by Clair Mooney | Oct 22, 2021 | Sustainability
As the world prepares for COP26, the time for action and concrete agreement to reduce carbon emissions and invest in our future is now. Government and industry have a crucial opportunity to agree tangible commitments, benefitting future generations across the world.
Our role as part of the Built Environment and Construction Sector (which accounts for 38% of global carbon emissions) is vital. The Construction Leadership Council’s Construct Zero programme is leading the industry’s drive to net zero and has announced its confirmed line-up for ‘Construction: The Built Environment’ at COP26 on 11 November.
The role of our industry young professionals, working in partnership with industry leaders is fundamental to delivering on Net Zero. They have passion, and some fantastic ideas were heard through the youth COP summit in Milan and CLC’s young people’s summit. To facilitate the voice of young professionals, 50% of tickets will be allocated to young professionals.
The session will be co-chaired by Sarah Linnell (Cundall). Sarah brings with her an exciting array of relevant knowledge and experience as a structural engineer turned sustainability engineer. This will provide a great opportunity for young people to engage at this session and work with our industry leaders.
Attendees will also hear from Actuate UK, Saint Gobain and the Construction Industry Council on how they, as Construct Zero partners, are already advancing the importance of retrofit, materials, and design/professional services in delivering Net Zero.
There will be debate on some of Construct Zero’s priorities with four current Business Champions (Keltbray, Costain, Atkins and Travis Perkins), identifying some of the challenges they face, and opportunities to share best practice.
Also beign r eleased is ‘Building a Greener Britain’. This exciting film reaches out into local communities, demonstrating some of the great work taking place across the sector. Streamed online through COP26’s YouTube channel, CLC will be bringing the challenges and opportunities of Net Zero to industry, leaders, SMEs, young industry professionals and the general public. If you want to make a difference to our growing sector, understand in detail how colleagues have overcome similar barriers to what you are experiencing, or have a group of interested young emerging professionals, please sign up and register for the event!
Andy Mitchell, co-chair of the CLC said:
“The world will be watching as the Construction Leadership Council takes the stage as part of events at COP26. I am delighted with our line-up of industry experts who can speak about the role that construction can play in delivering net zero carbon. We hope that they can lead change not just in the UK but promote better outcomes for construction worldwide”.
Hannah Vickers, CLC CO2nstructZero and Chief of staff at Mace said:
“COP26 has the potential to be a landmark moment for the planet, and it’s outcome will have a great impact on the construction sector in the UK. The Construction Leadership Council has a huge role to play as our sector transforms itself over the coming years, and we’re very pleased to able to announce the line up for our event on Cities and the Built Environment Day at the conference. I would encourage everyone in the industry to get involved in anyway you can – our industry is changing quickly, and we must work together current and future leaders to ensure success”.
It’s free to attend, a great learning opportunity live in the COP Green Zone and an opportunity for you to put your questions to our speakers. It promises to be a fascinating series of debates as the construction sector engages at COP26!
Only by working together, in partnership, and building on COP26, will we collectively build back better, faster and greener.
by Clair Mooney | Oct 22, 2021 | Main News Feed
A refreshed suite of guidance on managing COVID-19 within construction contracts has been published by the Business Model workstream of the Construction Leadership Council.
The updated documents now include revised information on future-proofing JCT / NEC amendments for new contracts to ensure that if circumstances change parties take a collaborative approach. The suite also provides templates to allow parties to formally record how they can avoid disputes.
The pandemic continues to have a significant impact on the construction sector. Industry has collaborated to address the challenges that have arisen, but concern remains that businesses and their clients could still be bogged down by expensive and lengthy disputes on the impact of the virus on projects.
The publication:
• Updates and brings all guidance and corresponding templates into one place, in an easy-to-use navigable format for reference.
• Provides additional templates to allow parties to conclude their collaboration as a formal adjustment to their contracts.
• Provides a range of templates to support those at different stages of their contracts.
