My Work Experience at K2 Consultancy

I am a sixteen year old student and I have recently spent a few days at the Gatwick Office of K2 Consultancy, doing work experience. I am considering a future in engineering, and so I was keen to discover what this could lead to, in terms of a career. I have enjoyed meeting different people during my visit,  seeing what they do everyday at the company and learning about the many elements of the construction industry. I have sat in on internal meetings, gaining a sense of the way small companies operate and plan their time, as well as meeting contractors and quantity surveyors who also have a role in the construction process. On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to visit the office of Applied Energy for a day, a Building Services company, where I saw the construction of buildings such as hotels, from a different perspective, focusing on mechanical and electrical planning. I have learnt a lot about construction, and the professional environment generally, during my time at K2, and I would like to thank the company for allowing me this experience. I also managed to answer the phone and transfer a call successfully, and despite not making any cups of tea, I think this makes my work experience a success!

This post was written by Annabella, a student who chose to gain hands-on experience in our Gatwick offices at K2 Consultancy.

Better Luck Next Time!

Santander vs. K2

Staff at K2 gave it their all when they participated in the semi-final football match against rivals Santander. We took the lead early scoring the first goal of the game but in the end were defeated by 2 points. The boys played hard and proved that they work well as a team, both in and out of the office. Well done!

 

                                     

 

 

Final Score: 6-4

Mundy's Haunted Past

Since April 2012 Project Managers from K2 Consultancy have been leading a team of construction professionals to consult and rebuild an old country estate in Winchester. The project is a unique one for K2, working for a private client in the far depth of the countryside on what turned out to be a historic landmark with a haunted past.

Leaving our offices next to Gatwick airport, we drove through quaint, ancient villages that looked basically untouched and drove through South Downs National park. Recognised as a region of exceptional beauty, our project known legendarily as “Mundy’s House” resides within this extraordinary piece of land.

The area is festooned with history and the town itself as old-fashioned and pleasant as anyone could ever expect. Strolling along the main pathway to the house, I was greeted with a plot of land dating back over hundreds of years and feelings of past lives lived. This is where our journey really began. The historic period of the birth of Mundy’s House gave way to a number of legends still told by the town folk today.

From the moment we arrived on site, it was as if we were transported back in time. There was an exquisite, large garden that surrounded the estate and a man made body of water filled with geese, ducks and other serene wildlife. The house itself was in the process of being restored but I could imagine what it would have looked like in a past age. As we walked through the construction site, project manager, Tim Humpage helped us visualize how the final layout of the house will appear in essence of its former glory.
I ventured down the back garden near the quaint duck pond and came across a long pathway beneath a forest known as Mundy’s Bottom. It was at the edge of this woodland where a history of legends and ghost stories were aplenty.

As the legend goes, Mundy’s bottom, a grassy pathway behind the estate, lay on a route taken by discharged sailors in the 1700s. It was told that Betty Mundy lured in these exhausted sailors and murdered them for their wages. Speculation has it that the spirit of a long-dead navy sailor still walks along the trail in the wee hours of darkness.

Another story depicts Betty as part of a press gang where she would once again use temptation to demand attention from farm labourers. After luring them in, she’d take them for a stroll in the woods and shortly after, the gang would ambush the pour labourer while Betty received her promised commission.
The final myth surrounding Mundy’s House is of greater betrayal. Apparently, Betty was caught cursing a herd of cattle which didn’t go over well with the devoted locals. Angry farmers took matters into their own hands and decided to burn Mundy’s House to the ground while she was still inside it. It was believed that Betty had valued gold and the spiteful neighbours searched long and hard for her rumoured treasure after her murder, but found nothing.

No one will ever really know whether or not the legends of Mundy’s House bare any truth. What we do know is the village and Mundy’s Bottom has experienced a past that no human alive today has bared witness too. Now, all we can do is expose these eerie tales and like our Project Managers at K2, attempt to restore an old country house and begin to create new stories and memories of an ancient manor.  

Hale Village, London Project

 

 

Finishing up some final bits and pieces for the Hale Village, London Project

 

 

 

 

10 Years of K2 by John Setra

K2 Consultancy Ltd was registered in November 2001 - 10 years ago, seems like yesterday!

