRQ Safety for Managers. Jane is now looking to
senior administrator the maintenance and responsive work undertake a Contract Management course to further her
contracts. In January 2021 Jane was promoted to Contract experience, knowledge and skills.
Supervisor where she will be overseeing a number of Chris Snell, added: “From the off Jane showed great skill,
contracts. professionalism and work ethic. Jane is always willing to
Jane recollected “I started working at Jones Building Group adapt and complete all works given to her and I am really
as an Administrator and I am really proud to have progressed happy that she has been acknowledged for her hard
to my new role as Contract Supervisor. Looking back over work and commitment. Due to her own drive for success,
the past 7 years, it is incredible what I have been able to learn she has more than earnt the role as Contract Supervisor for
and achieve, and I owe a lot of it to Chris Snell Property Property Services.
Services Manager). He has been a really great mentor, by We are committed to building a workforce that reflects the
encouraging me to progress and involving me within all communities in which we operate and ensure equal
aspects of our department, which is where I have been able opportunities for all. Jane has shown herself to
to adapt and apply new ways of working to my duties. I am be a resolute professional through her commitment and
really looking forward to progressing even further at Jones’ hard work in what is normally a male dominated industry.
and seeing where the next 7 years will take me.” Hopefully Jane’s’ successes will be a shining example to
Jane has undertaken a number of qualifications during her others interested in a career within construction. Jane is an
time with the company including her NVQ Level asset to both me and the company, and I have no doubt Jane
will be successful in her new role.”

JBG Operatives
Donate Free Time
to Helping Grass
Roots Rugby

Since the start of the year, a number of
Jones Building Group employees have
volunteered their own free time to help
Yeovil Rugby Club with various
improvement projects being undertaken
in preparation for the return of their mini
and junior sections.

Paul McHugh, Yeovil Rugby Club Chairman said: “The kindness and professionalism that the guys have shown by assisting us
with our improvements has been incredible. It is really heart-warming to see local people utilising their skills and expertise to
help what is fundamentally, a grass roots community club.”

2

Spring 2021

NVQ Level 6 Site
Management in Building &
Civil Engineering

Richard McElliott has progressed from a
Multi - Skilled Operative to Site Manager with
Jones Building Group whilst gaining his NVQ
Level 6 Site Management in Building and Civil
Engineering.
Richard joined Jones Building Group in 2009 as a
multi-skilled operative working predominantly in
carpentry for our Property Services Department and has
over 16 years experience in the Construction industry.

Richard said: “From 2016 until 2018 I spent most of my time
working on wet room, kitchen and bathroom installations
as a Multi-Skilled Plumber. I began to take on a
supervisory role in 2018, overseeing larger projects
including fire and flood damaged works and renovations
for a number of clients. I was given my first Site Manager
position in 2019 which was for a factory and office fit out
for Blake’s Envelopes in Yeovi and I have been Site Manager
for a number of other project since. I am currently working
in Bridport overseeing a project for a client whose Grade
2 listed property was badly damaged by fire. I am
managing the site on which we are rebuilding business
premises across three floors to provide eight units for small
businesses. “
Richard has undertaken a number of qualifications during his time with the company including an NVQ Level 6 Site
Management in Building and Civil Engineering in 2019. This subsequently led to Richard gaining his Black CSCS Manager
and Professional Card.

Richard said “I have been able to progress at Jones Building Group with their support and my hard work which has
enabled me to oversee bigger projects. This has been challenging but I have really enjoyed it. I appreciate the variety
my job role brings me on a daily basis and I always strive to go above and beyond for our clients and my site team. Over
the next year, I would like to gain chartered status by becoming a member of the Chartered Institute of Building and
completing an IOSH qualification to improve my understanding of health and safety in the work place. “

Chris Snell, added: “I have worked closely with Richard throughout his time with the company where he has always been a
committed and reliable member of staff. Richard has always strived to progress in his career and with the continuous
development of the Property Services division, we have been able to support him in doing this. I hope Richard career
continues to develop with Jones Building Group. “

External Repairs &
Redecoration in Bristol

This month the Portishead Office have started year
six of a seven-year external repairs and redecoration
contract.
The external decorations and repairs are being carried
out to various Alliance Homes properties in the North
Somerset area, including houses, small blocks of flats
and any internal communal areas. Works include
pre-paint repairs and we have been changing
outbuilding doors, sheds, in GRP type plastic. In year 5
of the contract we completed 713 properties, this year
we will be looking at completing approximately 700
properties.

Proud to have a reputation of being recommended | 3

In Spirit

Fire Reinstatement
Works at
Bridport Tower
Building

We are currently working on a six
month contract located at the
Tower Building within St Michael’s
Trading Estate in the centre of
Bridport.