Commenting, Steve Bratt, Chair of the CLC’s Business Models Workstream said:
“Over the last eighteen months, the CLC has advocated for responsible and fair behaviour in both existing and future contractual arrangements to secure the long-term health of the construction industry.
“We supported companies and their clients by publishing extensive contractual guidance for COVID-19 which has been positively received.
“As our industry continues to recover, the CLC has reviewed, updated and added to the suite of contractual guidance helping those on the front line to Build Back Better.”
The guidance documents are available here
by Clair Mooney | Oct 21, 2021 | Skills
Earlier this month, Chancellor Rishi Sunak, announced that the £3000 incentive payment for hiring a new apprentice will be extended until the end January 2022.
For apprentices with an employment start date from 1 April 2021 to 30 September 2021
Employers must apply by 30 November 2021. Apprentices must have an employment start date from 1 April 2021 to 30 September 2021. They must also have an apprenticeship start date from 1 April 2021 to 30 November 2021.
For apprentices with an employment start date from 1 October 2021 to 31 January 2022
Employers can recruit now and apply later! Applications will open in January 2022. Apprentices must have an employment start date from 1 October 2021 to 31 January 2022.
How to apply
To receive the payment, employers must submit an application for each eligible apprentice using their apprenticeship service account. This how to video provides a step-by-step guide.
by Clair Mooney | Oct 21, 2021 | Skills
The Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF) is a Scottish Government initiative that enables employers to address priority skills and skills gaps in their organisation by accessing funding to create training programmes that meet their needs. These programmes can be delivered in partnership with their local college, The Open University in Scotland (OUiS) or an independent training provider.
The FWDF is open both to UK Apprenticeship Levy paying employers and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Scotland. Apprenticeship Levy payers have access to a £13 million fund in 2020-21 through the college sector and can access training up to the value of £15,000, where specific training needs cannot be provided via a local college. For more information please see: Flexible Workforce Development Fund
by Clair Mooney | Oct 21, 2021 | Building Safety Act
The BSI has launched a consultation on Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 8672, which aims to establish the competences required by Principal Contractors, and individuals designated by them, to meet their responsibilities under new building safety legislation. It builds on recommendations in the Setting the Bar report that individuals undertaking the three roles with oversight of building safety at each stage of a building’s lifecycle ‐ Principal Designer, Principal Contractor and Building Safety Manager ‐ must have the necessary skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours. FIS members are asked to submit comments on the PAS to Iain McIlwee by Friday 29 October.
by Clair Mooney | Oct 21, 2021 | Main News Feed
In light of rising COVID‐19 case numbers, Health Secretary Sajid Javid gave a press conference on Wednesday and urged people to get vaccinated and take precautions against the virus, including meeting outdoors, wearing masks in crowded enclosed spaces, and taking regular lateral flow tests. Whilst acknowledging that the pandemic is not over and the virus will be with us for the long term, he confirmed that the Government would not be moving to ‘Plan B‘ at this stage but would remain vigilant.
Construction sites should continue to minimise the risk of COVID‐19 and the Site Operating Procedures remain available as a reference document. There is also the Use of Face Coverings in Construction and sites may wish to maintain workplace testing programmes. The Build UK COVID‐19 flowchart is regularly updated on the actions to take if a worker has the virus or needs to self‐isolate, and FIS Associate Member Citation has published guidance for employers on the key questions to think about when developing and implementing a vaccination policy for staff.
by Clair Mooney | Oct 21, 2021 | Main News Feed
The CICV Forum, in which FIS is actively involved, has produced an advice document offering a practical checklist that will help employers identify and help safety-critical workers who may be suffering from the ongoing effects of Long Covid.
Long Covid is a condition that, at the time of writing in October 2021, currently affects approximately 60,000 people in the UK – and numbers will inevitably continue to rise as we move through the pandemic. It is defined as “Signs and symptoms that develop during or following an infection consistent with COVID-19 which continue for more than 12 weeks and are not explained by an alternative diagnosis.”
