This page highlights Upkeep's activities during recent months.

How to clean up and repair Buildings after flooding

Upkeep has published guidance on how to clean up and repair flooded homes, visit here: After flooding.

2/11/07

Conference for Charity Facilities Managers looks at Regulations, Sustainability and Safety

Facilities and Office Managers from charities around England attended the second Charities Facilities Management Group Conference in London in March. The CFM Conference, which was organised by Upkeep, featured presentations on the new CDM Regulations, Managing Water Useage and Flexible Working.

17/3/07

Upkeep shows how to look after your Gutters

November is the month to check and clean your gutters, and this is the month when we added the guttering to our display on looking after the outsides of buildings.

We brought our cast iron gutters with us from South Bank University (and Hampton Court Palace before that). When we came to fit them, we found some of our original pieces had gone astray. After many fruitless telephone calls, a nice man on the phone suggested we draw what we needed and fax it to him.The nice man turned out to be the M.D. of Tuscan Foundry Products and he was able to figure out what was needed and then donated the items.

Learn about Lofts and Insulation at Upkeep

Our new roof display includes a full-sized loft that shows how roofs are constructed and how lofts should be kept in good condition. Our display also demonstrates how to insulate a loft, and shows different types of insulation. As well as rockwool, we now have two environmentally friendly products on display: recycled newspaper and sheep’s wool insulation. We couldn’t have done this without the support of two generous companies - Excel Industries and Thermafleece. Our thanks go to both of these organisations for their donation.

New Addition to Electrics

Just in time for the winter weather we have a welcome addition to our Electrics Display in the form of an electric storage heater. We would like to thank Dimplex for their generous donation of the heater. Training participants will have the opportunity to see inside the heater to see how it works, to understand how storage heaters are wired in and to learn about different energy tarrifs.

Housing Maintenance Contractors Forum kick-starts Upkeep’s New Roof Display

Work has started on a majojr new display in the Upkeep Exhibition. The display will show a full-size pitched roof at eye- level, so that visitors can see construction details up close. The work has been arranged thanks to the support of a new body, the Housing Maintenance Contractors Forum. The Forum being set up as a national representative body for maintenance contractors operating in the housing sector. The actual building work at Upkeep is being carried out by Forum members Kier Building Maintenance. KBM delivers repairs and maintenance services to RSL’s ALMOs and local authorities and employs some 3000 staff nationwide. The display will show construction details, ventilation and roof coverings, showing traditional materials as well as new technologies. But it doesn’t stop there -- the design enables visitors to walk into the roof and view two loft spaces, one that has been well maintained and one that can do with a bit of care. Our display will be the ideal way to learn about roofs and lofts -- without a ladder in sight!

Finishing Touches to the new Electrics Display

Our new display showing a full domestic electrical installation is nearly complete. This display will provide important information on electrical regulations, safety in installation and maintenance, environmental sustainability and accessability. The Electrical Contractors’ Association helped us to design the exhibit and arranged for their members MK Novar to donate the materials. Contractors T. Clarke brought in their Apprentice of the Year to to do the work.

Another Upkeep Training Milestone approaches!

We are getting ready to congratulate the 400th Candidate to achieve the Upkeep/City and Guilds Certificate in Diagnosing Defects and Ordering Repairs. We love to receive feedback, and Candidates are telling us that not only are they learning enormous amounts for their work, but are also enjoying themselves too! Our next big milestone will be the 500th Certificate. Could you be our 500th successful Candidate? To find out course availability on dates that will suit you please us at: info@upkeep.org.uk

Ove Arup Foundation grant to Upkeep

We are delighted to report that the Ove Arup Foundation has made a grant of £2,000 to Upkeep to help with the Exhibition. The Foundation was set up to commemorate the founder of the Arup Group, Sir Ove Arup. It promotes education in the built environment.

We are grateful for the Foundation's support. The grant will go towards providing information about environmental sustainability in buildings in Upkeep's Exhibition.

Upkeep hosts one-day seminar on the New Housing Health and Safety Rating System

The new Housing Health and Safety Rating system comes into force next month. It marks a major shift in the way dwellings are assessed. Upkeep is hosting a one-day seminar for RSLs on April 19 about the new system and how to implement it. See our training calendar for details.

5/4/06

Over 80 Charity Facilities Managers attend First Charity FM Conference

Our first conference for people who manage buildings and facilities for charities was a great success, with staff from over 80 organisations attending. < upkeep organised the one-day conference with the help of members of the charities facilities management group, a national network for people who deal with buildings and property the voluntary sector.  

14/3/06

Upkeep Training Room gets a New Look

We have refurbished our training room at Upkeep. We've stripped out several layers of formica and hardboard wall and removed many meters of redundant electrical and telcoms wiring. We can now use the area to display photographs of different building styles.

2/2/06

Work starts on New Electrics Display at Upkeep

We have started work on building a new display on domestic electrical services for the Upkeep Exhibition. We are building the framework for the display, which will show a full domestic installation, including wiring for the hall, living areas, kitchen and bathroom.

8/1/06

Industry Organisations work together to create New Electrics Display at Upkeep

Upkeep is working with the Electrical Contractors Association and their members to design and build a new display on electrical services for the Upkeep Exhibition. The display will show a full domestic electrical installation and will highlight the requirements of the new Part P of the Building Regulations.

4/10/05

City and Guilds Survey

We recently surveyed candidates who have already achieved the City and Guilds certificate to get feedback on what they thought of the course. We had a prize draw: congratulations to our winner, Allen Leslie from Richmond-upon-Thames LBC!

Many of you were very enthusiastic about Upkeep developing an advanced City and Guilds course so watch this space!

14/10/05