The £3 million plus project, run by Sustrans, will revitalise the National Cycle Network using Hewden plant, including excavators, dumpers and rollers across 13 locations in England.

Instructors from specialist training companies; Mentor and Eco Training will be educating the teams of previously unemployed adults (who are between 18 and 24) in the safe use of plant equipment. Once training is complete, the trainees and Hewden plant will begin work on the project.

All plant and site equipment for the project is being supplied by Hewden through its national branch network.

Hewden has also recently signed up to exhibit at SED 2011 at Rockingham Motor Speedway, Corby Northamptonshire from 17th - 19th May next year.

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The existing 250-litre MB250SD mixing bucket now comes with a round top grate, a concrete bag cutter, a foldable side step and a stronger, more durability auger design that minimise residues left in the bucket. These features are also available on the new 200-litre MB200SD mixing bucket which designed to fit Bobcat's S150 compact loaders and above.

Another addition to the range is a version of the MB250SD mixing bucket with a Quick-Tach system for use on Bobcat's T2250 telehandler.

The academy is first in the UK dedicated to engineering and welcomed its first 120 pupils - four years after the school was conceived. Pupils from Staffordshire and Derbyshire will follow a curriculum designed to produce the engineers and business leaders of the future, alongside the normal Maths, English, Science and German GCSEs.

The JCB Academy is the brainchild of Sir Anthony Bamford who has championed the cause of British manufacturing during his 35 years as JCB chairman and long voiced his concern over its decline and the dearth of young people with engineering skills emerging from the education system.

He said: "I am passionate about engineering and committed to British manufacturing but we need the right calibre of young people to ensure that we continue to be a nation that makes things in an innovative way.

"The JCB Academy is one small step to helping achieve that aim. The facilities here are second-to-none and offer the students the opportunity to learn about manufacturing and engineering in a way that is exciting and practical and aligned to the needs of employers when they qualify in a few years time."

Housed in a Grade II listed Arkwright Milldating from 1781, the Academy has been equipped with in excess of £1m worth of modern engineering equipment (including the only plasma cutter in a UK school) to help pupils turn their design ideas into reality. The building is also designed to be highly energy efficient with an Archimedes Screw generating around 80% of the power for the site while rain water is harvested for recycling.

The engineering tasks have been set by The Academy's partners who include Rolls Royce, Toyota, Network Rail, Bentley, Bombardier, Rexroth Bosch Group, National Grid, Zytek Automotive, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, IET, Harper Adams University College, The Royal Academy of Engineering and Parker Vansco.

A further 50 sixth formers will start their studies at the Academy later this month.

The hire company, which is a member of the Ladder Association, is offering up to a 50% discount of new ladders in exchange for unsuitable ladders which it will recycle. It will roll out its exchange program this month across more than a third of its depots nationwide and it will run until the end of the year.

This is the fourth year that Speedy has participated in the scheme and it is also offering free online and leaflet guides on working safely at height and product selection.

Mark Turnbull, safety, health, environment and quality director at Speedy, said: "Despite the huge strides that have been made over the last five years in reducing accident rates on construction sites, working at height remains the most dangerous activity. Many incidents are caused by ageing and faulty equipment, which makes the ladder exchange such an important scheme..."

Currently the S/S category reflects the skills and knowledge required for crane operations and the test has to be taken on a crane with a hoist rope, 360º slew and full radius capabilities. This means candidates who normally use lorry loaders, telehandlers and excavators cannot use this type of equipment on the test which is causing considerable issues for CPCS

Endorsing the S/S category had been discussed but rejected as it was felt it would limit the utilisation of personnel between different types of lifting equipment on site and would require re-testing when certificating for additional types. Therefore the CPCS is proposing four alternatives:
1. Create an 'All Lifting Types' endorsement to the S/S category - based on the current test specification of using a crane, and provide further endorsements for non-hoist rope lifting equipment.
2. Remove the requirement of a hoist-rope equipped crane for the test, allowing the use of other lifting types.
3. Leave the current test requirements (of needing a crane) unchanged.
4. If option 1 is the preferred, create a hierarchy system whereby those tested on one type could automatically be awarded others. (For example somebody tested on a lorry loader would automatically be awarded the telehandler, excavator and masted forklift categories.)