Sufferers can require practical, medical, and emotional support similar to that already offered by employers for conditions such as cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome (also known as ME) and diabetes..
As some of the symptoms of Long Covid could have an impact on safety-critical roles, it is important to consider any new conditions that may have developed. Health issues or conditions that affect an individual’s performance or present a risk of sudden incapacity could have serious consequences.
The practical checklist is available to download at https://cicvforum.co.uk/downloads/
by Clair Mooney | Oct 20, 2021 | Sustainability
Ahead of the COP 26 summit next week, the Government has published a Net Zero Strategy setting out how the UK will reach net zero emissions by 2050.
The Strategy sets out an economy-wide plan for how British businesses and consumers will be assisted in making the transition to clean energy and will support the creation of thousands of high-skilled jobs in new industries across the UK.
Four government documents were issued and below is a link to each document and a very short comment.
UK Government Net Zero Strategy https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/net-zero-strategy
This is the overarching strategy of how to reach the UK’s 2050 Net Zero target and the interim milestones of a 68% cut by 2030 and 78% by 2035. It is the first such national strategy in the world.
Heat and Buildings Strategy https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/heat-and-buildings-strategy
Moving Buildings towards Net Zero is a combination and balance of making buildings more energy efficient and providing non-fossil fuel based heating systems (e.g. heat pumps, heat networks or hydrogen). In this Strategy the withdrawal of gas boilers in favour of heat pumps looms large, with insulation and retrofit taking a low profile. There seems little acknowledgement that a whole house approach is needed if heat is to be provided by a heat pump, i.e. are the radiators suitable, is there a water cylinder to store heat. There does seem more optimism than reality that the price of a heat pump will plummet in a very short time period to be equivalent to the price of a gas boiler. Installing such kit will in any case require that a house is well insulated otherwise the heat pump is likely to fail to deliver the comfort required.
The grants announced to be available from April 2022 will help only 90,000 homes install low carbon heating solutions. The target is for 600,000 heat pumps to be installed annually from 2028. Heat pumps currently are much more expensive than gas boilers, are rather large, need an outside wall and require an internal water cylinder for heat storage.
(For an excellent overview of what is required for a home to have an efficient heating system using a heat pump read the HHIC report: Heating Up to Net Zero).
Another area of controversy is the validity of using EPC band C as meaning that a home has an efficiency rating suitable to help us reach Net Zero – many experts very much disagree and this has been well documented in a number of reports.
Tucked away in a quiet corner is the announcement of a consultation on a market-based mechanism for low carbon heat which is to introduce an obligation on the manufacturers of gas and oil boilers sold on the UK market to achieve the sale of a certain number of heat pumps, and potentially other low-carbon heating appliances, proportional to their boiler sales in each period. Lets hope consumers are willing to buy the heat pumps produced !
The potential opportunities of hydrogen will await the outcome of current pilot trials.
Treasury’s Net Zero Review https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/net-zero-review-final-report
Without financing the Net Zero Strategy remains a wish list, and it is widely reported that the Chancellor is not fully on board as to how to pay for the Net Zero transition, especially with the decline of fuel duty as people make the switch to electric cars. Clearly the tax regime will need a fundamental review. The Review “considers the potential macroeconomic effects of the transition; the potential economic opportunities and risks of the transition; the factors affecting a household’s exposure to the transition; the policy levers that could support the transition; and the likely fiscal implications of the transition”.
“Treasury Greening Finance: A Roadmap to Sustainable Investing https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greening-finance-a-roadmap-to-sustainable-investing
This is about ways to ensure that information on sustainability is available to financial market decision-makers, that they act upon it, and that “financial flows across the economy shift to align with a net zero and nature-positive economy”. Existing disclosure requirements will be streamlined – such as the UK’s commitment to make reporting aligned with the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) mandatory – with new requirements, including on reporting environmental impact.