Over the last 10 years we have had great support from our clients, staff and fellow industry colleagues.  We have also had some significant project sucesses, including:

• Gatwick Airport - Pier 6, South Terminal IDL
• Hale Village, Tottenham, London
• Horsham Hospital Redevelopment
• Port of Sheerness
• Unite - Woburn Place, Kirby Street
• BMW
• Teva Pharmaceuticals
• Glive,Guildford
• Cheshire Police Tactical Training Unit
• Premier Inn, Southwark
• East Surrey Hospital, Redhill

Despite the current doom and gloom we are focussed on continued growth and optomistic that a business offering a highly professional and personalised service will outperform others.
Our first few years were spent working almost exclusively for BAA at Gatwick. Then in 2005 we approached Horsham Hospital and won a job to look after their redevlopment.  By that time we were a team of 4!  In 2007 I pursuaded my now business partner Matthew Loughlin to join.  We had worked together in PCM and I knew that Matthew would help grow the Company.  Sure enough we grew fairly quickly to a team of about 12 before the financial crisis hit.  Overdue fees owed on one of our largest projects nearly wiped us out - but we survived! Not only have we survived one of the deepest recessions this country has seen we have continued to grow to a team of 22 today.  I have no doubt this is due to the hard work and professionalism of all of our staff. Thankyou.

Here'sto the next 10.

Project Limpopo: The last week

Well the last week has been pretty crazy busy which is why I have not had a chance to update the blog lately. Sorry about the short entry this time but I am so tired, I’m falling asleep by 9pm most nights! and the next couple of days will be even busier as we attempt to finish the two classrooms.

Over the past week, we have completed the heavyweight walls situated on the back of each classroom. These are constructed of block work in a rattrap pattern. These will hopefully absorb the heat throughout the day as they are north facing, and then release the heat during the night, making sure the rooms are warm in the morning. In the summer they keep the classrooms cool. It took a while to get going but the students did amazingly well and produced much better walls than the staff team (I was not included in that team!). They’re a little wonky in places but it kind of gives it a little charm!

As the trusses have now all been raised, the purlins that tie the structure together and support the roof have now been completed. Working on the standard SA scaffolding is quite scary at times but the guys managed pretty well and it only took a couple of days to complete.

On top of the heavyweight walls, there are windows that are boxed in, in situ and offer ambient light at the back of the classrooms. These are situated on the northern side of the building. They are covered by the curve of the roof so will not receive direct sun or solar gain. These were completed by Saturday (Day 35) and are currently in the process of being painted orange or blue.

The lightweight walls, which are on the east, west and southern side of the classrooms, began on Thursday (Day 33).  They were constructed of standard timber stud walls, which primary horizontal beams and secondary vertical noggins. The lightweight walls have actually taken quite a while to complete due to the complexity of the different measurements in some areas. They are all completed now, bar one, which was somehow forgotten about!

The front elevation of the classroom has been quite difficult. It has taken us quite a while to decide what to do with it and only yesterday (Day 37) did we start construction on it. The four trusses per classrooms create 3 bays, which are divided into window and door units. The outside units have full height large windows and the doors are in the central bays that will either slide or open outwards – it’s still to be decided! The front elevation has just begun to be clad externally in horizontal battens. This should hopefully be finished tomorrow.

The lightweight walls have also begun to be clad externally in corrugated galvanized steel. It’s pretty reflective but the finish is actually pretty good and it’s quick to install too.

The toilet block has also taken shape over the weekend with all trusses raised on Sunday (Day 36) and the purlins completed today (Day 38). It is now ready for its roof to be put on over the next couple of days by our roofing contractor. The roof of the classrooms will also be completed over the next couple of days, so fingers crossed by the time we leave we will see a roof on this building.

There have been many other tasks going on including beading the windows, placing insect mesh in the roof voids, painting the columns and window boxed. Everyone is extremely busy and tomorrow (our final day on site) is going to be absolutely crazy. We’re aiming to complete the two classrooms by the end of the day and use Thursday as a final day to clear up the site and hand it over to the client.

I’ll try and update the blog tomorrow and Thursday to keep you all up to date with the latest news. I arrive back in the UK on Saturday morning so will have some photos added to the blog hopefully by the end of the day. Wish us luck!