Current CPCS testing requirements means that the question paper for S/S would relate to all endorsements so candidates wishing to add additional S/S endorsements (as in option 1) would only need to undertake the practical test.

Feedback on the preferred options should be sent to Haydn Steele at the CPA (haydn.steele@cpa.uk.net) by 10 September indicating the preferred option along with any supporting statements.

The new standard specifies that semi-automatic hitches and fully automatics with a single pin latching capture system are not acceptable and sets a phase-out date for manual couplers as the end of 2012. Fully automatic hitches with a secondary locking arrangement (as demonstrate in the photograph) are acceptable provided they will retain the attachment in the event of a total power failure and once the machine has been stopped.

Even with automatic couplers the standard requires the operator leave the cab to verify correct engagement. Furthermore, it specifies a 4m safe operating envelope for machines with quick couplers from which all personnel are excluded and places the responsibility for this on those planning the work.

The ultimate responsibility for the safe use of the quick coupler remains with the machine operator and they must not slew an attachment near or over other workers. Managers are responsible for ensuring all excavator operators on their site are properly certificated, aware of the risks associated with quick hitches and familiar with the correct procedures including the need for a visual check.

Also detailed in the standard are lifting procedures involving quick hitches including the need to deduct the weight of the coupler from the safe working load.

The 70t machine is equipped with Kocurek long-reach arm to undertake dredging work at the London Gateway deep sea container port project near Thurrock which will be able to accept vessels with drafts up to 16.8m. A triple-articulated boom gives the machine a 25m maximum reach (from slew centre to the bucket edge) and a digging depth of 17m.

At the business end is the bucket linkage from a 36t EC360C (which will be fitted with buckets between 1.5m³ and 2.0m³) while a Prolec PCX - 3D GPS machine guidance system will aid the operator when digging under water. Additional counterweights increase stability and take the all-up weight to 76t while Volvo's 16-litre engine provides 320kW of power and 2250Nm (at 1,350rpm).

In addition to placing real-time off hires, making online payments and seeing financial statements (as well as bespoke KPI reports), HSS' LiveHire customers can view live ETAs and get instant electronic proof of delivery/collection. These can include photographs of the equipment and the information is available to those working on site and in head offices to provide visibility of all hire activity.

The system uses fully integrated vehicle tracking and PDA systems for the delivery drivers to constantly update the ETA, allowing customers to organise their workforce and maximise site productivity. In addition, the PDA electronically captures signatures as proof of delivery/collection and enables photographs of the equipment's condition to be taken and made instantly available on LiveHire.

HSS' CEO Chris Davies said: "Our customers love HSS LiveHire. They tell us it's already made their life easier... and now we've made it even better with the online ETAs and electronic proof of delivery."

LiveHire forms part of HSS' strategy to help customers manage 'the true cost of hire', which is influenced not only by the hire rate but also the length of hire, the number of pieces hired and the overall administration cost.

The move follows the setting up of a group to pool information on accident investigations which found the majority were caused by poorly trained operators and products being incorrectly mounted or used. The group found confusion about the responsibilities of users and distributors of abrasives and inadequate training from specialist providers.

On finding much of the available training to be inadequate, the Federation devised a standard stipulating the content and delivery to which all abrasives safety training programmes should adhere and has introduced an accreditation scheme. Training companies meeting the latest criteria can be found on the BAF website - http://www.thebaf.org.uk/BAF_Training_Accredited_trainers_1.htm

The Federation is to inform its database of around 15,000 customers and more than a million users of their obligations and provide a list of competent training companies.

BAF chairman Dr Bill Gilmour, said: "Unless purchasers of abrasives are given the correct information as to their obligations to train not only operators and users but also specifiers and buyers, then the incidence of accidents is unlikely to reduce."

Three versions are available including two flat decks with 1,580mm between wheel arches. These have flat bed lengths of 3.0m, 4.0m and 4.6m in standard form while with the beaver tail version the options are 3.2m or 3.7m.

