Chris Turner Recruitment

03/10/2026

News in the Building Services Industry....

Scottish building services consultancy Hulley & Kirkwood has joined forces with WSP. This acquisition means more than 120 employees will now be part of WSP, strengthening their presence across Scotland. Hulley & Kirkwood brings with it a strong technical reputation and deep sector expertise in mechanical, electrical, and public health services.

Paul Reilly, WSP's managing director for the UK and Ireland, noted that the acquisition is a significant step in enhancing WSP's building services expertise in the UK. He highlighted Hulley & Kirkwood's established regional presence and strong technical capabilities, particularly in healthcare and defence sectors.

Founded in 1953, Hulley & Kirkwood has built a strong presence in Scotland and offers specialised services across healthcare, defence, commercial, education, and government sectors. Michael O'Donnell, director at Hulley & Kirkwood, emphasised that the acquisition will open new opportunities for their talented engineers, allowing them to realise their potential within a global firm while maintaining their commitment to excellent service and local delivery.

This move will not only expand Hulley & Kirkwood's regional presence but also create new opportunities for growth, collaboration, and enhanced service delivery across the board. The integration process will ensure continuity for clients, with any future brand transition still under consideration.

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Engineering services group WSP has acquired Hulley & Kirkwood. The building services consultancy brings more than 120 employees on board, and boosts WSP’s presence across Scotland.

02/10/2026

News in the water safety compliance sector: Assurity Consulting has just launched a groundbreaking software suite, Assurity Plus 2.0, tailored specifically for water management. This is a major leap in the digitisation of water safety compliance, especially for the UK's property and facilities management sectors.

Keith Vigar, managing director at Assurity Consulting, emphasised the importance of the move, noting that "digitising water management will not only improve safety outcomes but also enable clients to operate more efficiently." He described it as "an ambitious and forward-looking solution."

Why does this matter? This software shifts the industry away from manual, paper-based systems to a dynamic, fully digital environment. This evolution addresses several longstanding challenges in water risk management:

- Early warning systems with automated alerts
- Improved data accuracy and accountability
- Self-correcting workflows
- Remote auditing for enhanced compliance

Assurity Plus 2.0 also offers advanced analytics, including trend visualisation and cross-portfolio insights, making water safety compliance smarter and more resilient.

Founded in 1986, Assurity Consulting has a strong track record in health, safety, and environmental solutions. As part of the Celnor Group since 2024, the firm's focus on technology and innovation is clear with this latest release.

UK-based health, safety and environmental compliance firm Assurity Consulting has launched a new software platform for water management.

01/10/2026

Tekmar recently secured a €6 million contract extension for a European offshore wind project, adding significant cable protection systems, accessories, and engineering analysis to their growing renewable energy portfolio. The manufacturing will be done at their Newton Aycliffe facility in County Durham.

This new deal is part of their Project Aurora initiative, aimed at improving order quality and customer relationships. Interestingly, it's not just about adding more projects to their list, but converting their engineering expertise into consistent, repeatable production.

This contract extension, however, is subject to the project's final investment decision expected in the first quarter of Tekmar's 2027 financial year. There's also an option for a second phase with a similar scope and value, dependent on further approvals. With this contract, Tekmar can better plan their workload, although it's not fully guaranteed production yet.

Notably, the company has seen a 20% increase in revenue for the financial year ending September 2026, attributing part of this growth to their focus on European offshore renewable projects. Despite some challenges, including a power outage at a UK supplier, Tekmar's order book is more than 50% higher than it was at the start of FY26, giving them visibility well into 2028.

This development is a big step forward for Tekmar. It showcases their continuous growth in the offshore wind sector and their commitment to providing specialist engineering and design work to protect valuable offshore assets.

If you're interested in roles related to Enterprise Asset Management or the renewable energy sector, let's connect. Visit christurnerrecruitment.co.uk for more information.

Tekmar has secured a €6 million European offshore wind extension. The conditional award covers cable protection systems, engineering services, and UK manufacturing.

30/09/2026

Octopus Energy Generation is making waves again, investing in Irish solar farms to power 10,000 Irish homes. This new move involves transforming a disused golf course in Kildare, turning fairways into solar rays. It's part of their wider strategy, which now includes more than 300 MW of renewables across nine sites in Ireland, enough to power over 82,000 homes annually.

With a strong commitment to renewable energy, Octopus aims to help Ireland achieve its goal of 80 percent electricity from renewable sources by 2030. They've backed various projects including Circal's 1 GW solar farm pipeline and Simply Blue Group's offshore wind projects.

Darragh O'Brien, Ireland's Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, highlighted the significance of this investment in bolstering Ireland's energy security and capacity. The involvement of the Ireland Strategy Investment Fund, which has committed £80 million, underscores the strategic importance.

These investments aren't just about cleaner energy; they also make Ireland more resilient against energy imports. Zoisa North-Bond, CEO of Octopus Energy Generation, emphasises that this is just the beginning with more projects in the pipeline.

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Octopus Energy?s generation arm is supercharging its clean energy activity in Ireland, investing in three solar farms, ? two of them in County Kildare and one in County Cork, an...

29/09/2026

The push for electric power is dramatically shaping the data centre landscape across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). Operational capacity has soared to an impressive 12.1GW, while a pipeline brimming with promise teases an additional 18.3GW, either under construction or planned.

