The Biesse Group which designs, manufactures and distributes machinery for processing stone, wood, glass, plastic and metal has announced it is acquiring the entire share capital of GMM Finance S.r.l., (the holding company of the GMM Group) for approximately €72 million (equity value).

Due to complete in February, the deal will see Biesse taking on GMM S.p.A., Bavelloni S.p.A. and Techni Waterjet Ltd – and in addition, its Italian and foreign subsidiaries. In total, the GMM Group has 450 employees across the world and is present in 90 countries. It is being sold by Consilium Private Equity Fund III (managed by Consilium SGR p.a.) with a 75% holding, and FGL Holding s.r.l. (owned by the founding shareholders) with a 25% holding. 

GMM was founded in Gravellona Toce, Piedmont in 1993 and started out designing and assembling bridge cutters for the stone industry. In 2018, it acquired the Australian company Techni Waterjet and, in 2022, took over Italian company Bavelloni.

Financial reports from 2022 reported that the GMM Group had a turnover of €124 million, EBITDA of €12.5 million and net financial debt of €4.4 million. 

The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) is now welcoming applications from talented craftspeople – including stonemasons – who are looking to further their careers.

Applications close on 12 February at 5pm and Individual makers can apply for up to £18,000 in funding for Scholarships, up to £10,000 for Emerging Maker Grants and up to £12,000 for Apprenticeship training.

If you wish to apply but require further guidance, QEST will be running advice sessions via Zoom. These include:

How to Apply for an Emerging Maker Grant
15 January, 1pm-2pm
Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEucu2ppz0uH9UrRplXAc6vxyTvgAtFrfak#/registration
 
How to Apply for a Scholarship
19 January, 1pm-2pm
Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpcu2opj0tGddzzEdLacHUDjzCxNWMQ6B0#/registration
 
How to Apply for an Apprenticeship
24 January, 1pm-2pm
Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpf-usqjstGNy8vbjwePG_hyiHH4AmLfit#/registration
 
Find out more information visit: https://www.qest.org.uk/

The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity will be visiting construction sites across the UK and Ireland in 2024 as part of its #MakeItVisible tour aiming to deliver wellbeing support – and companies in the industry can request a free visit via its website.

All members of the Make it Visible team are ‘on the tools’ and share their own experiences in an informal way while informing workers of the support available to them and their families. The ‘Toolbox Talk’ allows everyone on site to share their first-hand life experiences and focus on the importance of positive mental health and wellbeing. There is also a dedicated, private space for confidential conversations.

Participants will receive a Make it Visible goody bag containing information on the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity's services and some free gifts – there will also be an opportunity to enter a draw to win a prize valued at £400.

The first tour begins in Scotland on 5 February and finishes in the North East on 19 July with many more regions covered in between.

To request a visit, see the Lighthouse Charity's website.

Falls from height were the cause of most work-related fatalities in Britain during 2022/23, according to the latest figures from the Health & Safety Executive, with 40 workers killed in falls from height last year. 
To reduce injuries and fatalities employers can now use HSE’s latest guidance to ensure they take the necessary precautions to protect employees. 

HSE’s website also has a range of useful information and sources of advice for employers, including key messages to follow before working from height and some common work-at-height myths. 

There are also useful resources available, including relevant publications which are free to download, including: Introduction to working at height; common work at height myths; working at height - the law 
plus links to websites with advice on safe working at height.

For more information, visit hse.gov.uk

Sean Adcock, a Dry Stone Walling Association Master Craftsman has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to dry stone walling. Adcock is the six-time North Wales Professional Champion in dry stone walling and has taught students across the world, undertaken large-scale projects (including a temple in California) in addition to writing a number of books and producing technical guides on the subject.

The Caernarfon-based waller told the Rhyll, Prestatyn and Abergele Journal: "My partner had seen the envelope and was urging me to open it – I was more interested in the DIY parcels that had arrived; I didn't even notice 'The Cabinet Office' on the envelope, and probably wouldn't have twigged even if I had!  I'm certain there are others in the area more deserving than myself but haven't been fortunate enough to have been nominated in the first place."

Adcock who earned a degree in Modern History and Politics in the 1980s, has been a waller for 35 years after initially taking a year off after university to join a conservation volunteer project. 

A commemorative plaque to honour the life and marriage of Charles Ignatius Sancho – the black abolitionist – has been unveiled during a ceremony at St Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey conducted by the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle –  Dean of Westminster. The actor and author Paterson Joseph who wrote The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho was also present and read a letter by Sancho.

London-based sculptor and carver Marcia Bennett Male created the Portland stone memorial in her studio in Woolwich. It also pays tribute to his wife, Ann Osborne and features the quote: "use your endeavour to be a good man and leave the rest to God."

Sancho was born on a slave ship in 1729 and, at two years old was taken to a house in Greenwich where he lived until 1749. It was during this time he met John Montagu – the 2nd Duke of Montagu who would later employ him and help Sancho further his education in the Arts. 

During his life, Sancho worked tirelessly for the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade and is believed to be the first man of African descent thought to have voted in a British election. He married his wife, Ann Osborne in St Margaret's Church in 1758 – the couples eight children were also baptised there and, following his death in 1780, he was buried in the churchyard there.

On the memorial, Marcia said: "Sometimes an engraving commission can become just another job if you’re not careful. You focus on the letters, the spacing and the depth. You can forget that there’s a person ‘behind’ it. I got into that mindset with the Sancho plaque until I reached a certain point towards the end when the realisation of the deep history regarding the people and the plaques eventual siting came back to me. Very moving."

St. Paul’s Cathedral was announced as the newest member of the Cathedrals’ Workshop Fellowship (CWF).  It joins twelve other institutions to be part of the Fellowship including Canterbury, Chester, Durham, Exeter, Gloucester, Lichfield, Lincoln, Salisbury, Westminster Abbey, Winchester, Worcester and York Minster.

During a visit to the London landmark, Clare Howcutt-Kelly of Stone Specialist talked to Rebecca Thompson – who became director of property at St Paul's in 2023 – about her plans to establish a new workshop facility in order to preserve heritage skills and encourage a more diverse team. 

On CWF's website, Frances Cambrook, the executive director of CWF said: “We are thrilled to welcome St. Paul’s Cathedral as our newest member. This collaboration exemplifies a joint commitment to sustainable conservation and the preservation of essential craft skills, ensuring the longevity of our architectural heritage. Both organisations are privileged to be working together and we can only strengthen the commitment to craft training and architectural conservation in our shared vision.”