Further information is available on the Government’s Net Zero Strategy is available here.
by Clair Mooney | Oct 15, 2021 | Building Safety Act, Technical
Gov.UK have published the following updates of draft regulation concerning the Building Safety Bill which is currently going through Parliament. These are:
The Construction Products Regulations 2022
- These regulate the safety of construction products being placed on the UK market.
- Part 2 sets out a general safety requirement which all construction products must meet
- Part 3 sets out provisions with respect to safety-critical products, how safety-critical standards may be developed and by whom (BSI) as well as giving the obligations for economic operators
- Part 4 requires economic operators not to make false or misleading claims about construction products
- Part 5 covers enforcement
- Part 6 makes clear that nothing in the regulation will prevent lawfully CE marked construction products from being placed on the NI market
- Part 7 extends to GB only and makes provision for qualifying NI goods to be placed on the GB market.
The Higher-Risk Buildings (Prescribed Principles for Management of Building Safety Risks) Regulations 2022
These regulations set out the principles an accountable person must follow in taking all reasonable steps to prevent a building safety risk materialising or reducing the severity of any incident resulting from a risk materialising.
Other updates can be found in the following documents:
- The Higher-Risk Buildings (Descriptions and Supplementary Provisions) Regulations 2021
- The Buildings (Appointment of Persons, Industry Competence and Duty holders) (England) Regulations 2021
- The Building (Higher-Risk Buildings) (England) Regulations 2022
- The Building (Restricted Activities and Functions)(Engalnd0 Regulations 2022
All these documents are available here.
If you have any feedback, please email iainmcilwee@thefis.org
by Clair Mooney | Oct 15, 2021 | Main News Feed, Skills
Thousands of working adults will be offered free courses to rapidly upskill in STEM sectors including engineering, digital and construction.
65 short and modular courses will start to roll out from later this month at 10 Institutes of Technology (IoTs) across England in sought-after STEM subjects. This will include courses such as Digitisation of Manufacturing and Digital Construction.
The courses will be a blend of classroom and remote online study, and will vary in length from 50 to 138 hours – giving more adults greater flexibility in how and when they learn, so they can fit it around their lives.
The government’s network of Institutes of Technology – collaborations between leading employers, further education colleges and universities – specialise in delivering high-quality Higher Technical Education and training in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects, such as digital, advanced manufacturing and engineering, providing employers with the skilled workforce they need.
A total of £6.4 million is being invested to support IoTs to offer the free courses, which will support up to 4,000 working adults to get on the path to a new, rewarding career and will plug local skills shortages.
Boosting the uptake and quality of Higher Technical Qualifications – that sit between A levels and degrees – and supporting adults to study more flexibly throughout their lives is a key part of the government’s landmark reforms to post-16 education and training.
A major review of higher technical education revealed these qualifications can unlock the skills employers need and lead to well paid jobs. However, it also shows that the quality of qualifications on offer at further and higher education providers can be variable and it can be hard for students and employers to find the ones that are right for them.
From September 2022, the government will start rolling out newly approved Higher Technical Qualifications, beginning with Digital, and followed by Construction and Health in 2023. A full suite of qualifications will be available by 2025.
Higher Technical Qualifications will provide a natural progression route for both young people taking T Levels or A levels, and adults looking to upskill or retrain – enabling them to take the next step up and gain higher technical skills in key subjects like STEM.
by Clair Mooney | Oct 15, 2021 | Sustainability
Ahead of the UN climate change conference (COP26) hosted in Glasgow later this month, two briefing sessions will take place next week for businesses to hear from senior UK officials on plans for COP, as well as how they can follow and support the activities going on in the blue and green zones and regional activity.
- Wednesday 20 October 09:00-10:00 BST. Link to join is here
- Thursday 21 October 16:30-17:30 BST. Link to join is here
Small businesses from across the UK are invited to join the green business revolution and commit to becoming more sustainable. By November, the aim is for as many UK small businesses as possible to join the UN’s ‘Race to Zero’, a global effort to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases we all generate to zero by 2050.
