by Clair Mooney | Sep 6, 2022 | Sustainability, Transformation
The Cabinet Office has now published the first revision of the Construction Playbook. The Playbook captures commercial best practices and specific sector reforms outlining the government’s expectations of how contracting authorities and suppliers, including the supply chain, should engage with each other.
These are set out in 14 key policies for how the government should assess, procure and deliver public works projects and programmes which all central government departments and their arms length bodies are expected to follow on a ‘comply or explain’ basis.
This is the culmination of 6 months work, which has involved people from across Whitehall and the construction sector, and to which BEIS has made a significant contribution, particularly in relation to the enhanced content in the Playbook and associated guidance on net zero carbon and environmental performance as a key component of a strategic approach to ensuring the sustainability of infrastructure and construction projects. The key points about the substance of these changes are:
- a clearer statement that whole life carbon assessments should be undertaken for all HMG construction projects and programmes, and that these should be consistent with strategic organisational objectives for decarbonising estates and improving carbon performance;
- further guidance on what action contracting authorities should be undertaking at each stage of the process for implementing these projects, from market engagement through to handover and operation, to deliver improved carbon outcomes, with an emphasis on benchmarking, monitoring and reporting these;
- pointing contracting authorities to a much wider range of external resources (toolkits, advice and guidance, promoting the circular economy and contractual clauses – the CIH Value Toolkit is regularly referenced, and we also cite Construct Zero in the Guidance Note) to support their efforts and enable them to embed a more comprehensive approach;
- incorporation of the need to address the provisions of the Environment Act 2021 (e.g. biodiversity net gain), and also emphasising the importance of wider considerations such as air and water quality; and
- additional and comprehensive guidance on Net Zero and Sustainability, including a set of case studies of best practice. We highly recommend the Foleshill Health Centre one as an example of what can be achieved – but we have also managed to include case studies from HS2, the Environment Agency, and also the product platform developed through the TCC with CIH involvement.
Comment of the revised launch of the Construction Playbook FIS CEO, Iain McIlwee stated:
“The Construction Playbook sets its stall out in the first line – the focus is getting projects and programmes right from the start. Nothing really is more important than this, as per our own research on procurment – the best form of dispute resolution is effective procurement in the first place. It is imperitive as the biggest client of construction in the UK that Government is an exemplar client and that the principles outlined in here extend to the wider public sector procurement and into institutional investors.”
The revised version of the Construction Playbook, together with associated documents is available here.
Details of FIS Research into Procurement is available here.
by Clair Mooney | Sep 6, 2022 | Sustainability
Given the need to focus all efforts on reducing the cost of energy, SME’s are reminded that they can get a free copy of the standard BSI ISO 50005 on energy management.
The aim of the guide is to help SMEs with their decarbonisation journey, and BEIS in a practical gesture, has sponsored 100,000 free copies of the BS ISO 50005 standard which is targeted at SMEs to help them “to develop a practical, low cost-approach to energy management to reduce energy consumption, energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions”.
Energy management systems are systematic tools that support businesses in managing their energy usage. The BS ISO 50005 standard is designed for SMEs through a phased/staged implementation approach to make it manageable for SMEs with small resource and capacity.
You can download your free copy here.
by Oscar Venus | Aug 25, 2022 | Sustainability
Working with Birmingham University FIS have been offered a limited number of places on a new and exciting Net Zero Together training course that will support businesses in improving sustainability within their business and on their projects. The course is aimed at individuals employed or are part of an organisation and wish to become “sustainability champions” in their organisation. In order to be eligible for the funded place the participants would ideally reside in the West Midlands area or carry out a substantial proportion of their work in the region. The participant must have the support of their organisation and be employed by that business.
Structure of the Course
The first half of the course will be looking at the fundamental understanding and useful information about Sustainability, Net-Zero, and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). This will be achieved through various teaching media including: virtual seminars; discussions; reading; and podcasts, to name a few.
The second part of the course will focus on the project work. The participants will be grouped into teams of 4-5 people. One of the organisations represented by a member in each group will be selected for the whole team to act as consultants in producing (or building upon) a sustainability plan for that organisation. For this part of the course, instead of weekly seminars there will be consultancy opportunities with industry and academic experts so the participants can ask more specific questions related to their particular project and gain greater insight and skills. The groups will then produce and deliver a presentation on their project at the end of the course at the Exchange.
In order to be eligible for the Skills Bootcamp Net Zero Together you will need:
- A letter of recommendation from your line manager or someone in a similar position.
- To demonstrate a role in the sustainability agenda in your company or that this course will help you become more involved.
- To be aged 19 or over.
- To have the right to work in the UK.
- To live in the West Midlands.
- To meet residency requirements.
Timings
September 2022 intake: To be eligible for assessment, your application must be complete and submitted before: Wednesday 14th September 2022. Before submitting your application, please make sure it is complete. Otherwise, your application will not be reviewed.
January 2023 intake: To be eligible for assessment, your application must be complete and submitted before: Wednesday 4th January 2023. Before submitting your application, please make sure it is complete. Otherwise, your application will not be reviewed.
