Three group companies at work on Europe’s biggest army base

April 2008

Three Northern Bear companies are working at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire, the UK’s largest army base, and said to be the biggest in Europe.

Jennings Roofing, Wensley Roofing and Isoler have won independent contracts to carry out a range of work at the garrison which has a population of around 12,000.

Jennings Roofing is contracted directly by the Ministry of Defence to repair and reroof at a number of locations.  Jennings is currently retiling 136 officers’ dwellings at Catterick.

Wensley Roofing and Isoler are both working ‘within the wire’ (ie, in the secure area) for MOD contractor Carillion.  Wensley Roofing is repairing the roofs of a number of buildings in Cambrai Barracks with single-ply membrane.

Isoler is installing passive fire protection systems in new and refurbished accommodation at Gaza Barracks and Megiddo Barracks and in large new specialist workshops and garaging for army vehicles.

Northern Bear’s Operations Director Keith Soulsby said: “These three separate contracts to carry out work at Britain’s biggest army base demonstrate the range of skills and level of expertise within the Northern Bear group.”

www.wensleyroofing.co.uk
www.jenningsroofing.com
www.isoler.co.uk

Award for barn conversion

January 2008

MGM’s  barn conversion at Kirkharle Courtyard has won the award for the best conversion in the North-East at the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) Rural Building Awards, run in association with Knight Frank.

Steve Gray of Northern Bear and the architect Bryony Roff of Spence and Dover received special certificates for their work on the conversion at the award ceremony on 25 January.

MGM converted the derelict stone barn, part of the Kirkharle estate in Northumberland, into six craft workshops and retail space.

The stone barn was facing the demolition when the owner John Anderson decided to revive Kirkharle, the ancestral home of Loraine family and the birthplace of the famous landscape gardener Capability Brown. The conversion has become part of the overall redevelopment of the site while retaining its original appearance.

www.mgm.ltd.uk

Roof Truss achieves PEFC accreditation

November 2007

Roof Truss has had its commitment to environmentally responsible sourcing of materials independently verified by the Timber Research and Development Association (TRADA).

Roof Truss is now part of the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) scheme which operates in 13 European countries. This scheme provides a verifiable chain of custody for timber and wood fibre from sustainable forest to end user.

"This accreditation demonstrates our commitment to quality of materials and responsibility to the environment ," said managing director Kevin Gray.

For more information follow the link to the BM TRADA website.

www.roof-truss.co.uk

New facilities completed at historic church ahead of schedule

October 2007

Hastie D Burton was praised for the quality of its workmanship on completion of an extension and new facilities at St Mary's Catholic Church in Hexham.

The work at the historic church involved the building of a new entrance (called a narthex) including a wheelchair ramp, toilets and office, adaptations to the existing office and toilets and the construction of an extension to the existing worship space.

Hastie D Burton was engaged to undertake the building work by specialist architect Pascal J Stienlet on behalf of the client the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle. Hastie Burton has worked with Pascal J Stienlet on a number of similar projects.

Speaking at the opening of the new facilities, Alex Waters, chair of the parish council, said: "Please be kind enough to let all your team know what an outstanding job you did. The quality of work and site management were exemplary, with the added bonus that work was completed ahead of schedule and on budget."

www.hastieburton.co.uk

Luxury homes completed on historic brownfield site

July 2007

Springs Roofing, part of the Northern Bear group, has completed the roofing for a luxury housing development in Durham on a landmark site to the south of the city. The Roundhaven development for Shepherd Homes is built on the site of the famous Cock o' the North pub which for many years was an important staging post on the Great North Road.

Springs Roofing gave their most experienced slater, Arthur Smith, the task of roofing the three storey, 25 apartment block with natural slate. The contract also included tiling 17 four and five bedroom houses.

Shepherd Homes often engages Springs Roofing for its developments in North East England.

www.springsroofing.co.uk

Luxury homes completed on historic brownfield site

July 2007

Springs Roofing, part of the Northern Bear group, has completed the roofing for a luxury housing development in Durham on a landmark site to the south of the city. The Roundhaven development for Shepherd Homes is built on the site of the famous Cock o' the North pub which for many years was an important staging post on the Great North Road.

Springs Roofing gave their most experienced slater, Arthur Smith, the task of roofing the three storey, 25 apartment block with natural slate. The contract also included tiling 17 four and five bedroom houses.

Shepherd Homes often engages Springs Roofing for its developments in North East England.

www.springsroofing.co.uk

Another safety award for Wensley Roofing

May 2007

Wensley Roofing, part of the Northern Bear group, has added to its excellent record for health and safety with a Gold Award from the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC).

This is the third year running that Wensley Roofing has won an NFRC Gold Award for Safety and this year it achieved the highest score of all award winners.

Wensley Roofing has also won Gold Awards for Occupational Safety from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents for the last four years.

www.wensleyroofing.co.uk

Roof finished for latest 'Dragon's Den'

March 2007

Wensley Roofing has just completed the roofing of Durham's newest hotel, part of the group run by North East entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne who is one of the panel on BBC TV's Dragons' Den.

The 60-room Hotel Bannatyne Durham is the second hotel opened by the Bannatyne Group, which is well known as the UK's largest independently owned operator of health clubs. The hotel is situated next to the Bannatyne Durham health club.

Wensley Roofing was contracted by Stephen Easten Building to put the roof on this prestigious new £2.5 million hotel.

www.wensleyroofing.co.uk