The building is a three storey brick building which suffered unforeseen issues have been unearthed warranting
extensive fire damage in July 2018. Under a separate an extension to the contract which is due to be completed
contract in July 2019, we made the building safe which at the end of August. There has been considerable extra
consisted of the demolition and clearance of the fire input by us, working closely with the
damage. This phase of the contract commenced in contract administrator, architect and structural engineer.
December 2020 and includes the strip out of Adrian Mitchell, Jones Building group Contract Manager
internal partitions, stairs, floors, ceilings, roof and wall for the Bridport site, said “this has been a complicated
linings, with complete internal finishes, and M&E and difficult contract to programme due to changes to the
installation. External works include complete access planned works. We aim to complete the contract to the
scaffold, the rebuild of damaged superstructure, brickwork, satisfaction of both the contract administrator and the
80% of the roof structure and tiling plus external client. Thanks go to Site Manager, Richard McElliott.”
decorations. During the operations, many structural and

Stoke-sub-Hamdon
Youth Centre

Our Property Services Division have
recently completed the installation
of new flooring for the Youth
Centre in Stoke-sub-Hamdon.

Works included the removal of old failing sub
base foundations and the supply and
installation of new Engineered Oak flooring to
current building regulations. This was a
really nice local project to be involved in with
our client, Stoke-sub-Hamdon Parish Council,
who are really happy with the works.

Bristol The brief was to carry out
Hippodrome repairs to crumbling
Repairs render, hack off as
necessary and render,
Our Portishead office have
recently completed the followed by decoration.
external façade of Bristol Repairs and repainting
Hippodrome and the box to the box office were
office front. also carried out. This was
Before a lovely project to have After
worked on especially as
it is so visible to all in the

centre of Bristol.

4 | In Spirit

Spring 2021

Fire Prevention
Works in Plymouth

Our Exeter Division are currently
carrying out fire prevention works
to a block of 52 flats in Plymouth.

Internal works include maintenance to
existing fire doors where there is no existing
fire protection between the fire door lining
and wall studwork. This is achieved through
filling the existing gap with Rockwool fire
rated material, before sealing it in place with
an intumescent sealant and reinstating the
architraves. All existing sink waste and water
feed pipework are also being sealed with an
intumescent collar to the larger pipes and intumescent sealant to the smaller pipes. Externally, we are cutting out
horizontal channels in the existing blockwork to the whole floor of each level, to enable us to fit fire barriers horizontally
and lead cavity trays. We are then reinstating the blockwork ready for a render system to be applied. Vertical pockets are
then cut out of all party walls to enable us to fit a cavity barrier before closing up with horizontal blockwork.

External
Decoration and
Repair Contract

Our Painting team in Portishead
are currently carrying out an
external decorations contract in
Cornwall for a local housing
association.

This contract involves the preparation of
pre-painted elements, full decoration, repairs
and wash down to properties, their
associated communal area and garages. We
have recently entered the second phase of the contract where we are aiming to complete external works and repairs to
750 properties in Cornwall. We started the contract three and half months later than programmed in 2020 due to the
coronavirus pandemic and national lockdown restrictions. However, in year one we completed the external decorations to
600 properties.

Redecoration to Pubs
in the South West

Our Painting team have recently commenced work on
an external redecoration and repairs project to various
pubs.
Work has begun on two of the pubs; The Farmers Arms in
Gloucestershire (pictured), and The Wig & Quill in
Salisbury. The remaining pubs are in Cheltenham,
Swindon, Cirencester and Blagden in North Somerset. The
project includes external decorations and repairs to each
pub, including fencing, outhouses, and fixtures & fittings
within the curtilage of the site. Works comprise of external
decoration, and repairs to joinery, glazing, gutters, rainwater
pipes, soil & vent pipes, repointing and rendering.

Proud to have a reputation of being recommended | 5

In Spirit

Helping Those in
Need During
COVID-19

During the recent pandemic, our
Community Liaison Officer, Josie
Bowden, has been helping an
elderly local housing association
resident whilst they have been
shielding.

Josie has been helping the resident by collecting care. Josie used her own time to help clear the resident’s
their prescriptions and food parcels, organising previous flat, correspond with the housing association
hospital appointments and helping with their general and liaise with the nursing home to help the resident
wellbeing. More recently, the resident has had to move move into the home.
into a nursing home due to requiring round the clock

PtPPoarluoiHnsjeo’tAcmDtroetinsFaairtnsiot n

In December 2020 we donated a
large amount of paint to Home
First Plus’ Artisan Project which is
now nearing completion.
With the recent rise in unemployment,
HomeFirst Plus have set up business
pods for people who have found
themselves unemployed and would like
to create a start-up business for themselves. The project aims to help the local community who have a hobby or
interest which they can turn into a small business idea. The scheme includes the construction of 7 self-contained
3m x 3m pods within their old school site, using OSB board. These were each painted a different colour to
make them stand out as individual spaces. Jones Building Group donated a large quantity of paint which
was used to decorate the business pods to create a creative and innovative environment to work from.

The project is now nearing completion with one of the pods already filled with a ceramics maker, and
another pod will have a glass maker moving in next month. A further pod has some gym equipment in, which will
be hired out to rehabilitation physios or Occupational Therapists. This was a fantastic project to be involved in
to help with unemployment in the community.