Next Steps
FIS Sustainability Champion Flavie Lowres: “I know the team at Birmingham and they are doing great work. This is an amazing opportunity to develop knowledge within your business and our community and it would be great to see FIS Members grab it with both hands).
Places are limited and this is likely to be a very popular course – if you are interested in nominating a member of your team contact: Flavie Lowres flavielowres@thefis.org
by Clair Mooney | Aug 10, 2022 | Sustainability
Last year, the Cabinet Office issued a Public Procurement Note stipulating that government contracts procuring goods and/or services with an anticipated contract value above £5 million per annum will require suppliers to provide evidence of carbon reduction plans. The PPN applies to all Central Government Departments, their Executive Agencies and Non Departmental Public Bodies. Essentially, evidence of a carbon reduction plan becomes one of the selection criteria for bidding suppliers.
Whilst large companies will be aware of this Procurement Note, it is becoming apparent that big suppliers (clients and contractors for instance) are cascading this requirement down through their supply chains and it is reaching SMEs. It would be useful to hear if you have experience of this and how you are meeting this requirement – email details to flavielowres@thefis.org
The PPN includes a template at Annex A for a basic Carbon Reduction Plan confirming the supplier’s commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050 and setting out the environmental management measures they are taking and which will be in place throughout the duration of the contract.
You can see the 10 page Procurement Policy Note here.
by Clair Mooney | Jul 12, 2022 | Sustainability
FIS has thrown its support behind the upcoming Green Home Festival, which will be officially opened on Monday 8 August 2022 by Patrick Harvie as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights will be keynote speaker at the launch of the week-long renewables jamboree, which will deliver practical assistance and advice to help Scotland become a net zero nation.
Organised by the Construction Industry Collective Voice (CICV) – of which FIS is a key member – the five-day event will see 12 in-person and virtual presentations on green topics, targeting homeowners, professionals, housing associations and local authorities.
Iain McIlwee, FIS Chief Executive said:
“As a member of the CICV, we are delighted to support this inaugural festival, which will see industry experts share their knowledge and expertise with delegates to help inform about renewable technology.”
Live Green Home Festival sessions will take place at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) at 10 Charlotte Square in central Edinburgh. Each will offer demonstrations and hands-on guidance to help people reduce their carbon footprint and become more energy efficient.
With contributions from fellow CICV members including SELECT, SNIPEF and the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, the range of topics covered will include:
- Demystifying heat pumps
- Improving energy efficiency
- Building green neighbourhoods
- Protecting against floods
- Using sustainable materials
- Living safely in the future
- Hitting the road with EVs.
Online events include a webinar entitled Retrofitting a tenement, in which experts will explain how to reduce heating costs and cut carbon emissions in traditional buildings, including a Q&A and virtual tour of a renovation in Glasgow.
In another online session, Taking the Swedish View, award-winning Swedish construction company, Botkyrkabyggen, will reveal how they use solar panels, wind turbines, artificial intelligence and district heating to improve energy
Mr Harvie, who will kick off events at Charlotte Square before the first event, said:
“This inaugural Green Home Festival is greatly to be welcomed and its organisers, the members of the CICV, warmly congratulated on the initiative.
“The climate emergency is already upon us, and if we’re to stand a chance of preventing its worst consequences we need both government and industry to support a transformation of our homes and buildings. Many of the actions and new ideas needed are being advocated by the expert speakers and presenters over the week-long Green Home Festival programme.”
Members of the CICV are now aiming to build the week-long green jamboree into an annual event.
One of the organisers, Gordon Nelson, Scotland Director of the Federation of Master Builders, said:
“This event will highlight the important role that construction will play for Scotland to achieve its net zero target in the years ahead, and also help householders understand the new technology and ways of doing things.
“Delivered via collaboration across the Scottish construction industry through CICV, we are aiming to make this inaugural event an annual occasion that will help to build a long-term legacy and demonstrate our commitment to greener, low-carbon solutions.”
Full details, including how to book tickets for each event, are available on the Festival’s website at greenhomefestival.co.uk.
The festival is the latest in a string of practical and constructive initiatives launched by the CICV since its creation at the start of the pandemic in March 2020.
Made up of 29 trade associations, professional services bodies and companies, including FIS, it has maintained a steady supply of information and practical advice to the sector as well as carrying out surveys, producing animations and posters, hosting webinars and maintaining close dialogue with Scottish Government ministers.
by Clair Mooney | May 13, 2022 | Sustainability
Net Zero is rapidly becoming a high priority and therefore the FIS Sustainability Group has put together a series of papers to help FIS members understand more about the net zero agenda and its relevance to the finishes and interior sector. These papers provide members with an overview of:
- How to measure the whole life carbon impacts of products and projects using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach
- What net zero means at project and organisational levels and approaches to measuring the carbon footprint of an organisation
- An action plan for the sector to start getting a better understanding of the performances of FIS members
These papers provide an overview of the most commonly used jargon in relation to the topic, how to measure, what the drivers are and references to other relevant information.
They are freely available to FIS members at https://www.thefis.org/knowledge-hub/sustainablility/sustainability-related-to-your-activities/net-zero/
