S A Builders & Contractors

A Message from Lord Pickles and Lord Blunkett, followed by S A Builders & Contractors's best practice article

The ability to listen and learn from one another has always been vital in parliament, in business and in most aspects of daily life. But at this particular moment in time, as national and global events continue to reiterate, it is uncommonly crucial that we forge new channels of communication and reinforce existing ones. The following article from S A Builders & Contractors is an attempt to do just that. We would welcome your thoughts on this or any other Parliamentary Review article.

Blunkett signature Rt Hon The Lord David Blunkett
Pickles signature Rt Hon The Lord Eric Pickles

www.nestcontractors.co.uk

BEST PRACTICE REPRESENTATIVE 2019
THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
Highlighting best practice
48 | PLASTIC SURGEON
The new capability means the team
can repair a whole range of damage
to leather: anything from cuts and
scratches to stains and scuffs, while
ensuring it’s also done cost effectively
– one of the biggest stumbling blocks
in making it a feasible offering.
Developing our own NVQ
We have a market-leading training
facility that is approved to award
NVQ qualifications, and we have a
strong track record of recruitment
underpinned by well-established
training processes. We recruit from a
wide demographic and no previous
experience is required. Prospective
employees are instead selected based
on their ability to demonstrate practical
aptitude with an enthusiasm for
learning a new skill.
New recruits enter a clearly defined
training programme, including three
residential courses at our head office
during their first three months. This
comprehensive training course is split
into modules based on types of surface
repair and is delivered by the in-house
training team, who have extensive
sector experience.
New recruits start as apprentice
finishers and remain at this level
for approximately one year. Further
training and skills assessments allow
promotion to higher gradings.
Recent industry changes, backed by the
UK government, will make it mandatory
to carry a Construction Skills Certification
Scheme card on most housebuilding
and construction sites within the UK. In
order obtain a card, it is necessary for
an employee to be enrolled on, or have
completed, an NVQ course. The nature
of our work is specialist, and yet an
NVQ did not exist for our services.
This has led us to work with
Construction Skills, an NVQ-awarding
body, to develop a specific course for
finishers – the Level 2 NVQ in damage
repair and restoration. It has also led
to our approved centre and direct
claims status and the commencement
of training for all existing and new
finishers in this NVQ.
As a result of this, our training centre
is approved to train employees and
issue NVQ qualifications. This solidifies
our status as a clear market leader
in this area, as no competitor has
achieved this status. Fifty-nine of the
company’s current finishers have
previously achieved the Level 2 NVQ in
damage repair, with the remaining 126
achieving this in 2019.
Recently, the UK government
announced an additional £500 million
for the Housing Infrastructure Fund to
support the building of 650,000 new
homes. In addition to this, £1 billion of
British Business Bank guarantees have
been committed to supporting the
revival of SME housebuilders, while a
consultation on simplifying the process
of converting commercial property into
new homes is to begin. We welcome
support for the housebuilding sector
and look forward to continuing our
growth and consolidating our status as
a market leader.
Our services
are
transferable
across a
diverse range
of markets
“
“
Our finishers are the
best in the sector, with
almost 200 achieving
a Level 2 NVQ in
damagerepair
49SA BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS LTD |
CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING
Founder Skender Perpepa
We prioritise professionalism,
speed, tidiness and high quality
SA Builders and Contractors were established to improve the
standards of construction across Greater London. Offering
a variety of different trades in one place, they have been
able to expand across London and its surrounding areas. This
expansion has been underpinned by their own internal training
programmes, developing both office and site staff, to ensure as
many people as possible are entering the construction industry.
Skender Perpepa founded the company in 2003 and explains
their values and their concerns over the post-Brexit supply chain.
We were established in June 2003, offering multiple essential trades in a single
integrated package. These cover any sort of building, including new builds,
extensions, renovations and loft conversions. We also manufacture and install
double glazing products, including roof lights, composite doors, and aluminium
and uPVC windows and doors. I founded the company 15 years ago with the
goal of achieving high standards for local building services across the Greater
London area. Our approach and ethos applies equally and without fail to every job:
professionalism, speed, tidiness and high quality. This is encapsulated by our motto:
“Building the future. Restoring the past”.
The company body
Based in Romford, Essex, the business has seen substantial growth and changes
over the past five years. We now cover London and its surrounding areas, and
have been doing so since 2003. Since being in this business, we have built and
maintained a good reputation, and we possess many useful relationships within
FACTS ABOUT
SA BUILDERS AND
CONTRACTORS LTD
»Founder: Skender Perpepa
»Established in 2003
»Based in Romford, London
Borough of Havering
»Services: Building and
contracting
»No. of employees: 15
»www.nestcontractors.co.uk
SA Builders and
Contractors Ltd
THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
Highlighting best practice
THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
Highlighting best practice
50 | SA BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS LTD
the industry as a result. With more
than 15 employees and a considerably
high number of subcontractors, our
company offers a high-quality finish on
site at a competitive price.
It wasn’t easy in the beginning and like
any other new construction company,
I struggled to find professionals and
to build trust with customers. I faced
some very challenging years when the
country went through the recession,
yet we managed the situation very
well at the time by making the right
decisions. Today our company is well
structured and organised. It functions
like a single human body, with the
company director as the head, the
office and management team as the
brain and the operation team as the
hands. We all work as a team in order
to achieve all our aims and objectives.
We have set ourselves a course of
steady and controlled evolution,
starting new relationships with our
clients and extending existing ones.
In March 2015, I created NEST
Contractors Ltd, which also operates in
the construction industry. The business
has seen substantial growth since its
inception and is expected to achieve
better results in upcoming years. NEST
Contractors Ltd is currently working
very closely with Student Cribs, who
are a leading student accommodation
provider. They offer comfortable,
well-equipped houses in the best
locations in university cities and towns
throughout the UK. In London, we
have successfully completed more than
eight of their projects in the last three
