Insulated panel manufacturer Hemsec is donating £1,000 worth of structurally insulated panels (SIPs) to charity Apple Cast, to support its partnership in a new construction project
Apple Cast works with disadvantaged young people including those who are disaffected, involved in anti-social behaviour or struggling to come to terms with the school environment. Using skills-based learning, the charity offers a range of educational programmes to engage young people in various projects, including angling and fishing management, horticulture, agriculture and woodwork.
The charity plans to help tackle the widespread shortage of construction skills in the UK by launching a new project, working in partnership with Hemsec, and focusing on Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).
MMC is a fast-growing sector, and the skills associated with it need to keep up with demand.
SIPs are a key component in MMC. They can be used for walls, floors and roofs, and mean that a building can be erected very quickly, and it will be of arguably higher quality than one made using traditional materials and methods.
A SIPs building is also super-thermally efficient.
Hemsec is donating 16x SIPs of differing lengths and dimensions required to create the buildings designed especially for the Apple Cast project, which will consist of two temporary buildings.
SIPs are long-lasting and can be used for permanent buildings, from the smallest garden room, to large luxury homes and huge warehouses.
The reason they are temporary in this case is so that following completion, the buildings will be dismantled enabling the programme to recommence the next term.
‘Providing young people with opportunities to learn’
Neil Farnworth, CEO of Apple Cast North West, said: “Apple Cast has several buildings that have been built with SIPs over the years, including our respite facilities, a community angling club, conference facility and offices. SIPs are ideal for all kinds of build projects, whether large or small.
“We were keen to work with Hemsec because the quality of their SIPs is so good; for example, the pinpoint accuracy of their recess joints.
“The UK desperately needs more people to get involved with construction; and this plan will do exactly that, providing young people with opportunities to learn how to use SIPs and understand the benefits. It will also teach them vital intergenerational skills and teamwork.”
Stephen Painter, MD of Hemsec, added: “We are delighted to work with Apple Cast North West. We are a family-owned company with family values, and they share these values.
“They also share our passion for SIPs and their advantages, especially the speed of build, thermal efficiency, strength and durability.
“The charity has a fantastic track record making a big difference to young people in communities across the North West and we are looking forward to the start of this important initiative.”
One of the Apple Cast buildings is a single-storey bungalow with a pitched roof, with the construction all taking place outside. The second installation will be built undercover.
Their construction gives Apple Cast the platform on which to train the young people, teaching them valuable skills, including the importance of the planning and design stage, the safe handling of the SIPs and of course installation on site.
The duration of the build is 38 weeks with each student working two days a week and will be repeated in future years, for successive groups of students.
The project starts in January 2021.
Hemsec
