by Clair Mooney | 26 Apr, 2021 | Main News Feed
The Construction Leadership Council has supported a new tool to drive better value in the delivery of future construction projects.
Today (26 April 2021) industry gets its first look at the Value Toolkit, an initiative that has been developed by the Construction Innovation Hub to drive value-based decision-making for construction.
The toolkit is intended to support the industry to move away from cost-based approaches to assessing projects, instead targeting better social, environmental and economic outcomes for every pound spent on buildings and infrastructure.
Construction Leadership Council members have been heavily involved in the development of the toolkit which is now moving into its pilot phase with 20 organisations looking to use under test toolkit on real life projects over the next six months.
CLC co-chair Andy Mitchell said: “At its core the Construction Leadership Council looks to find ways for the industry to harness innovation, skills and technology to deliver the outcomes wanted by the public. As such, we are delighted to support the development of the Value Toolkit, which is fully aligned with our mission.
“We want to commend the team that has developed the Toolkit, and encourage colleagues from across industry to support its pilot phase, as well as its wider roll out later this year.”
by Clair Mooney | 23 Apr, 2021 | Main News Feed
This week the Prime Minister reaffirmed that data supports keeping to the easing of lockdown roadmap. He emphasised that the UK, despite vaccine roll-out success, could be hit by a third wave of Coronavirus and announced the creation of a new antiviral taskforce to focus on rapid response in vaccine development.
The Scottish First Minister confirmed the most significant stage in lockdown easing on Tuesday signalling Scotland’s move to Level 3. From Monday 26 April, Scotland will see the reopening of hospitality, gyms and non-essential shops. Non-essential work inside people’s homes will also be possible – such as painting, decorating, or repairing, and the return of those in the shielding category to the workplace. Read the timetable for easing restrictions in Scotland.
In Wales, 6 people from 6 households can meet outdoors in Wales from Saturday, and in pub beer gardens once they reopen next week. Pressure is mounting on the First Minister to bring forward reopening plans for the indoor hospitality sector into line with England and Scotland, on 17 May. Read the current rules for Wales.
In Northern Ireland from 30 April, non-essential shops, hairdressers and outdoor areas at pubs and restaurants can reopen. You can also stay overnight in self-contained accommodation but only with your household or bubble. Read the guidance on current restrictions here.
In Engalnd, more businesses and venues were able to reopen from 12 April, such as non-essential shops, outdoor areas at pubs and restaurants, hairdressers, and gyms. Read the full guidance on what you can now do.
For all COVID updates, visit the FIS COVID-19 Hub here.
by Clair Mooney | 22 Apr, 2021 | Main News Feed
The Scottish Government has produced guidance to support businesses across Scotland to reopen safely by providing posters and digital assets that can be used to promote the latest guidance and regulations to employees and customers.
The Toolkit – Helping your business to reopen safely can be accessed here.
Businesses are encourgaed to utilise the toolkit and display them in key spaces where staff and the general public can see them. The guidance and regulations promoted in the resources are critical in our combined efforts to enable businesses to reopen safely while minimising the spread of COVID-19.
The campaign toolkit includes the following resources:
· 5 posters, covering messaging for both business staff and customers
· 4 social / digital posts
· An A5 leaflet
· A window sticker
by Clair Mooney | 21 Apr, 2021 | Main News Feed
Residents across England will be better protected as the government takes the next step to ensure materials used to build the nation’s homes are safe and tested properly.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has today (20 April 2021) appointed two experts to lead an independent review of the system for testing construction products. Former government adviser and construction expert Paul Morrell OBE will be the chair of the independent panel, along with legal expert Anneliese Day QC.
The review, announced earlier this year, will examine how to strengthen the current system for testing construction products to provide confidence that these materials are safe and perform as marketed.
The review forms part of the government’s ongoing programme of work to reform and strengthen building safety regulation and comes after testimony to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry exposed evidence of testing irregularities and potential gaming of the system by some manufacturers.
Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said:
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry has heard deeply concerning suggestions that some construction product manufacturers may have gamed the system for testing these materials and compromised the safety of residents.
We are taking these allegations very seriously and will await the Inquiry’s final recommendations – but it is clear that action is needed now to ensure products used on buildings always meet the highest safety standards.
I am pleased to appoint Paul Morrell OBE and Anneliese Day QC to lead this independent review of the system for testing construction products that will build on the significant progress we have already made to make buildings safer.
The panel will engage with a wide range of stakeholders to seek their views on how the system of safety testing of construction products could be improved and will report later this year with recommendations.
The government has already announced that a new National Regulator for Construction Products will be established within the Office of Product Safety and Standards and be given powers to remove any product from the market that presents a significant safety risk; and prosecute and fine any company that breaks the rules.
These measures form part of the government’s wider, ambitious reform of the sector, which includes the draft Building Safety Bill, that will bring the biggest improvements to building safety standards in 40 years and strengthen the regulation of construction products.
by Clair Mooney | 21 Apr, 2021 | Main News Feed, Transformation
The role of the Industry Safety Steering Group (ISSG) is to report on the progress of the construction industry in delivering culture change to support greater building safety; and to challenge and hold industry to account on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Andy Mitchell (Co-Chair of the CLC), Graham Watts and Peter Caplehorn (Co-chairs of the CLC Building Safety workstream) attended an ISSG meeting in late 2020 to report on progress of developing the CLC Building Safety workstream. Following on from this meeting, correspondence has been exchanged between Dame Judith Hackitt and Andy Mitchell.
The letters can be read here: ISSG to CLC – December 2020, CLC to ISSG – April 2021
by Clair Mooney | 20 Apr, 2021 | Main News Feed
Information has been added to guidance with information about when to use an ‘XI’ prefix in UK VAT numbers in the ‘paying VAT’ section. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/trading-and-moving-goods-in-and-out-of-northern-ireland
