Breedon Group plc (“Breedon” or the “Group”), a leading vertically-integrated construction materials group in Great Britain and Ireland, is pleased to announce the opening of a new concrete tile production factory in Lisburn, Northern Ireland.

Breedon’s significant investment at this site will reduce local supply chain constraints and enable quicker and more efficient processes in order to produce high quality tiles at a faster production rate. The new factory contains advanced, modern equipment, increasing Breedon’s tile production capacity in the region by over 80%, from 12 million to 22 million tiles per annum. This new facility will ensure the Group remains at the forefront of tile manufacturing in Northern Ireland.

The new plant in Lisburn will boost the local economy and will drive innovation and manufacturing capabilities in Belfast.

The site has been designed with sustainability as a key consideration. The successful ESG journey of the tile business and the significant decrease in carbon generated per m² of tiles, is something the team is exceptionally proud of.

Jude Lagan, Managing Director, Cement and Products at Breedon Group, said:

“I am proud to see the opening of this impressive facility in Lisburn, demonstrating our commitment to our business in Ireland, whilst benefitting the wider region, providing more supply and enabling secondary and tertiary industries to thrive.”

Häfele UK has bolstered its appliance offering, by partnering with Samsung to supply its built-in cooking, refrigeration, and laundry units to the KBB and merchant sectors.

As one of the UK’s largest appliance brands, Samsung has teamed with Häfele on the provision of its major domestic appliances (MDA) to consolidate its position in the market, taking advantage of Häfele’s expansive and trusted network.

The addition of Samsung to its roster of appliance partners further strengthens Häfele’s portfolio, with brands including Smeg, Rangemaster, Hoover, Candy and Mercury already available through the distributor.

Since establishing the partnership, Häfele’s team members have undergone training at Samsung’s Concept Store at Kings Cross, London, to ensure they serve customers with the highest quality product knowledge, service and assistance.

Häfele will display a selection of the Samsung products it has available on its stand (S72) at the KBB Show, held in March at the NEC, Birmingham.

Commenting on the partnership, Gareth Bevan, Chief Sales Officer at Häfele UK, said: “Samsung is renowned for its modernity, innovation, and ability to push boundaries with technology, so it’s the perfect fit for our customers.

“The smart capabilities of Samsung’s MDAs are changing the way consumers use their homes and now, we’ll be able to arm our networks with these products, enabling them to keep up with ever-changing market demand. Establishing this partnership is testament to the hard work we put into adapting our service and product range to meet the needs of our KBB and merchant customers, and we’re looking forward to building on our relationship with Samsung even further with this in mind.”

Jonathan Hartley, Channel Manager for UK Kitchen Retail at Samsung UK, said: “Häfele is the market leader when it comes to relationships within KBB and merchant networks, and we believe that the business will prove to be an effective channel for distributing our products and solutions. 

“Our two brands share the same high levels of dedication to service
and expertise, so this is a very natural fit and we’re excited about the future, working together.”

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE), the global network of premier real estate firms, has announced the addition of 36 new international members to its professional community.  

The new member firms to have joined LeadingRE’s network last year include property businesses from the UK, Europe, United States, Canada, Latin America, Caribbean, Asia the Middle East, and Africa. This remarkable expansion brings the firm’s worldwide membership to 550, representing a network of more than 138,000 real estate associates in more than 70 countries worldwide. 

As an invitation-only business-to-business real estate community, LeadingRE interconnects top local and regional real estate firms across the world and supports their success with best-of-industry assets, like referrals, exclusive events, elite training and education, marketing and technology resources, and support.  

Chris Dietz, President of Global Operations at LeadingRE, commented: “Last year we experienced some global economic uncertainty and challenges including interest rates rises and unforeseen fiscal fluctuations. Real estate is a people business and by connecting professionals around the world, we can enhance our understanding of property markets – both locally and internationally. We are delighted to see such diverse new members from APAC, EMEA, LATAM and North America join our ever-expanding community of leading professionals. We look forward to continued growth in 2024 as we embrace another exiting global real estate market of opportunity.” 

Selected companies in the LeadingRE international network are recognised for their expertise and superior knowledge of both local and global markets. All LeadingRE members are vetted, not just for performance, but a continued commitment to quality customer experience.  