Project Limpopo: Day 24-30

Sorry for the delay in getting this blog up...it's been a very busy week as you'll read. Hope you enjoy it. 

Day 24: Tuesday 19^th April

Today was the day after Phase 1 had left. It felt a bit strange on site, as there were all these new people taking over and working away. It felt like it might take a couple of days to get used to Phase 2 being here.  The weather was pretty rubbish today too, very overcast and actually quite cold so it didn’t help with picking up spirits. Although the timber had arrived the day before, so there was a lot to be getting on with on site.

Concrete slab on the dining block being power floated

The treated columns sections arrived with the timber delivery so the columns began to be made. Half were completed before the end of the day ready for the first lift tomorrow. The base plates for the trusses were secured into place and the slab for Classroom A was laid.

First classroom trusses and columns ready to lift

Work on the toilet block also began today. The timber for the trusses arrived in the delivery yesterday so the pieces were cut and assembly began on the first truss. Jigs were also constructed to help with the construction.

First assembled toilet truss - mini jouberton style!

 Day 25: Wednesday 20^th April

Today was the first day that trusses were lifted and the building came to life. The morning went by pretty quickly attaching the columns to the truss members. It’s quite difficult to line up about 5 pieces of timber that have all been individually drilled to get a bolt through them. With a little bit of patience though, it seemed to come together quite smoothly. Also with a bit of hammering and tweaking! In the afternoon we managed to raise the first two trusses. It felt like a very big achievement and we could see for the first time the scale of the buildings.

First truss in place

The procedure to raise the truss is completely manual and all done with a bit of heavy lifting. The truss gets moved in line with the base plates. Ropes are attached to form as lifting and braking lines with teams allocated on all of them. The truss is lifted and raised and walked up with the use of the ropes. It is maneuvered slowly onto the base plates using levers and secured with two bolts. Once we had got the first one in place, the second one was a lot easier to get in place. The first truss was secured down with its ropes and once the second truss was in place, they were temporarily braced together.

Footing detail

We managed to complete the set of columns and truss member for the third truss ready to lift the next day. Fingers crossed we can also get the fourth one ready and then lifted.

2nd truss lifted in place and temporarily braced to the first one

The sun eventually came out today, it got pretty hot – similar to the UK I guess! But I was very silly and forgot to apply my sun cream so got very burnt across my shoulders, chest and arms! Oops! Lets hopes it just tans.

Truss high in the sky

 Day 26: Thursday 21^st April

The weather was looking pretty bad today again. It was very cold compared to what we were used to. During the morning on site we managed to complete truss 3 and 4 and just before lunch we raised truss 3 and secured it into place. By the end of the day the aim was to complete the trusses for Classroom B, however it had been threatening to rain all day and at just about 2pm the heavens opened and a storm hit the area. We all had to shelter from the storm and get the tools and equipment under cover as soon as possible. The trusses we had raised would just have to get wet and bear the brunt of the storm. Most of the team sheltered in the tool shed waiting for the taxis to arrive and some of us hid in the car. The rain was not letting up but luckily the taxis arrived within the hour and we made our way back to the Hotel. It was an early end to the day and a shame we couldn’t get the final truss of Classroom B up. We all just hoped not too much damage would be done to site and the materials.

The torrential storm hit

That night, three of the guys from Phase 1 who had been travelling for the week came back to Tzaneen. They will be remaining with us for the rest of the build now. Some extra manpower is vitally needed. It was also 2^nd year student, Laura Sheridan’s birthday so we headed out to Mozambique restaurant to let Phase 2 experience the amazing all you can eat prawns! All had a really good night and it was a great chance to get to know some of the new group.

 Day 27: Friday 22^nd April

Today we had a late start to the day as I helped out the three Phase 1 guys with taking back their rental car and Laura was feeling a bit delicate from the night before. We managed to get to site and join the rest of the team about 10am but it had been quite badly affected by the storm. It was so wet and muddy. It was extremely difficult to walk in certain areas. The weather didn’t seem to be getting much better to dry out the site either. Let’s hope it picks up over the weekend.