Small businesses can sign up to the Race to Zero by visiting the new Business Climate Hub which is an official UK Government site offering practical steps on cutting emissions and inspiring success stories from other businesses. Taking action on climate change will help businesses to grow, seize new opportunities and adapt against the challenges of a changing planet. Reducing emissions can lower running costs, save money, attract new customers and help to start a green business movement.
by Clair Mooney | Oct 14, 2021 | Main News Feed
Has your business or project created a more open and inclusive culture where everyone feels valued?
Has it:
• Attracted new employees from a wider talent pool?
• Helped address gender or racial inequality in the industry?
• Removed barriers to inclusion, enabling all employees and potential employees to have the same opportunities?
• Increased employability rates in the community?
• Helped tackle issues in today’s society?
• Built collaborative relationships with stakeholders and suppliers?N
Now in its fifth year, the Inspiring Change Awards and Conference highlight and reward organisations within the construction and infrastructure sector that have created a more inclusive culture. Creating open and inclusive workplace cultures in which everyone feels valued, and respects colleagues, is recognised as key to business success. Increasingly, employees want to work in companies that recognise the importance of fairness, inclusion and respect and clients are focussing on diversity and inclusion within their procurement policies.
Submissions to the 2021 Awards are asked to provide evidence that the organisation recognises the value of employee and/or community engagement and that they have introduced initiatives that have achieved benefits for both the business and the community. Entries needed to show how initiatives are aligned to company goals, made a sustainable and positive impact on the workforce or community in which it operates and have delivered positive results.
Judges are looking for innovative interventions that are aligned to company strategy and will inspire other employers to follow their lead. The awards recognise businesses that improve the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large.
Categories
The following categories will be awarded:
• Inspiring Change in the Workplace – Company and Project
• Inspiring Change in the Community – Company and Project
• Inspiring Change in Education – Company and Project
• The FIR Inspiration Award
• Inspiring Change SME Award – SMEs entering one of the three main categories will automatically be entered for this Award
Eligibility
The Inspiring Change 2021 Awards are eligible for all those working in the construction industry and build environment in the UK. There are awards for SMEs and project-based initiatives. The deadline for entry is 22 October 2021. For more information visit www.inspiringchangeawards.com or contact brionywickenden@ceca.co.uk.
by Clair Mooney | Oct 14, 2021 | Main News Feed, Skills
Construction T-Levels are now available for the following areras of our sector:
- Design, surveying and planning
- Onsite construction with an occupational specialism in plastering which includes drylining
T-Levels are two-year courses with a 45 day industrial placement for 16 to 19 year olds. Designed with employers, each T-Level is an alternative to three A levels, and can lead to an accelerated apprenticeship. They also help young people develop the knowledge, attitude and practical skills to thrive in the workplace.
At the heart of each course, a 45-day industry placement will give you early access to the brightest talent entering your market. Employers that are interested in offering an industry placement, can get help to find a local college, school or training provider to partner with. They will support you at every stage of the industry placement so you can focus on getting the most out of your placement student.
Over the autumn, the Department for Education and SDN are hosting a series of online sessions to help employers explore, plan for, and host T-Level industry placements. They’ve started a new series to give employers a more in-depth understanding of placements for particular T-Levels. They’re also covering specific topics to support employers and their teams. Topics covered include:
- The role of the line manager and mentor in industry placements (27 October)
- Introduction to industry placements – supporting your workforce development (9 November)
- Hosting industry placements in construction roles (18 November)
- A longer two-hour industry placement workshop, to start planning for industry placements and talk with other like-minded employers (30 November)
You can find out more and register here
Candidates are available for work placement now, if you would like more information please see: https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/ If you need information, advice and/or guidance please call FIS on 0121 707 0077 or email info@thefis.org
by Clair Mooney | Oct 14, 2021 | Labour, Skills
Certificates were presented to Sandwell College adult learners to mark their successful completion of the FIS BuildBack Drylining Programme. The learners received training in drylining fixer boarder and finisher across a six week programme.