years. We have gained a reputation for
the quality of the work our operatives
undertake and the professional
attitude of our office.
Both of our companies have donated
to several community projects for
many years now. We have also made
donations to special needs schools and
hospitals inside and outside of the UK.
We offer a high-quality
finish on site at a
competitive price
We all work as a team
to achieve our aims and
objectives
Building the
future,
restoring the
past
“
“
51SA BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS LTD |
CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING
We have always maintained a strong
commitment to health and safety
for the protection of all individuals
affected during our work. We have
our own health and safety policy, and
this is always explained in detail to
our members of staff and clients. Prior
to the start of the project, we always
prepare a construction phase plan
consisting of a method statement,
risk assessment and a Control of
Substances Hazardous to Health
assessment. On top of this, rules for
health and safety are ubiquitous on
site and in theoffice.
Investing in tomorrow’s
workforce
We pride ourselves on continuing to
train young people who have started
as labourers and have developed to
become skilled workers.As a business,
we need to continue to invest and
improve in order to attract people
from all walks of life. This includes
both office and site staff, from labour
to management, ensuring we make
the construction industry attractive to
everyone. This training has meant we
have developed an excellent reputation
for customer care and after-sales work.
Our members of staff are specially
trained to work in people’s homes
by using protective sheeting and
specialisttools.
Brexit poses entirely new challenges
for us as a business. Our workforce is
mainly British, but we do have a small
number of overseas operatives on our
sites who are very good at what they
do. It is too early to analyse how our
current workforce will be affected. The
bigger concern arises from potential
material cost increases, due partly to
manufacturing cost rises but, more
importantly, to higher import costs.
Last year, all our suppliers increased
their material prices twice and are
expected to increase prices again this
year. Another factor is the weather,
and during the heavy snow earlier this
year, when diggers and cranes were
forced to fall idle across the country,
most of our supplies were delayed for
weeks. We hope that winter this year
will find the UK government more
prepared so business can run smoothly.
The past few years have been the most
successful yet and we hope this can
continue. With the stable growth we
have seen and the proven efficiency of
our working manner, we are confident
that we will be able to achieve this.
We pride
ourselves on
continuing to
train young
people
“
“
Our members of staff
are specially trained to
work in people’s homes
BEST PRACTICE REPRESENTATIVE 2019
THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
Highlighting best practice
50 | SA BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS LTD
the industry as a result. With more
than 15 employees and a considerably
high number of subcontractors, our
company offers a high-quality finish on
site at a competitive price.
It wasn’t easy in the beginning and like
any other new construction company,
I struggled to find professionals and
to build trust with customers. I faced
some very challenging years when the
country went through the recession,
yet we managed the situation very
well at the time by making the right
decisions. Today our company is well
structured and organised. It functions
like a single human body, with the
company director as the head, the
office and management team as the
brain and the operation team as the
hands. We all work as a team in order
to achieve all our aims and objectives.
We have set ourselves a course of
steady and controlled evolution,
starting new relationships with our
clients and extending existing ones.
In March 2015, I created NEST
Contractors Ltd, which also operates in
the construction industry. The business
has seen substantial growth since its
inception and is expected to achieve
better results in upcoming years. NEST
Contractors Ltd is currently working
very closely with Student Cribs, who
are a leading student accommodation
provider. They offer comfortable,
well-equipped houses in the best
locations in university cities and towns
throughout the UK. In London, we
have successfully completed more than
eight of their projects in the last three
years. We have gained a reputation for
the quality of the work our operatives
undertake and the professional
attitude of our office.
Both of our companies have donated
to several community projects for
many years now. We have also made
donations to special needs schools and
hospitals inside and outside of the UK.
We offer a high-quality
finish on site at a
competitive price
We all work as a team
to achieve our aims and
objectives
Building the
future,
restoring the
past
“
“
51SA BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS LTD |
CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING
We have always maintained a strong
commitment to health and safety
for the protection of all individuals
affected during our work. We have
our own health and safety policy, and
this is always explained in detail to
our members of staff and clients. Prior
to the start of the project, we always
prepare a construction phase plan
consisting of a method statement,
risk assessment and a Control of
Substances Hazardous to Health
assessment. On top of this, rules for
health and safety are ubiquitous on
site and in theoffice.
Investing in tomorrow’s
workforce
We pride ourselves on continuing to
train young people who have started
as labourers and have developed to
become skilled workers.As a business,
we need to continue to invest and
improve in order to attract people
from all walks of life. This includes
both office and site staff, from labour
to management, ensuring we make
the construction industry attractive to
everyone. This training has meant we
have developed an excellent reputation
for customer care and after-sales work.
Our members of staff are specially
trained to work in people’s homes
by using protective sheeting and
specialisttools.
Brexit poses entirely new challenges
for us as a business. Our workforce is
mainly British, but we do have a small
number of overseas operatives on our
sites who are very good at what they
do. It is too early to analyse how our
current workforce will be affected. The
bigger concern arises from potential
material cost increases, due partly to
manufacturing cost rises but, more
importantly, to higher import costs.
Last year, all our suppliers increased
their material prices twice and are
expected to increase prices again this
year. Another factor is the weather,
and during the heavy snow earlier this
year, when diggers and cranes were
forced to fall idle across the country,
most of our supplies were delayed for
weeks. We hope that winter this year
will find the UK government more
prepared so business can run smoothly.
The past few years have been the most
successful yet and we hope this can
continue. With the stable growth we
have seen and the proven efficiency of
our working manner, we are confident
that we will be able to achieve this.
We pride
ourselves on
continuing to
train young
people
“
“
Our members of staff
are specially trained to
work in people’s homes