After cleaning the slabs we managed to start work on the final truss and other areas of work. The final truss of Classroom B was raised before lunch, which meant the first classroom was complete! It was a very exciting moment for us all as you can now really see the space of the classroom and how it fits of site. As it was now complete, work could begin on the intermediate columns on either side of the classroom. We marked up where the base plates would go for each one, drilled holes into the slabs, secured the bolts in and then the base plates. We managed to install one of the columns and prepared the rest for installation on Monday.

First classroom superstructure complete

The WC trusses have been making progress and by the end of the day, 2 trusses had been completed. These are completely different in design to the classroom trusses. They’re like mini-Jouberton trusses if you’ve seen that project.

The weather this week has had quite an effect on our schedule and we’re a little behind – well about a week behind if I’m honest. Hopefully this weekend we can put some plans in place to keep us on track and make sure we complete the 2 classrooms.  I think this will be our last weekend off as over the next 2 weeks there is 4 bank holidays which means we are restricted by what we can do. With a bit of planning though I’m sure we’ll make it and finish the build.

Day 28: Saturday 23^rd April

This morning we woke up yet again to the sound of rain. Great! Rather than spending the day just slobbing around in the apartment we headed out for a drive up the mountain to check out the adventure centre.  As it was pretty cold, there wasn’t many activities going on but we arranged to come back tomorrow if the weather was better to go gecko-tubing. You travel down the river on small yellow dingy individually through rapids and waterfalls. Looked pretty awesome in the video we watched.

In the evening we ended up having a girly night watching films and chatting. As it turned midnight and we moved into Easter Sunday, I was able to have my first bit of chocolate for 40 days! Yay! Even though it was South African Cadburys, which isn’t exactly the same, it was amazing! Best thing ever! Can’t wait to try some more of the chocolate out here, the variety of Cadburys flavours is pretty great.

Day 29: Sunday 24^th April

Happy Easter Everyone!

Today we discovered a new supermarket in town and found some Easter eggs, well little kinder eggs. They would be our treat after finishing tubing. We headed back up the mountains, signed in and got kited out ready for our adventure.

Tubing was absolutely incredible! It started off pretty adventurous as one of the first challenges we had to tackle was jumping down 2 waterfalls. The first one was about 5m high and the girls nominated me to go first. It was so scary as for this jump you need to jump out further than normal as the rocks protruded out beneath. After a quick 3, 2, 1, the next thing I knew I was in the water and fine. Was so exhilarating.  The next jump was 8m, so about the height of a 2 storey house. Luckily on this one there were no protruding rocks so not as scary but still so high. Over the rest of the trip we travelling through a few sets of rapids and floated along stretches of the river. I came off my dingy a couple of times but spent most of my time above the water. The last waterfall was absolutely stunning, we were only observing this one though as the water was flowing too fast due to the heavy rainfall lately. We walked round the edge and them swam across a safer area to get to the other side to finish our adventure.

We drove back to the hotel feeling very tired. We had a briefing planned in the evening so a quick shower, nap and food before rounded off a great day.

Day 30: Monday 25^th April

After the briefing the night before, we had a tight schedule and some high targets to meet.

In the morning we completed the columns for Classroom A in preparation for raising all the trusses in the afternoon. The intermediate columns were completed on Classroom B and the truss members were ready to be connected to the columns.  We managed to connect the first truss member with its columns and raised it before lunch, 35mins ahead of schedule. Things were looking promising. The weather had also improved and at about 2pm we checked the thermometer on the car and it was at 41 degrees! Not sure it was that hot but we were all pleased that it was hotter than the UK for once this week!

The afternoon was extremely busy connecting columns to truss members and raising them. By 5pm we were a little behind schedule but the last truss was raised and we left site a little later than normal at 5:30pm having completed the superstructure for the classrooms. They look great and we now have so much to do to make them into classrooms. Only 10 days to go, let’s hope we can keep this productivity up.

In other areas on site, three WC trusses were completed and the final two have been assembled. We have run out of bolts temporarily and due to the bank holiday we are unable to get some more until tomorrow.

To celebrate such a productive day, we all headed out to Spurs for some food.

John Ramsay also arrived back in South Africa after being back in the UK for 2 weeks.  Another pair of hands on site is always useful.