August News!

It’s difficult to believe that we are once again speeding towards the end of August, with Autumn just around the corner.  The summer has been capped by a very successful night at Glasgow’s IET Dinner, where we were delighted to be joined by friends old and new for an excellent evening supporting the industry.  However, as 2022 continues onwards it only brings more challenges and exciting new projects for everyone in the SVM office.

August has seen the arrival of several new works including two separate Railway projects in the Perth area involving the replacement of an oily water pump and services design in some staff offices.  We have also been called to opposite ends of the Country with design being required for a welders’ yard in Inverness and, in the South, some lighting design for Hessle Station and shed extension works in Tyseley.  Meanwhile, in the commercial sector, we have also offered our services to provide design advice for a new domestic property being constructed in Renfrewshire.

Existing projects leading the charge this month include Anderston and Glasgow Central Low Level stations; Goole Swing Bridge works; large scale works for the Ferrybridge to Goole route; and the new phase of works on the Rugeley to Colwich route.  We are also beginning to gain momentum on the North London Welwyn to Hitchin project; Port Glasgow AFA works; and works on the Blair Atholl to Dalwhinnie route.  In Scotland, the Highlands remain a busy place with works involving Railway Simulators; axle counters; the Dalcross GRIP 4 project; and initial design for a biomass site in Portree; while, moving South, we remain involved in the construction phase at Aberdeen Station; design for a relay room in the Perth area; CETs at Fort William Depot; and frost protection at Aberdeen.  Festival time in Edinburgh has not slowed down any works being undertaken with projects in the area including gas supplies; fluid dispensing works; ventilation; design for Superloos; Control Centre Renewals; Millerhill Sidings; and initial tendering enquiries for the proposed new Forth Bridge Visitor Centre.  Closer to home we remain an important part of schemes for Carstairs Rationalisation; design works for Saltcoats station waiting room; design for platform water heaters in Ayrshire; and ticket vending machine design across multiple sites.  In Glasgow itself we are pleased to still be involved with remedial works at multiple stations including Paisley Gilmour St and Burntisland; a scheme associated with the DHL at Cadder; and, of course, Glasgow Central Station where we are still providing design advice for power supplies; lighting DB design; work on the ScotRail simulators; retail supplies; and retail units at Network Rail properties.  Depots across the country are also still generating varied works encompassing accommodation design; LMD CETs; departure roads, drainage, office HVAC; and points converters.  Although it is hard to believe, we may be just as busy in England as we are in Scotland right now, with shore supplies design at Crewe; design near Widnes; additional design for London to Corby; and the pre-appointment stage of works for a subway pump in Goole and a selection of managed stations.  We continue to await the beginning of works at Whitley Bay, while reactive works are ongoing for Birmingham and Euston Stations. 

Away from the Railway we are pleased to continue to add to our commercial portfolio with an office refurbishment in Kilsyth and provision of design advice for ventilation in a Cumbernauld Vape Shop.  We also remain involved with works related to the ash lagoons in Valleyfield created following the closure of Longannet Power Station in 2016; a primary school in Moray; and preparatory works for a potential scheme across several Scottish lighthouses.

While we have said hello to many new opportunities this month, we also, sadly, have had to say goodbye to two important members of the SVM team.  Our friendly cleaner who has served us well since the company’s initial inception in Claremont Terrace in 2004 has finally hung up his rubber gloves and we hope that he enjoys his well-earned retirement.  Also, Electrical engineer Ryan Anderson has moved on to pastures new and we are grateful for all his efforts while with SVM and wish him luck in his future endeavours.  If you hadn’t already done the maths, this leaves an empty seat in the SVM office!  So if you would like to be involved in these exciting projects and you have Railway based electrical and mechanical design experience in a consultancy/contractor setting, please send your CV and covering letter to elise.mclean@svm-glasgow.co.uk – and that seat could be yours.