Stuart Smith Project Manager for HSS Tool Hire presented each learner with a set of tools, and in addition to the tools, each candidate is equipped for the workplace with a full set of PPE and a CSCS card. Four candidates have acquired work placements with local finishes and interiors companies and four are looking for an opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities to potential employers.
If you are interested in taking on a candidate or would like to explore how this project can help your own recruitment please contact Catherine Bullough by calling 07900 083325 or email catherinebullough@thefis.org or call Marie Flinter on 07799 903103 or email marieflinter@thefis.org
Funded through CITB, BuildBack is a collaborative recruitment and induction programme facilitated by FIS. You can find out more information at https://www.thefis.org/skills-hub/recruitment-induction/buildback/
by Clair Mooney | Oct 13, 2021 | Market data
The
latest information from Builders’ Conference shows that there were
441 contracts worth £7.5 billion awarded in September. Whilst the value was 60% higher than the previous month (£4.7 billion), it did include a £2.2 billion contract for the Colne Valley Viaduct which is part of HS2, underlining the importance of the Government’s investment in infrastructure. For the first time since December 2020, the public sector outperformed the private sector, recording 51% of the value. There were 165 housing projects worth £2.5 billion (33%) and 55 office projects with a total value of £561 million (8%).
The number of tender opportunities was 24% down on August and remained 53% below the monthly average for the past year.
by Clair Mooney | Oct 8, 2021 | Main News Feed
FIS is proud to partner with the first ever Workspace Design Show which will take place on 4-5 November 2021 at the Business Design Centre in London. This event is a must-attend for anyone in the sector – and it is free to attend!
After all the recent disruption to the workspace industry, there is huge change underway in how we are designing our office interiors to improve the employee experience. The Workspace Design Show will be a great chance to listen to the latest thought leadership, check out the newest and most innovative interiors products, and network with your industry peers again.
The Workspace Design Talks conference will feature top level A&D speakers from Gensler, Grimshaw, Perkins&Will, AECOM, Arup, Areen, MCM, tp bennett, MF Design Studio, BDP Architecture, and end-user clients such as HMRC, PwC, BBC, McCann, Aviva, The Office Group, Co-space, DLA Piper and more. Panel discussions will open up challenging debates to uncover the latest thinking in how design can influence employee wellbeing, engagement, creativity & productivity, as well as the latest workspace design trends in sustainability, flexibility and inclusivity.
The attendee list includes delegates confirmed from Government Property Agency, Oktra, Unispace, Vodafone, Barclays Bank, NHS Property Services, Crown Commercial Service, Faith and Gould, We Work, CBRE, British Land, Morgan Lovell.
Your complimentary guest pass will give you access to the exhibition as well as all the talks featuring the above speakers, the Leisure Area to use as a co-working space or a meeting space or just a place to relax/ work from during the two days as well as free coffee, tea, hot chocolate throughout the 2 days at 3 dedicated coffee stations.
The Show floor will also feature re-creations of commercial interiors such as the Design Talks Lounge designed and curated by The Furniture Practice, The VIP Lounge designed by Rainlight Studio, built by AASK US and curated by Obolife. Spaces Taylored and Seven Hills Workspace collaboratively designed and curated the leisure area and the exhibition area will include leading brands such as Humanscale, Spacestor, Tarkett, Interface, Actiu, Zumtobel, Andreu World, Benchmark Furniture, Buzzispace, and many more.
Register now for your complimentary tickets > https://bit.ly/37HrsM9
by Clair Mooney | Oct 7, 2021 | Skills
At this week’s Conservative Party Conference there was a clear focus on skills, with the Chancellor announcing a £500 million expansion to the Plan for Jobs. This includes extending the £3,000 incentive payment for businesses hiring an apprentice until 31 January 2022, as well as extending the Kickstart Scheme to March 2022, with applications remaining open from employers and gateways until 17 December 2021.