A third, wide-track version has 1,820mm between wheel arches and comes in flat deck or beaver tail configurations.

The all-aluminium bodies feature quick-release drop-sides which double as loading ramps. Priced from just £19,460 (ex VAT and delivery) while the options list includes a light bar, a 1.5t electric winch and a full-width storage locker.

Northampton magistrates were told that while Deltatrax was demolishing a building at a former pie factory in Chester Road, Wellingborough, a member of the public reported seeing oil floating in the brook. Environment Agency (EA) officer Chris Willis traced the spill back to a discharge pipe at the rear of the demolition site which was locked as it was a Sunday.

The following day the officer found evidence of an oil spill around an oil storage tank that appeared contain red diesel and which was situated in a partly demolished building. Willis went back to the discharge point and found thick oil seeping through an earth bank that had been containing some of the oil.

In court the EA said: "The risk of pollution was foreseeable as oil was being stored in a tank which had no secondary containment, was not bunded or secure." While Deltatrax pleaded guilty to the charge, its solicitor said that the firm replaced the tank once the deficiencies were brought to its attention.

After the hearing Willis said: "Oil in the water can harm wildlife, affect fish and taint drinking water at very low concentrations. This pollution was avoidable and continued even after it was brought to the attention of the company."

The business has sent almost half a million electronic invoices to customers since it introduced the paperless system two years ago. Electronic invoices can be in Euros or Sterling enabling customers throughout the UK and Ireland to use the service.

Speedy said the rise in popularity of electronic invoicing is due to customers' increasing awareness of the economic and environmental benefits of switching from traditional paper systems. The electronic service also allows customers to view the delivery status of their orders via the internet, which has reduced the number of delivery enquiries.

A trial is currently underway of an upgraded system that includes electronic ordering and will enable customers to track orders and payment for equipment.

Speedy's IT director James Fleming said: "Paperless invoicing is not only greener, but more efficient for both our customers and our business. An increasing number of companies are providing electronic services to cut back on resources used and save time which can be spent on more valuable areas."

Having automatically compensated for sloping ground, the system displays the tipping angle in the cab and if a pre-set danger point is reached a warning is sounded both inside and outside the vehicle. The system will then prevent further tipping, forcing the driver to lower the body and find safer ground conditions.

The inclinometer can be specified when a new body is being fitted or retrofitted in a few hours.

Edbro's sales and marketing director Peter Smith said: "Judging tipping angles is never easy, especially when the vehicle is positioned on uneven ground. The inclinometer aids the driver by giving accurate data on the angle of the rear of the chassis whilst tipping, improving safety and reducing the guesswork."

Group revenue (excluding fuel pass through) rose by 15.1% to £546.5m while the trading profit excluding property and plant sales, increased to £131.2m from £107m in the same period for 2009.

The biggest gains were seen in the international local business that includes contracts such as the Vancouver Winter Olympics and FIFA World Cup, which increased by 50% in local currencies or 86% at constant currency. Still the biggest earner was international power projects which grew revenue by 7.7% (12.4% at constant currency) to £219m while Europe declined by 2.8% to £76.4m which almost halved profit from the region to stand at £2.4m.

Capital expenditure was accelerated in the half to £103.6m (£97.4m in 2009) and the full year spend is expected to be around £265m (£149.7m). The company also reduced net debt by £16m to £159.5m taking its gearing down to 23% from 58% at the same point last year.

Looking forward the company is optimistic with orders for international power up by a half compared with last year, higher volumes of equipment on rent, a sharp improvement in temperature control rentals and rates beginning to strengthen in many areas.

The senior management team of Brandon, led by CEO Tim Smith (pictured), will remain with the business and are investing alongside Rutland. The separation of Brandon involves a number of complex arrangements including the transfer of a number of former Wolseley employees.

Smith said: "The Brandon management team are delighted to be working with Rutland who we see as an ideal investor for this type of situation. Together we are committed to taking the business to a leading position in the sector and continuing to improve performance."

Six months earlier the Wolseley had made a £71m goodwill impairment charge relating to its Brandon Hire and Encon businesses. Wolseley's shares dropped almost 7% when news of the sale was announced.