This leap in capacity isn't just numbers for the books; it highlights the increasing disparity between demand and deliverable projects. The development pipeline, demonstrating a year-on-year growth of over 34%, includes around 3.8GW actively being constructed and 14.5GW at the planning stage. However, not every planned megawatt will see the light of day. Viable electricity routes are becoming critical for completion timelines.

Consider the UK market. London maintains its lead with 1.38GW of operational capacity and a burgeoning development pipeline of 1.77GW. Yet the city's tight electricity grid poses significant challenges, turning focus towards less congested areas.

Northern Europe is flexing its muscles too. Scandinavia has seen a 20% capacity increase, pushing Helsinki into the highest-tier Powerhouse category due to its favourable green electricity and available land.

It's not just about power; it's about engineering. Each megawatt of IT load necessitates extensive infrastructure - from electrical distribution to cooling plants. The shift to AI intensifies these needs further, pushing rack densities and sparking innovations in power architecture like ABB's Infinitus.

While demand outpaces capacity, and development figures remain optimistic, the actual deliverability hinges on grid connectivity and equipment availability. It's evident that the next wave of EMEA data centre growth will be as much about strategic power management as it is about computing demand.

EMEA operational data centre capacity has now exceeded 12.1GW overall. Another 18.3GW is under construction or planned as electricity availability, grid access and permitting increasingly determine where computing infrastructure can be delivered.

27/09/2026

New role! Principal Asset Management Consultant - .

This a multi-disciplinary consultancy, offering services across the building, highways, infrastructure and transportation sectors is growing its Asset Management and Asset Intelligence capability and is looking to recruit a Principal Asset Management Consultant.

To find out more, please visit the link https://paiger.link/47317121

26/09/2026

Hiring! Asset Management Consultant - .

This a multi-disciplinary consultancy, offering services across the building, highways, infrastructure and transportation sectors is growing its Asset Management and Asset Intelligence capability and is looking to recruit an Asset Management Consultant.

To find out more, please visit the link https://paiger.link/495098840

25/09/2026

Just read an insightful article on the HTA panel shared on Horticulture Week. Dr Anthony Klotz, a professor of organisational management at UCL, provided some intriguing points on how the workforce is evolving.

Key takeaways:

- Gen Z Expectations: This generation values flexibility, purpose-driven roles, and inclusivity. Companies need to rethink traditional work arrangements to attract and retain Gen Z talent.
- AI Resilience: As AI continues to be integrated into the workplace, employees need to adapt quickly. Resilience and continuous learning are critical for weathering these changes.
- Retention Trends: Retaining top talent hinges on more than just salary. Building a strong workplace culture, offering career development, and ensuring employee engagement are pivotal.

Participants highlighted the importance of these aspects in cultivating a thriving and motivated workforce. It's clear that organisations need to stay agile and empathetic to meet these shifting dynamics.

Visit christurnerrecruitment.co.uk for more insights and tailored recruitment advice.

Gen Z expectations, AI resilience, and retention trends highlighted at HTA panel - from HortWeek

24/09/2026

Powering Resilience in UK Water Treatment Plants

Water and wastewater services are critical for public health and industrial processes. But what happens when the power goes out? Our treatment plants, which rely heavily on electricity to operate vital equipment, need to be prepared for anything.

Take January 2026, for instance. South East Water faced a major incident due to power cuts and extreme weather conditions, which disrupted supply to thousands of properties across Kent and Sussex. The incident highlighted the crucial need for resilient backup systems. According to CCW's Water Mark 2025, supply interruptions have spiked by 58% over the past year.

The key to maintaining water services when the grid fails is reliable backup power. However, it's not enough just to have standby generators in place. Routine checks often miss how these systems perform under real, sustained demand. This is where load bank testing comes in.

Load bank testing simulates actual operating conditions, allowing engineers to see how the generator handles real loads. This includes verifying output capacity, monitoring voltage and frequency stability, and ensuring proper thermal performance. Essentially, it's a stress test to ensure systems won't fail when they're needed most.

For operators of water treatment plants, embracing load bank testing can make all the difference. It provides measurable evidence of system capability and strengthens overall resilience.

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Backup power resilience is critical for UK water treatment plants. Andrew Keith, division director at Power Prove, explains how load bank testing validates standby systems under realistic demand.

23/09/2026

News in the energy world: CNTE has integrated a 700kW/1,624kWh battery energy storage system into its factory in Schwabmünchen, Germany. This innovation leverages the site's existing solar array, diesel backup generator, and grid connection.

Here's what makes this interesting:
- The system uses seven liquid-cooled battery units, working together with solar panels, a diesel generator, and the grid.
- A central energy-management system not only balances these sources but also makes decisions on when to charge or discharge the storage.
- The primary goal is to maximise the use of on-site generated electricity, reducing reliance on external power sources and saving on fuel and maintenance costs.

This project isn't just about slashing energy costs. It provides resilience, ensuring continuity in power, which is crucial for a factory that could lose more in an interrupted process than it saves from reduced tariffs. Additionally, the modular design of the battery system simplifies transport and maintenance, making it a practical solution for retrofitting around existing infrastructure.

The real test will be in the factory's performance logs, showing the system's impact on energy and fuel savings without hampering production reliability. Success here could set a benchmark for similar projects in other factories with existing solar and diesel assets.

For more industry updates, visit christurnerrecruitment.co.uk.

CNTE has integrated battery storage into a German factory system. Seven liquid-cooled units now coordinate with existing solar, diesel backup, and grid supply through a central energy-management platform.