Businesses can now also benefit from over £1 million funding that has been pledged to support apprenticeships in other businesses.
Since 13 September, levy paying employers have been able to create a pledge of up to 25% of their annual levy funds to support apprenticeships in other businesses. They can select how much funding they want to transfer and set optional criteria for the types of businesses and apprenticeships they would like to support.
Employers have already pledged over £1 million for the 2021 to 2022 financial year, with many more expected to pledge in the coming weeks. All businesses can now browse these funding opportunities and apply for funding to pay for 100% of their apprenticeship training and assessment costs (up to the funding band maximum). Levy paying employers can use their apprenticeship service accounts to review, approve or reject any pledge applications
George Swann FIS Skills and Training Lead said:
This is good news with labour for the finishes and interiors sector in short supply it will not immediately fix the problem, but if employers invest in new talent now it will reduce future impact by creating a pool of qualified individuals.
by Clair Mooney | Oct 7, 2021 | Main News Feed
Later this month the Chancellor of the Exchequer will set out his Autumn Budget and Spending Review to Parliament.
It should not be underestimated how important this is both to the UK economy, and to companies from across the UK construction industry.
This Spending Review will set the money available to public bodies to deliver their priorities over the coming three years. As such it is the moment at which strategic priorities and budgets are set for government departments. As outlined in the recent construction pipeline publication, many capital programmes are already supported by long-term funding settlements. As a result, the Spending Review can be expected to add further detail to government’s approach to investment paid for by the public purse.
The Construction Leadership Council has written to the Chancellor outlining how the Government can get best return on money committed to construction delivery and maintenance.
We need to be clear on the circumstances in which this letter has been prepared. Last year we all welcomed the enormous and unprecedented financial interventions that the Government delivered to support companies and employees through the biggest crisis in generations. We also welcomed the significant investment commitment in last year’s Spending Review. Inevitably however, the pandemic has left the public finances in an extremely challenging state.
It may surprise people in the industry that this has not led to the preparation of a long list of new projects we want the Government to back. We all know that there is a huge amount to be done, not least in accelerating the decarbonisation of the UK’s existing building stock, and it is clear that construction is a huge driver of economic growth.
Put simply, there is little point in presenting the Government with a further list of works that almost inevitably would have to be ignored, and in the process losing the opportunity to emphasise those things that the government could and should continue to invest in. We should remember that the Government has already displayed its confidence in the industry through its support to building back better including major investments including HS2 and the Health Infrastructure Plan.
We hope and expect that the Chancellor will use the Spending Review to commit to maintaining existing levels of investment beyond the current spending review period. This will sustain employment and growth in a way that few other industries can – levelling up communities large and small across the whole of the UK.
Our second ask is linked to the Government’s commitment to deliver net zero carbon by 2050. We know as an industry that one of the single largest interventions to achieve this would be a programme to retrofit the UK’s existing housing stock, driving carbon out of the heating and running of homes.
We are not asking for money at this stage but instead something that is in the long term more important. In advance of the completion of the Heat and Buildings Strategy, we are calling for the national retrofit programme to become a strategic priority for government in the coming three years. This will mean that it is an area of significant concern for senior ministers to work with industry, developing a fully funded programme paid for both by public and private sector, to secure a step change in the carbon performance of the built environment.
We have welcomed the work that has already been done by the Construction Innovation Hub to improve the productivity of industry. Building on this work will act as an enabler of the retrofit programme, driving the innovation to push down cost. For this reason, our only specific new funding ask is that the Government continues to match industry support for the Hub to develop new and better approaches to retrofit. This support will also underpin ongoing work to develop digital twins of UK built assets, allowing them to be much more effectively managed, securing lower long-term costs and much better carbon performance.
We know that to deliver all this we will need to upgrade our skills. We are not calling for a specific funding intervention for construction but instead have asked that the government sustains its efforts to promote future skills by maintaining existing support for employers to take on apprenticeships and continues to refine the operation of the Apprenticeship Levy.
The CLC’s mission is to support the sector to provide leadership and to collaborate to deliver industry change. The Government plays a huge rule in delivering this change – we hope that the Spending Review will help us take the next big step towards a better industry for everyone.
by Clair Mooney | Oct 6, 2021 | Skills
The Education and Skills Funding Agency have updated the guidance on apprenticeships initial assessment to recognise prior learning. The updated guidance supports providers to tailor apprenticeship programmes to meet apprentices’ needs by establishing the correct starting point for each apprentice. It also contains important information for employers and apprentices about the need for, and importance of, initial assessment and recognition of prior learning.
In response to industry feedback, they have included more information about how to conduct the initial assessment and assess prior learning and experience in accordance with the policy intent and the apprenticeship funding rules. The update includes:
- expanded content on why it is important to conduct initial assessment
- a new section on the benefits of recognising prior learning
- expanded content on how to conduct initial assessment and how prior learning and experience can be assessed – including a case study
- a new section on what prior learning and experience should not be included
- expanded content on who is responsible for the recognition of prior learning and experience
- a new section on how other technical education programmes that are aligned to occupational standards should be taken account of
This guidance will be kept under review as further training programmes that are aligned to employer designed occupational standards are introduced.
by Clair Mooney | Oct 1, 2021 | Health and Safety
HSE’s inspectors across Great Britain will be targeting construction firms to check that their health standards are up to scratch during a month-long inspection initiative, starting on Monday 4 October 2021.
This year inspections will focus on respiratory risks and occupational lung disease, looking at the control measures businesses have in place to protect their workers’ lungs from construction dust including silica, asbestos and wood dust. This is part of HSE’s longer term health and work strategy to improve health within the construction industry.
While the primary focus will be on health during this programme of inspections, if an inspector identifies any other areas of concern, including immediate safety risks, they will take the necessary action to deal with them.
Inspectors will be looking for evidence of employers and workers knowing the risks, planning their work and using the right controls. If necessary, they will use enforcement to make sure people are protected.
The initiative will be supported by HSE’s WorkRight campaign, aimed at influencing employer behaviour by encouraging builders to download free guidance and advice, increasing knowledge and capability to protect workers’ health.
More than 3,500 builders die each year from cancers related to their work, with thousands more cases of ill-health and working days lost.
HSE’s chief inspector of construction, Sarah Jardine, said:
“Around 100 times as many workers die from diseases caused or made worse by their work than are actually killed in construction accidents.
“Our inspection initiatives ensure that inspectors are able to speak to duty holders and visit sites to look at the kind of action businesses in the construction industry are taking right now to protect their workers’ health, particularly when it comes to exposure to dust and damage to lungs. These are mature health challenges that the industry ought to be managing effectively.
“There are a few simple things that everyone can do to make sure they are protecting their health and their future. Be aware of the risks associated with activities you do every day, recognise the dangers of hazardous dust and consider how it can affect your health. We want businesses and their workers to think of the job from start to finish and avoid creating dust by working in different ways to keep dust down and wear the right protective equipment.”
HSE is being supported by the Health in Construction Leadership Group (HCLG) and Tier 1 industry contractors. Throughout October 2021, HCLG members will carry out more than 1,000 site visits to assess the effectiveness of measures in place to controls workers’ exposure to respiratory risks from dust. Findings from site visits and a survey will allow industry to feed into HSE’s broader commitment to improve the health of construction workers by providing HSE with a wider dataset to evaluate ongoing practices across industry.
HSE and industry Insights will support HSE’s strategic plan to broaden the range and depth of future regulatory health interventions.
For more information on the programme of inspections visit the Work Right campaign website: https://workright.campaign.gov.uk/campaigns/construction-dust/