A full list of new LeadingRE member firms can be found below:  

Asia-Pacific: 

Cambridge Real Estate (Cambridge, New Zealand) 

Lodge Real Estate (Hamilton, New Zealand) 

Richmont’s (Sathon, Thailand) 

Canada: 

MacKay Real Estate (Wolfville, Nova Scotia) 

Real Estate Centre (Taber, Alberta) 

Team PowerHouse (Prince George, British Columbia) 

Boldt Realty Inc., Brokerage (St. Catharines, Ontario) 

Europe, Africa and Middle East: 

Boulevard Group (Nice, France) 

Castelhana Real Estate (Lisbon, Portugal) 

Ismail and Partners (Lagos, Nigeria) 

Maior Capital (Olbia, Italy) 

Oria Advisors (Lisbon, Portugal) 

Philip & Frank (Prague, Czech Republic) 

San Patrik Real Estate (Zagreb, Croatia) 

Savoir Prive Properties (Dubai UAE) 

Strand Properties (Marbella, Spain)  

The London Broker (London, United Kingdom) 

Latin America and the Caribbean: 

CENTRAL MAXRE SRL REAL ESTATE (Buenos Aires, Argentina) 

Dominican Properties (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) 

Panama Sovereign Realty (Pedasi, Panama) 

Peters & Romero Real Estate (Mexico City, Mexico) 

Propiedades Cancun (Cancun, Mexico) 

Vida & Co. Ltd. (San Ignacio, Belize) 

United States 

Chisum Realty Group (Angel Fire, New Mexico) 

Christie’s International Real Estate Bluegrass (Lexington, Kentucky) 

ClearView Realty, LLC (El Paso, Texas) 

Denovo Realty (Melbourne, Florida) 

DiPietro Group Real Estate (Windham, New Hampshire) 

DJ & Lindsey Real Estate (Saint Augustine, Florida) 

Galles Properties (Pagosa Springs, Colorado) 

Hogan Associates Christie’s International Real Estate (Middletown, Rhode Island) 

Homepage Realty (Louisville, Kentucky) 

Huntington & Ellis, A Real Estate Agency (Las Vegas, Nevada) 

Liz Moore & Associates (Williamsburg, Virginia) 

Meservier & Associates (Auburn, Maine) 

St. James Properties (St. James, North Carolina) 

Wallace Real Estate (Knoxville, Tennessee)

A leading engineering design consultancy has announced the appointment of its 50^th graduate to its Global Graduate Pathway Programme.

Black & White Engineering (B&W), which specialises in sustainable MEP design services, operates in 44 countries worldwide. In the UK, it has offices in Edinburgh, Newcastle, Manchester and London.

The company’s graduate programme is a two-year, comprehensive initiative designed to attract and develop the brightest new talents in engineering design. With a focus on hands-on experience, the programme offers graduates a structured career path at B&W.

Catherine Allen, Global Learning & Development Partner at B&W, said: “The programme is pivotal in nurturing the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary in engineering design and decision-making. The initiative demonstrates B&W’s commitment to fostering the next generation of design engineering talents and cultivating a workforce that enjoys long and fulfilling careers at B&W, contributing significantly to our fields of expertise.”

Graduates are integrated into specific teams, such as the data centre team, where they focus on developing discipline-specific knowledge and skills. The programme’s unique structure includes a secondment to different teams, enabling graduates to broaden their experience and learn about new disciplines. This approach fosters a well-rounded understanding of B&W’s entire business and the services offered.

Steven Horn, UK and Europe Director at B&W, said: “Our graduate pathway programme highlights B&W’s foresight and commitment in shaping the future of the engineering design industry. In a field that’s rapidly evolving and facing significant recruitment challenges, the programme addresses these challenges and also plays a pivotal role in developing future design engineers.

“Through this programme, B&W is strategically investing in the people who will lead and drive our sector forward. It demonstrates our serious commitment to nurturing and harnessing the potential of new talents, ensuring that B&W remains at the forefront of engineering design.

“By equipping graduates with the real-world skills and experience they need, we are effectively building the foundation of an industry that remains robust, dynamic, and forward-thinking.”

The Global Graduate Pathway programme is open for applications year-round, and graduates can be based in any of B&W’s global locations.

Catriona Gluyas, a current Graduate Sustainability Consultant at B&W, said: “From the get-go, B&W’s dedication to my professional growth was evident. Within my first two weeks, I had already completed and passed the BREEAM Associate exam.

“Mentorship is also a cornerstone of the B&W graduate experience. My line manager, mentor, and ‘work buddy’ have been instrumental in helping me transition from university to professional life, offering guidance, support, and insights that have been crucial to my development.

“Overall, the combination of targeted training, personalised mentorship, and continual professional development opportunities has not only sharpened my skills but also prepared me for a promising career in sustainability design consulting. It’s great to be a part of such an exciting, rapidly growing organisation.”

For more information about the Global Graduate Pathway programme or B&W Engineering, please visit: https://bw-engineering.com/careers/