Best Community
Building Project

We have won the ‘Best Community
Building’ award for our @Worle
project in Weston-Super-Mare with
North Somerset Building Control. The project was carried out by our Portishead office for an extension to the
existing gym and Costa Café at the @Worle Community Centre. Well done to everyone involved in this project.

6 | In Spirit

Spring 2021

Residents of
Hobbs Court
Receive Much
Needed TV
Donation

Residents of Hobbs Court in Nailsea As part of our wider social value remit we were more
were thrilled to receive a new 49-inch than happy to donate and install the items to help
TV and DVD player for their shared contribute to an enhanced shared living space.”
lounge.
The donation was made by our Portishead Branch who
have recently completed internal painting works to all
of the communal areas.

Jones Building Group Contracts Manager, Richard Jean Baldwin-Browning, a resident at Hobbs Court
Penny was excited to be able to offer this gift to the commented “I have been asked by the residents of
residents. He said: “Having spent a number of weeks Hobbs Court to write and say a big ‘thank you’ to you
carrying out painting works at Hobbs Court, our direct and your wonderful painters for a job so well done.
labour operatives became familiar faces to the residents Hobbs Court looks brilliant! Your painters were
and following a series of conversations we realised that amazing, polite, clean and definitely hard working.
they were in need of a new T.V for their communal Nothing was too much for them! A huge, huge ‘thank
living room. you’ for the Television and DVD Player too!”

27 tonnes of
Carbon
Emissions Offset

Each year we measure, reduce and
offset our carbon emissions through
various carbon offset projects. These
projects are voted for by staff, and
this year we have chosen to offset
27 tones of CO2 from our
electricity consumption on two
offsetting projects.

Investing in high quality international carbon A further 14 trees will be planted in the Great Rift Valley
reduction projects, makes our business carbon neutral in Kenya through their reforestation project.
and helps us in achieving our CSR goals. The reforestation project helps to offset CO2 emissions,
The 27 tones of CO2 will be offset by supporting tree reduce poverty in the area, provide wildlife habitats
planting projects in both the UK and Kenya. 13 trees will and help to create a brighter future for project team
be planted in the South West of England. Planting is a members including orphans and people living with
great way to help sequester carbon emissions. Through HIV/AIDS. For every tree pledged, a tonne of carbon
photosynthesis trees absorb carbon dioxide to produce will also be saved in the Brazilian Amazon via Carbon
oxygen and wood. By ensuring that the trees planted Footprint’s VCS avoided deforestation programme. In
are native broad leaf species we can help to preserve this way, we are offsetting carbon, planting and
the UK’s environment and biodiversity. The planting protecting forests and biodiversity in 2 continents.
will take place in school locations in the South West and Supporting these projects will help to combat climate
other biodiversity sites. All trees are high quality cell change, create space for wildlife and sustain our
grown ‘whips’ (year old saplings). environment for future generations.

Proud to have a reputation of being recommended | 7

In Spirit

Wall of Praise

Our mission is “to be recommended”

“I would like to convey my sincere thanks for all the hard work in giving me the wet room which
was so desperately needed. The workmanship was excellent and nothing was too much trouble to
accommodate the fact that I was living in my home throughout the work. Each day was left
clean and tidy. Really heartfelt thanks...and it was a pleasure to have met such great workmen.”

- Praise given by a housing association resident to our Portishead office, following the installation of a new wet room.

“I would just like to reiterate how impressed and how happy I am regarding the works completed
at my home. Not only was the work completed without disruption by very helpful, polite and
competent lads, it also exceeded my expectations. I had some unwanted ivy growing up the wall from next do
or causing nuisance by growing across my window. Unable to remove this myself, I had asked the guys
if they would pull it off the wall for me whilst they were up the ladder. The response was met with “it’s no
problem at all.” To my surprise, after returning from work I found that not only did the boysdo a fantastic job
all round, they had removed ALL the ivy from the walland they got rid of it from the property completely. I a
mextremely grateful.”

- Praise given by a housing association resident to our operatives as part of external decoration works carried out to
their property.

“Thank you so much for all of the support you have given to our school. Your generosity and kind
acts mean the world to us. Our classrooms are looking so much smarter and the children are
taking pride in their surroundings. Smart surroundings encourage a sense of pride in all areas and I
can see a little bit more care being taken by everyone with their workk and the school environment.
The smiles said it all when they walked into their ‘brand new’ classrooms. We can’t thank you enough.”

- Hayley Robinson, Headteacher at St Margaret’s CEVA Primary School in Tintinhull, thanks Jones Building Group
CEO, Dave Jones, and CLO, Josie Bowden for their hard work painting the school’s classrooms as an act of goodwill.

If you have any comments, or would like
further information on anything in this
edition of ‘In Spirit’, please email:
[email protected].

Follow all our updates on

0800 030 4461

www.jonesbuildinggroup.co.uk