www.nestcontractors.co.uk

This article was sponsored by S A Builders & Contractors. The Parliamentary Review is wholly funded by the representatives who write for it. The publication in which this article originally appeared contained the following foreword from Rt Hon Michael Gove.

Rt Hon Michael Gove's Foreword For The Parliamentary Review

By Rt Hon Michael Gove

This year's Parliamentary Review comes at a momentous time for parliament, as we collectively determine the destiny of the United Kingdom. 

On October 31, the UK will leave the European Union. The successful implementation of this process is this government's number-one priority.

Three years after a historic referendum vote, we will deliver on the decisive mandate from the British people. Trust in our democracy depends on it. Until that final hour, we will work determinedly and diligently to negotiate a deal, one that abolishes the backstop and upholds the warm and close relationship we share with our friends, allies and neighbours in the EU. But in the event that the EU refuses to meet us at the table, we must be prepared to leave without a deal.

As the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, it is my job to lead on this government's approach, should that scenario happen. Preparing for Brexit is my department's driving mission. But while I am leading this turbocharged effort, the whole of government is committed to this endeavour.

Ministers across Whitehall are working together to ensure that every possibility is considered, every plan is scrutinised and every provision is made. A daily drumbeat of meetings means that we are holding departments accountable, so that preparations are completed on time.

The chancellor has confirmed that all necessary funding will be made available. And we have mobilised thecivil service, assigning 15,000 of our most talented civil servants to manage our exit from the EU.

We will make sure that on November 1, there is as little disruption to national life as possible. Our trade relationships will continue to thrive, thanks to agreements with countries around the world worth £70 billion. Our country will remain secure, thanks to nearly 1,000 new officers posted at our borders. And the 3.2 million EU nationals now living and working among us can remain confident, with absolute certainty, of their right to remain in the UK.

Above all, our goal is to be transparent. Soon, we will launch a public information campaign so that citizens, communities and businesses are ready and reassured about what will happen in the event of “no deal”.

In my first few weeks in this role, I have travelled to ports and tarmacs, borders and bridges, all across the UK –from the seaside of Dover to the rolling green hills of County Armagh. I have heard from business owners and border officials, farmers and hauliers. They are ready to put an end to uncertainty. And they are ready to embrace the opportunities ahead.

Our departure from the EU will be a once in a lifetime chance to chart a new course for the United Kingdom. Preparing for that new course will be a herculean effort. But this country has made astounding efforts before. We can do it again.
Rt Hon Michael Gove
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster