BE Magazine Issue 3 November 2016

BE

BUILT ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE ISSUE 03 NOVEMBER 2016

CONNECTING THE MIDLANDS CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY | WWW.BUILTENVIRONMENTMAGAZINE.CO.UK | £4.95

TOWARDS A BETTER BUILD INNOVATION IN PRACTISE

EXPLORE OFFSITE FUTURES Mark Farmer presents the implications of the Farmer Review

BREXIT'S HIDDEN IMPACT On the construction supply chain

THE MIDLANDS CONSTRUCTION SUMMIT Skills - Image - Productivity

CC17 AWARDS Showcase your business at the Midland's leading Construction Awards

www.metsec.com

WELCOME OUR AUTUMN EDITION OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE features a review of the Midlands Construction Summit - an event which is now regarded as one of the highlights of our annual industry calendar.

THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE IS PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT HUB A PROGRESSIVE MEMBERSHIP ORGANISATION COMMITTED TO IMPROVING BUSINESS PERFORMANCE

BY DRIVING INNOVATION AND BEST PRACTISE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

Built Environment Hub www.builtenvironmenthub.org

The Summit, which was organised by the Built Environment Hub, confronted the issues predicted to have a major impact on the future of UK construction, whilst focusing on three intrinsically linked key themes: Skills, Image and Productivity.

See pages 29 – 38 for a full round-up of the event.

Adrian Belton, Chief Executive of CITB and keynote speaker at the Summit, referred to the Midlands Engine as the ‘Northern Power House equivalent’ which is fuelled by construction. Stressing just how important it is for the industry to unite and tackle these pressing issues.

‘Meeting the Skills Shortage’ demonstrated how construction businesses can develop clear pathways to attract the right talent and highlighted ‘Go Construct’ - the first industry-wide website for construction careers.

‘Addressing Negative Perceptions’ focused on the need to change the outdated image of the industry. With most people being unaware of the wealth of career options available and the general perception being that a job in construction is considered the last resort!

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The theme of ‘Productivity’ rounded off the informative day. Different processes were examined and how these can be utilised to create a more productive industry.

After the recent Brexit vote, our sector is facing uncertain times which increases the importance of resolving the inherently linked problems that lie within the industry.

The Summit speakers strongly emphasised that change must come from within and that everyone has a part to play, adding that professionals within the sector are key to making improvements and crucial in building an even stronger Midlands construction industry.

Our highly targeted publication, focuses on what matters to construction professionals in our region - with the primary objective to inform, inspire and spread the news on opportunities, best practise and the impact of government initiatives or building regulations.

I hope you enjoy this issue. Remember that you can also access the magazine online at: www.builtenvironmenthub.org/ built-environment-magazine Follow us on Twitter @BuiltEnviroHub Julie Price - Editor

EDITORS NOTE

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CONTENTS NEWS Making Headlines

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MIDLANDS CONSTRUCTION SUMMIT REVIEW The Midlands Construction Summit returned for the third consecutive year and over the course of the day more than 240 delegates had the opportunity to hear a host of industry experts offering advice on addressing the foremost issues that negatively impact the future of the UK construction industry - skills, image and productivity.

Read the full report

29 - 38

P31 Building your Business with BECCI

06 14 16 18 20 22 24

44

TECHNICAL TALK Salus on Fire Safety

FEATURES Innovation in Practice Brexit in the Midlands Leadership David Bucknall Scholarship Working Smarter Collaborate for Efficiency Brexit Impact on Supply Chain

CASE STUDIES

Get in touch: 40

julie.price@builtenvironmenthub.org

EVENTS CC16 West Midlands CC16 East Midlands CC17 Showcase Your Business

46 47 48

ADVERTISING & PR David Smith david.smith@builtenvironmenthub.org

CIRCULATION MANAGER Hannah Jones hannah.jones@builtenvironmenthub.org

CALL US if you would like to enquire about contributing content or advertising please call: 01743 290001

INDUSTRY UPDATE Mark Farmer to Speak at Explore Offsite Futures

EDITOR Julie Price

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PUBLISHER: Radar Communications Ltd, 5 Darwin Court, Oxon Business Park, Shrewsbury, Shropshire. SY3 5AL T: 01743 290001 | www.radar-communications.co.uk

P47 Built Environment Magazine is produced and published by Radar Communications: ©Radar Communications Ltd.

FOCUS P25

Offsite Construction Built Environment Hub

26 50

DISCLAIMER: The publisher accepts no responsibility in respect of advertisements appearing in the magazine and the opinions expressed in the editorial material or otherwise do not necessarily represent the view of the publisher. The publisher does not accept any liability of any loss arising from the late appearance or non-publication of any advertisement.

COVER IMAGE: Metsec

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CONTENTS

BUILT ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE

Building Compliance without Complexity Salus is a leading Approved Inspector to corporate clients covering all areas of building control, fire engineering & fire safety consultancy.

Operating nationwide, with highly experienced surveyors & fire engineers, we offer a single point of contact throughout your project with an assured consistency in advice and Regulation interpretation.

For further information or to arrange an informal meeting please contact: Paul Meadows: 0333 800 5678 or info@salusai.co.uk.

www.salusai.co.uk recruitment@salusai.co.uk

@salusai_HQ

linkedin.com/company/salusai

BSI – a key element of the most recent Government strategy document.

FEATURE TOWARDS A BETTER BUILD – INNOVATION IN PRACTICE Metsec has been at the forefront of innovative offsite manufacture for many years including being an early adopter of BIM integration into building design.

The Metframe system has also been hugely successful and was chosen as the structural solution to enable quick and efficient construction of the top three storeys of the £150m Resorts World development in Birmingham.

Productivity, collaboration, innovation and skills are the cornerstones of the Government’s most recent construction strategy, published in March this year.

A lot has happened since then – with changes in Government putting Ben Gummer MP in post to steer the future direction of the construction industry.

Despite these changes, the ambition for UK construction remains constant and

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METSEC FEATURE

still reflects the 2013 joint strategy from government and industry – Construction 2025 – to construct buildings that create less emissions, are delivered quicker and cost less to build and run over their lifetime.

Everyone agrees with these aims, but it is the businesses who are putting them into practice and transforming ambition into reality, helping the sector to realise its full potential.

One company that is the embodiment of the Construction 2025 vision is voestapline Metsec plc. Located in the heart of the industrial West Midlands, it is the first cold roll forming company to be certified BIM Level 2 for design and manufacture by the

BUILT ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE

As projects have become more and more complex, requiring firms to manage and share immense amounts of data across diverse and distributed teams, BIM Level 2 improves accuracy, efficiency, and productivity, resulting in time and cost savings. Ryan Simmonds, Sales Directors for Metsec Framing explains: “BIM has really changed the way we approach building design. With the capability to model and fully detail in 2D and 3D and share our design information with the construction team – it’s a crucial design tool to ensure the client receives the best performance quality and value for money. And for manufacturers like us that want to cultivate collaborative working relationships – it’s an absolute must.

“It’s easy to talk about collaboration but it’s quite another thing to put into action.

In the vast majority of cases, with buildings becoming more complex, planning drawings simply don’t provide enough information and manufacturers must always be at the table in the early stages to get the best long-term response. Manufacturers like us can provide value engineered solutions that will de-risk the design process, increase efficiency and pinpoint where savings can be made. Ultimately it’s good news for all, meaning subcontractors have a better standard of tenders, clients receive the best performance, quality and value – and the project delivery team benefit from a profitable job.”

The modern construction market is not just about BIM but also methods of construction which enable cost, waste and time savings. Once again, Metsec is at the forefront of innovation when it comes to offsite construction methods – its first Metframe building was completed in Norfolk in 1984. Thirty years on, Metframe is now a well-established solution to provide the load bearing structure for low to medium-rise structures up to 11 storeys in height, with scope for flexibility in design, making it ideal for residential, hotels or student accommodation.

Metframe structures can incorporate steel joisted or concrete floors, depending on the client’s requirements. Joisted floors offer a much lighter structure, but concrete floors generally provide a higher level of acoustic and fire protection. Pitched, dormer or flat roofs can be readily incorporated into the system as well as balconies, cantilevers and insets.

FEATURE

As well as flexible design, the Metframe system scores highly on cost saving when compared against timber and volumetric construction and there is no compromise on quality. Cost savings are also achieved in many projects through the speed of build that the system allows, with Metframe structures taking less than two weeks per floor to construct. Coupled with the energy efficiency and zero waste offered by these buildings, it is not surprising to see so many high profile developments adopting the Metframe system.

STEVE MILWARD, DESIGN MANAGER AT GALLIFORD TRY EXPLAINS THE BENEFITS OF USING METFRAME FOR THE RESORTS WORLD PROJECT: “DUE TO THE LIGHTWEIGHT NATURE OF THE JOISTED FLOOR SOLUTION WITHIN THE METFRAME SYSTEM, METSEC WAS ABLE TO DELIVER A FRAME THAT FITTED WITHIN THE STRICT CRITERIA OF THE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE BELOW. ALSO, A HUGE BENEFIT FOR THE PROJECT WAS THE SPEED OF INSTALLATION. BY USING METFRAME, WE COULD EASILY MANAGE THE BUILD IN PHASES TO ENSURE STRUCTURAL SOUNDNESS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.”

Genting UK turned to Metframe for the construction of its £150m Resorts World development in Birmingham. Built by main contractor Galliford Try, the unique 55,000sqm leisure and entertainment complex, boasts a hotel, spa, casino, 50 retail outlets, a wide range of restaurants and bars and a multi-screen IMAX cinema.

Metframe was chosen as the structural solution to enable quick and efficient construction of the top three storeys of the complex. The three-storey structure forms a 178-room, four-star boutique hotel and spa facility with five-star suites on the top floor, which caters for delegates and visitors to the 900 events that are held at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) annually as well as leisure guests visiting the West Midlands region.

As Metframe is assembled offsite to form easy-to-erect panels, the full frame could be delivered to the contractor in the required erection sequence and simply bolted together on location. This means that it provided a zero-waste solution and a low-carbon alternative to traditional concrete and steel frames.

Thomas Atkin of Atkin Trade Specialists, who installed the Metframe system, added: “Building a multi-storey, steel structure on top of a pre-existing building is a complicated process and there were a lot of in-depth design considerations to prepare for. However, in total, the construction of all 178 units took just 16 weeks, which is highly impressive for a build this big.

Metsec worked closely with us to produce a 3D design of the hotel structure for Galliford Try, which enabled us to plan the works and stick to the contractor’s construction programme. This, in turn, helped to reduce waste and emphasise the environmentally friendly aspects of the build – an ethos which we hold close to our own hearts.”

BUILT ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE

Richard Allen, Marketing and Business Development Director at Metsec also added: “As a Black Country-based business we are incredibly proud that we were able to supply a cost-effective and highly manageable solution for incorporation into the project at the NEC. Metframe is an extremely competitive solution, which delivers a high quality building. Therefore, it was the perfect choice for the construction of the new four-star boutique hotel at the Resorts World complex.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: www.metsec.com

METSEC FEATURE

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NEWS MIDLANDS INVESTMENT VITAL IF BRITAIN IS TO KEEP PACE

By Sir John Peace, chair of the Midlands Engine and Midlands Connect It’s been a turbulent time in UK politics following the EU referendum. We’ve seen the appointment of a new prime minister and the subsequent Cabinet reshuffle, including a new transport secretary in Chris Grayling. However, now it’s time to turn our attentions back to building the UK economy into a powerhouse across Europe and the world. And in our eyes, the Midlands will be key to that.

Its position in the UK makes the Midlands not only geographically central, but also economically so. A report entitled 'Picking up the Pace' from Midlands Connect – the private-public partnership tasked with developing a transport strategy for the Midlands Engine for Growth agenda – outlines the potential benefits of strategic investment in the region’s transport network. These are not self-serving benefits: the position of the Midlands means that, with the right investment and utilisation of High Speed 2, the whole of the UK can experience a boom. Having grown up in Nottingham, I know the potential of the region and its towns and cities. Great industries have been born, grown and flourished in the area, from high-value manufacturing through to professional services.

To continue fulfilling the potential of the Midlands, we need an affordable, fast and direct network across rail, road and air, delivering our people and goods where they need to be. If we do this, the UK will reap the economic rewards earlier in the next decade.

If we get the investment required to speed up journeys across the Midlands, our research shows we can unlock £1bn a 8

MAKING HEADLINES

year of extra economic growth and create 300,000 new jobs in industries including construction. With exports of £50bn a year – 16 per cent of the UK total – the Midlands already has a strong mix of high-growth industries, including logistics, advanced manufacturing and professional services.

This vision of a Midlands Engine sets out a vibrant and growing economy focused on productivity – one that can deliver more jobs, exports and an improved quality of life.

SEE LINK: https://goo.gl/kKwwhN to read the full article

MIDLANDS CONSTRUCTION SECTOR THE MOST STABLE IN THE UK The construction sectors in the East and West Midlands were the most stable in the UK in September, according to new research. The two areas topped the list of 12 regions surveyed nationwide by insolvency trade body R3.

Using Bureau Van Dijk’s Fame database, R3 found that the East Midlands had the lowest proportion of construction businesses at higher than normal risk of insolvency at 25.9%, with the West Midlands standing only marginally above at 26%. This compares with a UK average of 27.6%.

R3 Midlands chairman Chris Radford, a partner at law firm Gateley in Birmingham, said: “It is encouraging to see that, despite initial deep concerns post-EU Referendum, confidence is starting to return to the local manufacturing and construction sectors.

“Without doubt, there are now fresh opportunities to be seized, but while new trade links are established and current ones built on, the importance of sound strategic planning should never be overlooked.

BIRMINGHAM TO INVEST £900M IN HS2 REGENERATION Birmingham is ploughing almost £1bn into regenerating the area around the planned HS2 Curzon Street Station, in a scheme that will create 4,000 homes. It is the first time that a local authority has used the arrival of HS2 to push forward regeneration.

The Curzon Investment Plan will take place over 30 years, and will lead to the creation of several new neighbourhoods across 141 hectares, 36,000 jobs, as well as the development of the new Curzon Street HS2 Station.

Theresa May, the Prime Minister, said: “I’m delighted that Greater Birmingham is making this investment in the future, working to maximise the potential of HS2 by investing in jobs and housing – and encouraging more business investment."

A survey earlier this year by the Urban Land Institute and PwC found that Birmingham was the top place to invest in property in the UK, with high yields and a number of companies moving their head offices there, such as HSBC. The money for the project has come from Birmingham City Council, Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) and from the newly formed devolved government, West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

Steve Hollis, deputy chairman of GBSLEP, added: “Our commitment to invest is a bold statement of intent for how we will use HS2 as a catalyst for growth at every step. By setting out our plans and investing now, we will begin to realise the economic benefits of HS2 far sooner.”

“It is also crucial for all business owners to monitor finances carefully. If cash flow becomes a major issue, professional advice should be sought before it is too late."

Birmingham has already had billions pumped into it for regeneration projects, including the development of Smithfield, a new residential and retail area, the Southern Gateway, on which £1bn has been spent, and a new cultural quarter in the east of the city.

SEE LINK: https://goo.gl/5sVrIw to read the full article

SEE LINK: https://goo.gl/Peb8IY to read the full article

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ARCHITECTS WELL-SCHOOLED IN ACADEMIC NEEDS AFTER £40M PROJECT BOOST Architects Maber has delivered a £40m batch of schools in the West Midlands – the third secured by the practice as part of the government’s £4.4bn priority school building programme (PSBP).

The West Midlands batch consists of two new secondary schools and six new primary schools, each developed from a toolkit specifically configured to represent best value for money for the regional school redevelopment programme.

Maber, which has bases in Nottingham, Derby and Leicester, as well as London and overseas, has collaborated with international support services and construction group, Interserve, on its first PSBP batch. Utilising offsite construction techniques, Maber’s methods have seen the school buildings delivered within a much shorter timeframe than traditional construction projects.

SEE LINK: https://goo.gl/Eu4cNv to read the full article

£4M GUN QUARTER DEAL FIRES STARTING PISTOL ON £45M DEVELOPMENT A £4.2m land deal in Birmingham's Gun Quarter will fire the starting pistol on a £45m student accommodation development. The Globeworks site has planning permission for 520 student rooms on a one-acre site on Cliveland Street, which is a short walk to Aston University and Birmingham City University.

Private equity real estate business Prosperity Capital Partners and London & UK Property have bought the site. Gavin Barry, Chief Executive of Prosperity Capital Partners, said: “Birmingham has a thriving higher education sector with almost 60,000 full time students but student accommodation is an undersupplied market here, with a clear need for better quality facilities as well as more bed spaces generally. This is a well-designed, well-located scheme and we’re in the strong position of being able to take forward these plans immediately now the site acquisition is complete."

SEE LINK: https://goo.gl/0HO7Gl to read the full article

NEWS REPORT HIGHLIGHTS £717M BOOST OF HS2 EAST A report published by HS2 East highlights the economic importance to both England and Scotland of pressing ahead with the Eastern leg of HS2 – in ‘full and to the fastest possible timescales.’

The report shows how the proposed Eastern leg, which runs from Birmingham through the East Midlands and Sheffield to Leeds, could also boost economic growth in the North East of England and Scotland.

‘HS2 East: connecting potential, driving growth’ assesses the economic benefits that would result by using the eastern leg of HS2 as the basis for a high speed route to Scotland - connecting 15 million people, six major UK cities and an economy worth £320bn.

SEE LINK: https://goo.gl/IFk165 to read the full article

Wates Group has a proud 118 year history as a family owned company and leader in the UK construction industry.

Our business is founded on a set of core values; Integrity, Intelligence, Performance, Teamwork and Respect for People, which underpin everything we do.

For further details, please visit www.wates.co.uk

NEWS BOVIS AND ST MODWEN TEAM UP ON £900M MIDLANDS SCHEME Bovis Homes has appointed St Modwen as commercial development partner to deliver its £900m Stanton Cross development in Wellingborough.

The partners will bring forward up to 1.55m sq ft of commercial space on over 100 acres at Stanton Cross.The £900m development has outline consent for a mix of commercial uses including industrial and distribution, offices, retail and leisure.

The broader development being delivered

by Bovis Homes will be the largest growth Wellingborough has seen since the 1960s and will include 3,650 homes.

Work on new infrastructure to serve Stanton Cross is already underway, including two new roads and two new bridges across the Midland Mainline and River Ise, as well as improvements to Wellingborough Railway Station by Network Rail. The first residential phase for 379 homes received detailed planning consent last October and is due to start on site this year. Stanton Cross will take around 15 years to complete.

SEE LINK: https://goo.gl/mpr7if to read the full article

Birmingham City University (BCU) is bidding to help plug the gap by working with schoolgirls to demonstrate the merits of future study and careers in the field.

Bouygues bought Thomas Vale Group four years ago when the building firm turned over more than £200m and employed over 600 staff.

It is also putting measures in place to support female students on courses traditionally viewed as ‘male’ and working alongside organisations in the region to help promote the benefits of a diverse workforce and increase the number of skilled workers needed to fill vacancies.

Since then Thomas Vale has struggled with challenging markets suffering losses in three out of four years. Problems deepened in 2015 when the firm plunged £12.5m into the red, with staff numbers down to around 320. The job cuts this year have taken the headcount down even further.

Laura Leyland, senior lecturer at BCU, said: “Increasing the number of females in engineering is going to be crucial to the future for our workforce and our economy, sadly at the moment the numbers are remaining fairly static and we desperately need that to change.”

Craig Tatton, Bouygues UK managing director for the North and Midlands said: “Thomas Vale’s investment in relocating to Birmingham builds on the work we have been doing with the Bouygues Group over the last two years to maximise the strengths of our combined businesses in the Midlands and the North.

The university held a Women in Engineering day to give more than 70 schoolgirls the opportunity to try out a career in engineering by designing, building and testing flood proof homes.

SEE LINK: https://goo.gl/H6pnSH to read the full article

BOUYGUES UK DROPS THOMAS VALE BRAND Bouygues is dropping the Thomas Vale building brand as it consolidates its Midland activities around a new central Birmingham office.

CLOSING THE SKILLS GAP The skills gap in the West Midlands will only be filled if more women enter male dominated industries like manufacturing and engineering - academics have warned.

The region has a shortfall in the number of qualified technicians, engineers and other skilled trades despite being one of the UK’s powerhouses in manufacturing.

Now academics have said that getting more women to enter the fields is ‘crucial’ in fulfilling the needs of the region’s workforce and boosting the area’s ability to be the Engine for Growth.

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MAKING HEADLINES

As part of the shake-up both Thomas Vale’s Stourport head office and Aston office will be closed, leaving Stoke on Trent and a new office in Birmingham’s city centre as the new operating base.

Around a dozen staff have been laid off as part of the shake-up to fully integrate the loss-making Thomas Vale building business into the bigger Bouygues UK operation.

The latest streamlining follows around 30-40 job cuts back in the spring, according to a company source.

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“All our staff were consulted about the move to Birmingham and 12 of them have chosen not to come with us.

“Following our relocation to Birmingham at the beginning of November, Thomas Vale will be branded as Bouygues UK.” He added: “Both the move and the rebrand form a natural conclusion to the integration process put in place following the company’s acquisition by Bouygues Construction subsidiary Bouygues Bâtiment International in June 2012, and following the feedback we have received from our partners and clients.

“The UK continues to be a key strategic market for Bouygues Construction and the corporate strength, solid performance record and strong financial covenant of the organisation remains an important element of the Bouygues UK offer to its clients.”

SEE LINK: http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2016/10/18/ bouygues-uk-drops-thomas-vale-brand/

SEE MORE REGIONAL NEWS AT: www.builtenvironmentnews.org

ADMINISTRATORS SEEK INVESTORS FOR 1,000 ACRE DEVELOPMENT SITE

BIRMINGHAM’S NEW STREET STATION CROWNED UK’S PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Administrators have been appointed to the landowners and developers of a 1,000-acre site in Northamptonshire which has outline planning permission for more than 5,000 houses.

Following a major £1bn redevelopment, Birmingham’s New Street Station has been crowned UK Project of the Year at the 2016 RICS Awards Grand Final. The national RICS Project of the Year accolade is presented to the scheme which demonstrates outstanding best practice and significant benefit to their local area and wider economy.

The redevelopment of Birmingham’s New Street station and Grand Central triumphed over 90 of the UK’s most impressive property schemes to gain the top award.

David Soden and Phil Bowers of Deloitte have been named as joint administrators over the developers of Priors Hall Park in Corby.

The estate management company, Priors Hall Park Management Limited, continues to operate as normal and is unaffected by the administration.

The site is split into three residential phases and has outline planning permission for more than 5,000 new homes, with supporting community facilities, all set within lakes, open parkland and forests.

SEE LINK: https://goo.gl/AFGvgx to read the full article

The Birmingham Gateway & Grand Central project – delivered by a team including Mace, Network Rail, Birmingham City Council and Turner & Townsend – was described by the judging panel as the most significant investment in regenerating Birmingham in a generation.

The new Birmingham’s New Street station and its former Pallasades shopping centre

NEWS opened as Birmingham Grand Central in September last year. The £1bn scheme has transformed it into a popular retail and leisure destination and world-class station – five times the size of the original station – with a striking soccer pitch-sized atrium.

Meanwhile, the new shopping centre – above the station – is now home to the biggest John Lewis outside of London and a mix of premium high street brands and eateries.

As one of Britain’s largest and most important cities, Birmingham deserves a station and shopping and leisure destination of this remarkable calibre. This investment in the city has created around 10,000 jobs and is expected to deliver around £2bn in economic benefits.

SEE LINK: https://goo.gl/zGjV2L to read the full article

NEWS DEVELOPERS £1.34BN PORTFOLIO AIMS TO UNLOCK HOUSING MARKET "Cash-rich" developer IM Properties has built up a £1.34bn portfolio of sites as it launches a strategic land division. The venture, IM Land, will identify, acquire and promote new residential sites to sell on to housebuilders and developers Tim Wooldridge, IMP's managing director, said: "The housing market isn’t delivering as efficiently as it should, for several reasons; first-time buyers face challenges accessing finance, many land-owners don’t see the certainty they require to enter the sector, and house-builders lack the confidence to deliver major schemes." He added: “By the end of July the group had secured sufficient land to deliver roughly 6,000 homes."

IM Land said its team can ‘unlock technically challenging sites’ which housebuilders may find too complex.

In April, IM Properties sold a £200m portfolio of industrial properties - including Birch Coppice Business Park, near Tamworth, Solihull Business Park off the M42 and The Hub, Witton - to ‘provide extra financial firepower’ for major opportunities.

The Coleshill-based group has strong cash reserves, after generating pre-tax profits of more than £100m for the first-time last year.

IM Land will be headed by Jonathan Dyke and the newly-recruited team includes senior strategic planning manager, Sarah Milward from Taylor Wimpey and three former members of Barratts' land team; senior strategic land manager Marianne Horton, senior technical manager Richard Knight and strategic planning specialist Richard Pitt.

Mr Dyke believes land-owners and potential joint venture partners looking to realise value from their assets will all find the IM Land model appealing.

PLANS UNVEILED FOR £300M BIRMINGHAM GATEWAY SCHEME Plans for a £300m regeneration scheme that will create a new gateway to Birmingham have been revealed. Calthorpe Estates and development company U+I are leading the project to regenerate a 10.7acre plot along Hagley Road.

The scheme, known as New Garden Square, will begin next to the Plough and Arrow and stretch down to Five Ways Island.

It will replace a number of office blocks, built between the 1950s and 1980s, to create a mixed-use destination. The grade II-listed building facing onto Hagley Road will be retained.

SEE LINK: https://goo.gl/SKUXzk to read the full article

ARCHITECTS PREDICT WORK SURGE FROM BIRMINGHAM'S £2BN CHINA PACT A deal struck between Birmingham City Council and Chinese developer Country Garden will bring new opportunities but also carry risks, architects have said. Earlier this month, city council leader John Clancy signed a joint statement of investment commitment with Country Garden that aims to rapidly bring forward new housing on major development sites. It has been described by the authority as being worth ‘up to £2 billion’.

Guangdong-based Country Garden specialises in ‘high-end township developments’ and has developed more than 300 such schemes across China, Malaysia and Australia.

Birmingham said it wanted to initially ‘explore large scale investment opportunities’ across the city region, ‘with particular focus’ on regeneration and investment options related to HS2. It also identifies ‘delivering significant new housing stock’ as a priority.

SEE LINK: https://goo.gl/oZbEcC to read the full article

The authority is currently targeting the delivery of 89,000 new homes by the end

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MAKING HEADLINES

of 2031, and recently tabled a package of measures aimed at reducing landbanking and bringing vacant properties back into use to help it hit the figure.

Glenn Howells, founder of Glenn Howells Architects, said the China deal could be ’a game-changer of the magnitude of the 2012 Olympics for Stratford’ if it was pursued in the right way and properly master-planned.

‘At the moment, Birmingham has areas that are still affected by low-density uses, like surface car parking,’ he said. “We’ve got a housing shortage in this city and it would be terrific if we could start to move through more high-quality affordable housing with this deal. But when you start to bring forward this quantity of homes, it’s not just new housing it’s the infrastructure that also supports it, the schools, the shops, the roads and the public spaces. The real challenge in all of this is creating not just architecture but neighbourhoods in which people choose to live. The downside would be if it happened in isolation and wasn’t properly plugged in to what’s happening in the other parts of the city.”

SEE LINK: https://goo.gl/KbsVEs to read the full article

NOTTINGHAM ARCHITECTS TO PROVIDE MASTERPLAN FOR THORESBY COLLIERY REGENERATION Nottingham-based Leonard Design Architects has been appointed by Harworth Estates to provide the masterplan for the regeneration of Thoresby Colliery. The locally designed masterplan will transform the site which was one of the last UK deep coal mines. Acknowledging the history and reflecting the character of the site has been central to the plan and achieved through a sensitive balance of new housing, leisure facilities, green space, and employment opportunities.

The masterplan, which was revealed at the first public consultation in July, includes a residential area, retirement village, school, 25-acre business park, and 350-acre country park. When complete, it’s hoped

the regeneration will support at least 500 new jobs.

HIGH SPEED RAIL COLLEGE NEARING COMPLETION

David Leonard, director at Leonard Design Architects, said: “The regeneration of Thoresby Colliery will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the local area – it’s an incredibly exciting project for us as a practice that’s proudly based in Nottingham with experience of delivering projects across the world.

Birmingham's new high speed rail college, set up to train the next generation of railway engineers, has been hailed by transport secretary Chris Grayling as a sign that the £50 billion scheme will transform lives and communities. The National College for High Speed Rail, set to open next year and will equip youngsters with the skills to build and run the country’s high speed rail network for years to come.

“The masterplan has always been about thinking differently to work with the clear historic identity that’s already present; the challenge was to deliver a balance that was right for everyone. Maintaining some of the site’s original features, such as the workshop, was also important and reflects the vision of ourselves and Harworth Estates to bring forward a high-quality development for the benefit of local people.”

An outline planning application will be submitted later this year.

SEE LINK: https://goo.gl/oRftnF to read the full article

NEWS

Chris Graying was special guest at a ceremony to mark completion of the college’s roof. With construction of HS2 due to start in six months, the college will soon be ready to turn out hundreds of apprentice engineers, builders and designers to get to work on the scheme.

The cabinet minister said: “HS2 will be the backbone of our national rail network and help us build an economy that works for all.

The significant benefits of the scheme will not just be felt from when the trains start running. Work on the new College sites shows the transformational effect that HS2 is already having, creating jobs and supporting economic growth. Around 25,000 jobs and 2,000 apprenticeships will be generated during construction of HS2, which is due to begin next year.

The National College for High Speed Rail will operate over two sites, this one in Birmingham and another in Doncaster.

Birmingham City Council leader John Clancy added: "HS2 is already a gamechanger that is driving economic growth in the region, and the development of a new National College for High Speed Rail in the heart of the city is another example of the long-term benefits we are realising."

SEE LINK: https://goo.gl/yknL8Z to read the full article

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FEATURE BREXIT – THE IMPACT ON THE MIDLANDS CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY As the UK prepares to leave the European Union, the seasonally adjusted UK Construction PMI rose to 52.3 in September 2016 from 49.2 in August, beating market forecasts of 49. It was the first month of expansion since May this year, primarily driven by a recovery in residential building. New orders also rebounded, which ended a four-month period of sustained decline. how it might affect the skills shortage, the import and export of materials, as well as regulations and standards. A survey undertaken by Smith and Williamson prior to the referendum, found that only 15% of construction professionals favoured an exit from the European Union. Lord Bamford, the chairman of the Midlands based JCB, was a much cited ‘leave campaigner’ and is convinced that the result of the referendum will reduce the costs of bureaucracy.

The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) is based on five major indicators: new orders, inventory levels, production, supplier deliveries and the employment environment and is considered a key measure in the confidence of the construction sector.

The Purchasing Managers' Index reflects the UK construction sector as a whole and it is yet to be determined if regions will fare differently. Recent project announcements such as Birmingham’s £1bn commitment to

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HS2-related regeneration schemes, with the aim of delivering 4,000 homes, 36,000 jobs and 600,000 sq m of commercial space and other new projects as highlighted in our regional news - may suggest that the Midlands construction industry is doing better than other regions but only time will tell.

The industry, throughout the campaign, has displayed mixed views on the prospect of Brexit, with particular concern about

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The construction industry relies heavily on foreign migrant labour for skilled and non-skilled roles. It is feared that outside of the European Union, which guarantees the right to free movement, the skills shortage could worsen. If immigration is limited, particularly for skilled workers, the UK could witness higher project costs where labour demand outstrips supply.

A recent report from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) highlights that the Midlands concern from a construction perspective is skills and growth. A predicted growth forecast for the region estimates a rate of 1.7% between 2016 and 2020, compared with a UK average of 2.5%, according to the CITB. Brexit may well have a negative impact on investment. Skilled workers, who are able

FEATURE and willing to work in construction have reduced significantly since the recession and younger UK-based workers are not filling the vacancies.

The industry must now come to terms with the reality of the UK's departure from the European Union. Despite what you might read, it is certainly not all gloom and doom - on the positive side, the exit from the EU could allow public procurement to stipulate the use of 'UK firms and materials only', supporting UK-based enterprises and it may be possible now to negotiate and develop UK trade agreements with the EU and other large importing companies, such as China and the USA.

led to the decline of the UK's steel industry.

Historically, UK governments have not been in favour of propping up industries in this way, and there is always the potential for retaliation from affected countries.

It is unclear whether Brexit might enable the UK Government to impose tariffs on cheap steel imports from China that have

There is no doubt that leaving the EU will have an impact on the UK construction industry and this will inevitably influence the

Energy Saving Convention A Smarter Future for Sustainable Energy in Buildings

BECCI

Built Environment Climate Change Innovations

24 November 2016 - Birmingham - 8.30 - 15.00

way output is delivered and the rate we can expect to see growth in the Midlands but there is no going back and whichever way you voted, the construction industry has to make this work and look positively towards the future outside the European Union.

The University of Wolverhampton (BECCI project) and the Climate KIC team are delighted to invite Midlands Construction Summit delegates to their forthcoming SMART Buildings Conference.

This is an event for everybody with an interest in sustainable buildings. By attending you will be part of the future of SMART Sustainable Buildings.

The event will bring together 6 high quality communicators to present their views on the future of sustainable buildings.

The purpose of the presentations will be to communicate one version of the future to show how a combination of new products and new ways of thinking can deliver real change.

ICENTRUM CONFERENCE FACILITY AT INNOVATION BIRMINGHAM CAMPUS, BIRMINGHAM, B7 4BP

Registration: BECCI@wlv.ac.uk (quoting Built Environment Hub) Tel: BECCI team on 01902 321028

IMAGE LEADERSHIP, EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND SOFT SKILLS – BYLINED ARTICLE

BY JACKIE CASEY, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SUCCESS TRAIN For a long time now leadership skills have been bandied about as being essential for the construction industry to progress. Back in 1998 Sir John Egan reported that ‘The industry must provide decent and safe working conditions and improve management and supervisory skills at all levels’.

10 years later the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) published their ‘Leadership in the Construction Industry’ report which also highlighted that leadership is more than just deploying “the so-called Hard Skills such as planning, directing, organising and keeping score’.

Since then the industry has had a variety of initiatives including Construction Commitments and Construction 2025 all pretty much focused on the fact that change was needed but both upholding a better focus on Health and Safety and both giving greater emphasis to People and Leadership in the industry.

21st century research by academics and psychologists also defined leadership as having been an issue in construction ‘traditional’ leadership style in the industry has been based on technical skills with a focus on managing activity in order to complete projects, a more ‘production-oriented rather than relationship-oriented style of management ‘.

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Ongoing research by Success Train since 2011 shows that construction leadership is focused on technical ability and project completion rather than vision, people engagement and leading people into the future. Of course, this study followed an extremely difficult recession and therefore leaders could be forgiven for focusing on efficiencies and procurement practice, perhaps because understandably their perspective was one of having more important things to think about than their leadership approach, their personal style or that of their supply chain.

Construction has been talking about its need for leadership for at least three decades (Latham, 1994) and the approach remains based on improving efficiency both in delivery and in procurement. But is this enough? What about communicating vision and employee engagement? And what of leadership style?

Like most things if there was one simple answer we would have found it by now and

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already be implementing it! Leadership style is important but is only one piece of the jigsaw and there are volumes written on the subject. Experience and knowledge is key and we do know that in terms of leadership style, those with a ‘transformational style’ tend to focus much more on supporting, developing and motivating others in order to achieve greater success.

Whereas, the transactional style of leadership which is customary in the industry is much more about ‘command and control’ in order to complete a project or achieve greater cost savings, retentions and supply chain control.

The very nature of the command and control style is about managing loss or avoidance of loss, whereas the nature of transformational leadership is about people and those people being engaged and motivated enough to pull out the stops to get the job over the line. From an equality and diversity perspective studies show that the transformational style is much more easily adopted by female leaders because they have a more interactive and inclusive style.

From Success Train studies in it was evident that most leaders at that time had progressed into leadership roles not based on style but based on technical and mechanical ability and longevity in the industry. As with most things there is a flip side to this coin too. Those with experience and capability bring much to the table but the very depth of experience that they bring can often lead to them doing the same thing and operating in the same way, and of course doing that never gets you different or better results.

When you read anything that relates to improving skills, teams or leadership it is usually followed by a reference to ‘Soft

IMAGE Skills’ but what exactly does ‘Soft Skills’ mean? And what impact can Soft Skills have on leadership?

Soft Skills can have an enormous effect on getting things done. If you liken ‘soft skills’ to being the glue that enables people to relate, communicate, manage themselves and others then that is good place to start.

Many now believe that Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is fundamental to great leadership and as a subject or science has been increasing in popularity and recognition over the last 25 years or so V particularly in relation to leadership.

One of the leading exponents of EQ is Daniel Goleman who writes that at higher levels, interpersonal abilities matter more than technical skills in setting star performers apart. Emotional Intelligence in leadership is about inspiring and motivating others to engage with your vision and mission. Developing your EQ as

leader helps you to recognise and handle your internal responses maintaining your effectiveness as you work towards achieving the business goals.

Another aspect of EQ is about recognising and being sensitive to the emotional states of others and communicating in a way that doesn’t violate the relationship and encourages and motivates.

As a leader, knowing what triggers motivation at a ‘below consciousness’ level in yourself, employees and even clients adds invaluable information to any situation even those of a more personal nature, and only increases your effectiveness to influence and achieve organisational and personal goals.

Daniel Goleman states that most leaders are hired on their technical ability and expertise but will be judged and fired based on their lack of emotional intelligence.

In the 2015 white paper published by Roffey Park, ‘Building leadership capability

in the construction sector’ their findings clearly indicate that what troubles leaders right now and in the next five years relates to Leadership, People, Skills, Management and Employee engagement.

Effective leadership is important in any organisation because there is no escaping the fact that it is the people in an organisation who will deliver a leader’s vision.

This means that the discretionary effort made by the workforce will undoubtedly depend on the level of relationship, respect and engagement that an organisation’s leader(s) has with its people.

Success Train People is always keen to hear from organisational leaders who would like to learn more about tools for leadership enhancement, for themselves and their employees.

For more information visit www.successtrain.co.uk

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SKILLS IMAN MOHAMED WINS FIRST DAVID BUCKNALL SCHOLARSHIP Iman Farah Mohamed from Moseley School and Sixth Form has won the David Bucknall Scholarship for 2016.

THE LATE DAVID BUCKNALL OBE

Hashim Mohamed from North Birmingham Academy were also awarded a reduction in fees. Commenting on her success Iman said: “I am so delighted and excited! I am passionate about the built environment and the David Bucknall scholarship assistance will make so much difference to me. I intend to work really hard and take full advantage of the support being provided.”

This is the first year of the scholarship which was created in memory of David Bucknall OBE, founder of Rider Levett Bucknall.

IMAN FARAH MOHAMED

The Scholarship offers financial assistance to school leavers considering a career in property and construction and studying for a BSc in a Built Environment subject in the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment at Birmingham City University (BCU).

Iman will study a three year BSc in Quantity Surveying and benefit from a reduction in tuition fees, a contribution towards living costs and guaranteed work experience placements and guidance from Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB).

they felt this way and what lessons could be learnt for those looking to build something similar.

Iman chose Moseley School and Sixth Form itself and outlined aspects of its striking gothic style 1850’s architecture, including gargoyles, and its connection with religion.

She contrasted this to the contemporary design of the new sports centre that opened this year (2016) and its accessibility to the community.

As part of the application process eligible students were asked to submit a short video about a building which they either really liked or really disliked, to explain why

A further three applicants, all looking to study for a BSc in quantity surveying, were acknowledged for their submissions.

Qasim Dad from Lordswood Sixth Form was offered a guaranteed work placement with RLB and a reduction in fees, and Matt Raybould from Barr Beacon School and

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SKILLS

Born in Wolverhampton, David project managed the construction of Birmingham’s Symphony Hall, International Convention Centre and National Indoor Arena and set up the Birmingham Community Foundation charity which distributed grants to local grass roots projects. He went on to become a national figure and leader in the property and construction sector.

David was well known for helping young people achieve their potential, which is why this Scholarship has been set up in his memory.

Ann Bentley, global chair of Rider Levett Bucknall and a trustee of the David Bucknall Scholarship fund added: “Iman’s video submission caught our attention immediately. She was so passionate in her presentation of the two buildings at Moseley School and obviously has a keen idea for

SKILLS possible success in their future studies and of course, much enjoyment in their chosen careers.”

LEFT TO RIGHT: NIGEL MASON, RLB, PROFESSOR MEL LEES, PRO VICE-CHANCELLOR AND EXECUTIVE DEAN OF FACULTY OF COMPUTING ENGINEERING & THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, ANN BENTLEY, GLOBAL CHAIR OF RIDER LEVETT BUCKNALL, AMY MORRIS, RLB AND SIMON HANDLEY, ASSOCIATE DEAN, FACULTY OF COMPUTING, ENGINEERING & THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT. FRONT IS IMAN FARAH MOHAMED.

detail and enthusiasm for the built environment. We look forward to helping her to pursue a successful career.”

Sir Bernard Zissman, speaking on behalf of those who supported the scholarship said how pleased they felt that David’s contribution to the industry and Birmingham would be remembered in such a positive way.

Moya Bucknall, widow of David Bucknall added: “David would be jumping for joy that the Scholarship is now a reality and that Iman and Qasim are going to be supported in such an amazing way. They have both shown their passion for the built environment and we wish them every

Simon Handley, associate dean in the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment at Birmingham City University said: “We are delighted to welcome Iman through our doors after being really impressed with the quality of her submission.

“Having already proven herself to have an adept eye for the built environment, she has all the tools to go and have a successful career in the industry and we hope the University helps her to make the next step in her journey.”

For more information on the David Bucknall Scholarship visit www.bcu.ac.uk/built-environment/student-experience/david-bucknall-scholarship

Build a successful career Professionally accredited Built Environment courses

Why choose us?

• S tudy our full and part-time undergraduate courses in Architectural Technology, Building Surveying, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Environmental Sustainability, Planning, Quantity Surveying and Real Estate.

With first-class facilities, excellent placement opportunities and courses designed with employers in mind we are dedicated to teaching future Built Environment professionals.

• C hoose one of our postgraduate taught and research degree programmes.

www.bcu.ac.uk/builtenvironment Interested in apprenticeships? E: cebe.marketing@bcu.ac.uk

SKILLS WORKING SMARTER TO ATTRACT TOP TALENT A recent report from the Construction Industry Training Board highlights that Midlands companies operating in the sector, are most concerned about issues surrounding skills and growth.

SKILLED WORKERS WHO ARE ABLE AND WILLING TO WORK IN CONSTRUCTION HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED SINCE THE RECESSION, AND YOUNGER UK BASED WORKERS ARE NOT FILLING THE VACANCIES.

The construction industry is facing a skills crisis. The sector is braced over the next decade for a loss of 400,000 workers as they are expected to retire and young people do not appear to be lining up to fill the spaces they leave behind.

Research from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) highlights just how tough it is to find skilled workers and the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) state that employers are facing “talent poverty,” with skills shortages across UK industry rising by 130% since 2011. Nearly a quarter of vacancies are directly linked to those shortages, with employers unable to recruit sufficient numbers of competent people with the required skills, knowledge, training and experience to fill them.

PETE CANAVAN, MANAGING DIRECTOR, EDGE CAREERS

Pete Canavan, Managing Director Edge Careers, construction and engineering recruitment experts, offers his perspective: There are many differing factors why I believe people do not consider construction as a career choice. Firstly, I do not think the industry sells itself well enough in all areas. There are a multitude of different roles across a variety of skill sets and construction sectors. These roles range from construction labourers to architects and engineers and everything in between, so there will be a role that appeals to most people. In the main, perceptions of the industry are more trade biased, which could

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have a negative impact on the aspirational young minds that the industry so badly needs. Also, the perception and the reality for women is that construction is a male dominated industry and therefore unless they enjoy being in the minority then this would not be an area they would look at when reviewing their career opportunities.

The recession had an adverse impact on the construction industry and many people knew someone who was effected. This is another factor which influences decisions when considering a long term career.

THE WAY WE POSITION THE SECTOR UNDER THE COLLECTIVE BANNER OF ‘CONSTRUCTION’ IS AN AREA THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IT IS A LARGE AND DIVERSE INDUSTRY AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THE REQUIRED RECRUITMENT RESULTS WHEN THE MESSAGE IS NONE SPECIFIC – WHAT MIGHT ATTRACT A STUDENT TO BEING A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER OR PROFESSIONAL QUANTITY SURVEYOR, WILL NOT BE THE SAME AS THAT OF A BRICKLAYER OR CARPENTER.

On a practical delivery level, we should take a more strategic approach and identify the areas where the skill shortages are now and investigate where they are likely to be in the near future. The findings of this review can then result in a plan going

SKILLS forward. This plan should involve government departments, training bodies, schools, universities, industry associations and sector relevant industry employers.

A joined up approach should be used to identify and target areas where the best candidates are going to come from and how as an industry we are going to get them on board. The approach has to be competitive, people have choices, construction needs to make itself an aspirational industry at all levels, to do this successfully we need to take on the traditional ‘elite professions’ that are currently first choice for people who have options and show them the opportunities that are available in the modern UK construction industry.

Specialist recruiters work well when they are engaged as an extension to the employment team. Solutions to most

problems are found when all the involved parties are working together and pulling in the same direction and whilst there will be differing needs from the engaged parties, the process should, at the outset, be set up to understand and address the needs. This approach allows for transparency resulting in efforts focused on delivery for all.

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We have to remove the barriers and the negatives. The industry needs to be proud of what it does and where it’s going and actively go after the top talent, rather than passively accepting the status quo.

For more information visit www.edgecareers.co.uk

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PRODUCTIVIT Y COLLABORATE FOR GREATER EFFICIENCY Adam Ellis-Morgan, Managing Partner of RLB’s Birmingham office, shares his views on how, as a region, we should collaborate to look at greater efficiency, growth and skills.

"Every month sees new research highlighting how the skills gap in the Midlands is dangerously close to breaking point; how the shortage of skilled workers could be starting to impact project quality; or that while once construction appealed as a steady career path, we are now losing out to sectors where the work is deemed more stable and the pay perceived as more competitive.

The construction sector is perhaps the broadest employer in the economy, providing jobs at all levels for all abilities and vocations. Yet the image of construction is overshadowed by stereotypes of inefficiency, low quality and high cost.

None of this will be ‘new’ news to anyone reading this article and clearly there is no quick fix. However, there are areas where as a region we should collaborate to look at greater efficiency, growth and skills and share more readily what works.

At a macro level this is exactly the agenda set by The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) created in 2013 to work between industry and government, to support UK Construction in building greater efficiency, skills and growth.

We should all take responsibility to help improve the image of construction and address the pipeline of recruits into the sector by encouraging newly qualified construction professionals. Since joining Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) earlier this year, one of the areas that has really impressed me is how RLB is addressing this. As Managing Partner of the Birmingham office I am committed to talent acquisition and improving skills within our business.

Bucknall’s First Rung is one example of how we are doing this. It is an initiative for encouraging young people into construction, and is targeted at those who are, or are at risk of becoming, classified

as NEETs (not in Education, Employment or Training). All RLB graduates commit time to mentor and support young people to overcome barriers to entering the profession.

We are working hard to create strong and enduring relationships with schools, colleges and universities across the Midlands, and recently established the David Bucknall Scholarship with Birmingham City University. By engaging with students directly we can inform the next generation about career prospects in construction, which exist across a range of services and sectors. For example, RLB’s Birmingham office is working on projects varying from; the National Automotive Innovation Centre, a unique scheme bringing together academia and industry, Leicester Royal Infirmary, delivering improvements to the UK’s biggest single accident and emergency site, and Marston’s, the UK’s leading independent pub retailing business.

By connecting with the talent of the future, face-to-face and through our social media channels, we are working to change the image of construction and highlight the opportunities that exist within the sector."

Find out more about RLB at www.rlb.com or contact adam.ellis-morgan@uk.rlb.com

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Bringing imagination to life Award winning, leading independent construction consultancy • Cost management & Quantity surveying • Project management • Building surveying

• Advisory services • Design management • Specification consultancy

Contact. Adam Ellis-Morgan e. adam.ellis-morgan@uk.rlb.com t. 0121 503 1500 www.rlb.com

PRODUCTIVIT Y BREXIT’S HIDDEN IMPACT ON THE CONSTRUCTION SUPPLY CHAIN Mark Robinson, Scape Group Chief Executive, writes on the hidden impact Brexit has had on the construction supply chain.

A major new report into the supply chain for public sector built environment projects, which has seen over 150 leading industry and public sector managers surveyed, highlights the potential consequences of instability and a magnified skills shortage in the wake of the EU referendum.

Scape Group has carried out a comprehensive survey of the supply chain and found: • Long-term stability is seen as the most important element in a sustainable supply chain • Skills shortage is already negatively impacting workmanship, quality and budgets • Further public sector spending cuts could severely impact over a quarter of suppliers • Nearly three quarters of public sector organisations publicise projects via OJEU tenders The research has identified the foundations of a successful supply chain and examines what we need to do to improve our industry from the ground up. The EU referendum debate has created procrastination, insecurity surrounding publically funded schemes, and threatened to compound a dire skills shortage.

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Supply chain stability When questioned about what makes a sustainable supply chain, 72% of construction companies and consultants said that stability is the most important element and 79% of public sector bodies agreed.

In order to create a healthy supply chain, the top three features are stable pricing (67%), stable employment patterns (63%), and time efficient delivery programmes (46%) according to the contractors, consultants and suppliers surveyed.

The construction industry is similar to other markets, thriving on stability and confidence. The speculation around the EU referendum has allowed uncertainty to penetrate, risking the destabilisation of the supply chain.

Skills shortage 55% of industry professionals surveyed by Scape highlighted the skills shortage as one of the biggest barriers to a healthy supply chain, and 39% see the shortage negatively impacting their ability to keep to budget with 9% listing this as critical. The public sector echoed these concerns, with 85% of those surveyed believing the skills shortage had a negative impact on the quality of workmanship.

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Most concerning is that despite numerous national campaigns to increase apprenticeships and training within the industry, 19% of the companies surveyed do not currently operate an apprenticeship scheme.

Around 240,000 UK construction workers are from abroad, with most of these coming from EU countries such as Poland and Romania. To meet the growing demand for housing, infrastructure and the ambitions of the devolution agenda, and to replace workers retiring from the industry, the UK needs to recruit as many as 1 million new construction workers by 2020.

It is worrying that a fifth of companies providing construction services do not have an apprenticeship scheme. The skills crisis is already affecting the quality of workmanship and the industry’s ability to keep to budget. We are currently drawing skilled workers from across the globe, exiting from the EU will impact our ability to do this, so it is crucial we address this challenge at a grass roots level.

Reliance on the public sector The public sector comprises over 50% of all contracts for more than a quarter (26%) of the construction companies surveyed. The sector also relies on European regulated

PRODUCTIVIT Y procurement, with 72% of public sector organisations stating that they publicise projects via OJEU tenders.

Procurement The UK will always need robust procurement rules and we expect these to be broadly similar to the ones we have now, whilst the detail of these procurement rules is worked out the public sector could face significant delays and uncertainty in the years ahead.

Working with over 500 public bodies, including almost 50% of all local authorities, Scape frameworks have delivered over £1.16 billion of local spend within 20 miles of our projects, directly

benefitting local economies. We are incredibly proud to help simplify the procurements process and drive extra value into the built environment for the public sector.

The need for a procurement model that achieves certainty, as well as time and cost efficiency will remain. We are confident that our approach allows the public sector to achieve this.

Active local supply chain Through the volume of activity that our clients have directed towards our frameworks and services, our delivery partners have attracted a sustainable pipeline, which in turn has allowed them

to nurture a committed, expansive, knowledgeable and economically active local supply chain.

As the new Prime Minister leads the negotiation to secure a robust post-Brexit position for the United Kingdom, Scape Group and our delivery partners remain committed to helping the public sector address the challenges it faces, both now and in the future.

Visit scapegroup.co.uk/research to read the full report from Scape Group on Sustainability in the Supply Chain, including an in-depth analysis of the SME supply chain.

MARK FARMER CONFIRMED TO SPEAK AT EXPLORE OFFSITE FUTURES - BIRMINGHAM The Farmer Review is an eye-opening look into the operation of UK construction.

The central message running through the report, published by CEO and Founding Director of Cast, Mark Farmer - is that the industry is in extremely poor health.

Mark was commissioned by the Construction Leadership Council, at the request of government, to undertake a review of the UK’s construction labour model. The report - 'The Farmer Review of the UK Construction Labour Model' 'Modernise or Die', has now been delivered and has directed a great deal of media attention towards the construction industry's dysfunctional training model, its lack of innovation and collaboration as well as its non-existent research and development culture.

One of the main suggestions within the report, is that the UK construction industry

needs to embrace offsite manufacture.

Organisers of Explore Offsite Futures, taking place on the 24 November at the NEC, Birmingham have recently confirmed that Mark Farmer will present ‘Building a Mature UK Offsite Sector: Implications of the Farmer Review’, at the event. This is an excellent opportunity for regional construction professionals to hear directly from the author of the review and have questions answered.

This one-day conference and exhibition will create a platform for construction clients and their professional advisers to network with industry experts and discuss the latest

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offsite construction solutions. The event format provides a dynamic and interactive learning experience for all visitors through presentations and the wide array of exhibitors.

Tickets cost just £125 + VAT and include: entry into the conference and exhibition, parking, lunch and refreshments throughout the day.

For more information, or to book your place visit: www.exploreoffsite.co.uk

FUTURES PRODUCTIVITY

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factory process and operatives can achieve repeat procedures that are accurate and fault free. In the more advanced factories this is translated into semi-automated assembly production processes where the operator is assisted by mechanisation that further enhances productivity.

What can the offsite industry do to address issues of

This machinery can be computer-controlled to record set-up data, detail work instructions specific to the task and traceability information that can be used to trace faulty components or materials in the event of a latent defect issue or premature failure.

quality assurance and in turn enhance productivity?

Darren Richards, Managing Director, Cogent Consulting, sees valuable answers in advanced factories with semi-automated assembly processes where the operator is assisted by mechanisation to improve productivity.

There is no reason why the visions that are regularly portrayed in the automotive sector should not become commonplace in the building sector. Robot manufacture of complete building elements is a plausible reality where the human interface is limited to material input and product take-off.

The quality in this production environment should be exemplary and make zero defects a real possibility.

faced with the normal vagaries of the construction site find this particularly appealing, with a vision of perfect control over the weather, deliveries, materials, labour, skills availability and work instructions. But how feasible is it for the factory to deliver these specific repeated procedures where practice can really make perfect?

All factory operations in a modern production environment are now controlled by an encompassing quality management system such as ISO9001. This ensures that the complete manufacturing process is in harmony with the customer expectations for consistent, high levels of quality with continuous improvement at the heart of their culture. This should extend down the manufacturers supply chain with all second and key third tier suppliers demonstrating similar control over their manufacturing processes. This highly integrated and quality conscious supply group is enhanced by e-commerce capabilities with electronic demand scheduling, capacity requirements forecasting and instant fault reporting.

We can all be seduced by the proposition advanced manufactured building systems offer with their many claims. Most of us,

Robots and Optimised Manufacture After construction site issues surrounding the cold and wet of winter, or the overheating of summer, factories can provide the sort of environment that the average construction site can only dream of. Add to this the use of sophisticated jigs and fixtures that are routine in the modern

Unique Every Time For most of us involved in ‘traditional’ construction it is accepted, and in some cases actually preferred, that the building will be unique, adopting designs or features that effectively make it a ‘prototype’ building. This readiness in the construction industry to accept unproven designs and

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For some the vision of factorymanufactured buildings, where completed elements glide along a robot-controlled production assembly line and are transported effortlessly to site – devoid of all the productivity and quality issues associated with traditional building – is seen as the ideal modern construction method. Others see this rose-tinted view of the ‘offsite’ initiative of moving the construction process from the ‘exposed to all elements’ construction site, to the safe and predictable modern factory environment, as anything but the case.

PRODUCTIVITY

FUTURES NEC, Birmingham - 24 November 2016

EXPLORE THE FUTURE OF OFFSITE CONSTRUCTION IN THIS DYNAMIC AND INTERACTIVE CONFERENCE WITH 20 WORLD-CLASS PRESENTERS

CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION SPEAKERS INCLUDE...

Tom Bloxham MBE - Urban Splash Mark Farmer - Cast Sam Stacey - Skanska Jason Whittall - One Creative Environments Ken Davie - Carillion Building Tim Houghton - Heathrow Airport Andy Sneyd - Portakabin Mark Davey - Lakesmere Peter Foster - CoBuilder Ian Loughnane - Kingspan Timber Solutions Neil Magner - FP McCann Simon Underwood - Elements Europe Robert Clarke - Fusion Dale Sinclair - Aecom Tom Klingholz & Michael Swiszczowski Chapman Taylor

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? hoUSe by Urban Splash

The event is aimed at attracting construction clients; construction professionals: architects, surveyors, engineers; facilities managers; building product manufacturers and suppliers.

BOOK Ticket prices for the event are listed below:

PRIVATE SECTOR DELEGATES £125 + VAT PUBLIC SECTOR DELEGATES £95 + VAT

10% OFF DISCOUNT CODE: BEMAG10

Motel One - FP McCann

To book your place go to www.exploreoffsite.co.uk/book

PRODUCTIVIT Y building methods is in stark contrast to normal manufacturing industry where product development coupled with rigorous testing and evaluation of one or more ‘prototypes’ takes place before the final product is offered into the market place.

So why is it that for some, the experience has proved to be far short of this ideal picture of an advanced production process?

There are sadly many examples of less than perfect construction projects that didn’t achieve the quality and performance benefits that should be automatic with offsite construction. As we might expect it is not a single issue that is the difference between the successful and the not so successful. It is essential that the design and construction teams are experienced in the adoption of offsite technology and appreciate the need to integrate the specialist manufacturers with the design team at the earliest possible stage. This will ensure that the design teams understand the scope and capability of the systems they wish to exploit. Knowing what these new products cannot do is as important as knowing the details of the manufacturers’ claims of performance and durability.

Third Party Approvals It is also critical for the design team to be aware of the scope and integrity of the product testing and evaluation that has been undertaken, ensuring that the product is being used within the scope of this assessment is vital to avoid premature durability failures or under performance.

Perhaps the biggest issue here is to use offsite products and systems that have sound third-party certification such as the British Board of Agrèment (BBA) Certificate, BM TRADA (Exova) or the Buildoffsite Property Assurance Scheme (BOPAS) – other forms of certification are available.

proven. In the past some offsite manufacturers have not invested in the extensive product evaluation and testing that is essential to verify the product in use and this is where the benefits of third-party approvals can really pay dividends. Because offsite systems typically involve novel processes and techniques it follows that the methods for verifying the product take this into account. Different approaches and methodology to product testing are needed, and this is where organisations such as the Vinci Technology Centre at Leighton Buzzard are so important to this relatively new industry.

The Challenge of Change Perhaps one of the biggest hurdles we have to overcome in the offsite manufacturing sector is the ‘cottage industry’ feel that the majority of manufacturers still exhibit.

Much of the offsite industry is still very much in its infancy, even after some 25 years of producing bathroom pods in the UK for instance. Many manufacturers are SME’s and have limited funds for product testing, prototyping and third-party accreditation.

These third-party assessments are typically rigorous and seek to quantify and validate the manufacturers’ claims of durability and performance. Offsite systems typically involve innovative materials or novel jointing approaches that need to be thoroughly

This expert knowledge of the many different offsite systems, and some say plethora, that are available to the construction industry can also provide valuable advice on how best to integrate the alternative techniques both within the traditional build element and in the use of multiple offsite systems within the one project i.e. the hybrid approach.

Many past problems with the adoption of

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offsite techniques were created because an inappropriate system was employed or the different offsite products were mismatched on the one project. While this knowledge will one day be common place and a standard tool within the design team’s armoury, at present this expertise generally needs to be brought into the design team at an early stage to ensure that a suitable and project-wide offsite strategy is in place and is followed.

Where Next?

So what does the future hold for this still fledgling offsite industry? For certain we will see the manufacturing supply base continuing to grow to meet the quite incredible demand for these factory based building methods. This growth in supply will bring with it some manufacturing companies that have the problems we have experienced in the past, but in the majority case we should see those professional organisations already serving the industry growing both their capacity and their capability to offer a quality and proven product. These companies will continue to invest in sophisticated manufacturing plant and advanced quality management systems to enhance productivity that are essential to deliver 21st century standards of product performance. The future of construction is in the factory and it is bright.

For more information, visit: www.cogent-consulting.co.uk

REVIEW OF MIDLANDS CONSTRUCTION SUMMIT

BRINGING TOGETHER THE MIDLANDS CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Brought to you by:

SKILLS Working smarter to attract and retain the top talent

IMAGE Changing public opinions to enhance perceptions

PRODUCTIVITY Is there a need to rethink and address the fundamentals?

SUMMIT

MIDLANDS CONSTRUCTION SUMMIT

THE MIDLANDS CONSTRUCTION SUMMIT RETURNED FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR ON TUESDAY 27 SEPTEMBER AT THE RICOH ARENA - COVENTRY. Over the course of the day more than 240 delegates had the opportunity to hear a host of industry experts offering advice on addressing the foremost issues that negatively impact the future of the UK construction industry - skills, image and productivity.

The Summit was organised by the Built Environment Hub, a membership organisation that facilitates networking and knowledge exchange by providing learning platforms to strengthen improvements throughout the Midlands construction sector.

Keynote speaker at the Summit Adrian Belton, Chief Executive of CITB, in his opening address reiterated the importance of the event, stressing just how vital it is for the industry to unite to tackle these pressing issues. He also referred to the Midlands Engine as the ‘Northern Power House equivalent’ which is fuelled by construction.

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MCS SKILLS THE SUMMIT BEGAN WITH A SESSION DEDICATED TO THE CHALLENGES PRESENTED BY THE SKILL SHORTAGES, WHICH ARE CONFRONTING THE INDUSTRY AND PREDICTED TO INCREASE. The speakers within the skills session, Adrian Belton and Adrian Speller, Sustainability Director at Speller Metcalfe - spoke of the need to recruit and retain a raft of talent, with diverse skill sets.

Both speakers also recognised the importance of engaging with young people at an early stage to highlight the varied job opportunities, particularly with the advancement of Buidling Information Modelling (BIM).

‘Meeting the Skills Shortage’ presented

by Adrian Belton, demonstrated how construction businesses can tackle the skills shortage with clear pathways to attract the right talent. This included taking part in apprenticeship schemes, employee training programmes funded through business grants and providing work experience to fledgling students and school leavers.

Adrian Belton dedicated a part of his presentation to raise awareness of ‘Go Construct’ - the first industry-wide website for construction careers which includes an experience matching service.

The website has already seen a massive 260,000 unique site visits, of which 60,000 were from young people. Adrian ended his presentation by urging industry employers to take advantage of the wealth of CITB advisors available to assist with training and grant applications. In 2015 CITB nationally funded 10,000 employees and 23,000 apprentices in one million days of training.

In conclusion, Adrian Belton focused on a few key industry statistics. In the Midlands region, a workforce of 380,000 delivered a construction output of circa £18billion in 2015, before the referendum decision, this was forecast to grow by 5%. CITB’s research revealed that ‘work readiness’ is a real issue and with 35% of careers advisors in schools seeing a job in construction as unattractive, there needs to be a stronger dialogue with schools, recruiters and employers. CITB is taking action with a plan in 2017 to recruit and train 22,500 apprentices and simplify the grant application process to release £60million of financial support via flexible and structured funding schemes.

Adrian Speller of Speller Metcalfe supported and developed these points through his presentation ‘Skills for Sustainable Construction’. Adrian offered insight into how Speller Metcalfe are currently working with Dudley College to create dedicated BIM programme modules.

By working alongside the local college, Speller Metcalfe have been able to assist with not only developing skills within the region but also helping to future proof the industry by equipping students with the right skills and qualifications to pursue careers within the sector.

To conclude his presentation, Adrian Speller emphasised that the industry needs to take a ‘joined up approach instead of a scatter gun effort’ and one of the best ways to do this is for all construction employers to BUILT ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE

ADRIAN SPELLER & ADRIAN BELTON

play their part in working with educational institutions to create curriculums focused on developing the right the technical skills to meet industry requirements. At present there appears to be a disconnect between education provision and industry needs.

Historically the construction industry ‘talks to itself’ but not to the education providers who are too far removed. With a plethora of courses that miss the mark – by working with the industry to standardise the curriculum, skills can be developed that are in demand, virtually guaranteeing a job on completion.

Adrian Speller also supported the CITB’s point that the industry needs to commit to bridging the skills gap through providing the correct training not only for the new starters but also develop the skills of those already working in the construction industry.

And finally, Adrian Speller commented: “Within Speller Metcalfe some of the best ideas come from our younger members of staff – they bring optimism and fresh ideas which are rightly valued.”

MCS SKILLS

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MCS IMAGE THE SECOND SESSION OF THE DAY FOCUSED ON THE IMAGE OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

JO MORRISH

ANDY ROBINSON

MIKE PETTER

Led by Mike Petter, Scheme Director of Considerate Constructors Scheme, Andy Robinson, Managing Director of Colmore Tang and Jo Morrish, Director of HR and Training for Pick Everard.

All three speakers commented on the negative image and outdated perceptions surrounding the industry. With Mike Petter stating that ‘most people are unaware of the wealth of career options available and the general perception is that a job in construction is viewed as the last resort’.

But with a massive 20,000 unfilled jobs reported by the Office for National Statistics - promoting a positive image of the construction industry is vital. Mike emphasised a need for a change in the general public’s perception through his presentation ‘Perception or Reality?

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MCS IMAGE

Mike stated that the industry needs to promote how much good the outcome of a construction site does for the local community. When a new supermarket is launched it is promoted by how many jobs it creates - why do we not do that? Instead we apologise for the inconvenience, which we rightly should, but we should also be encouraging the community to get enthusiastic and make the association between the construction work and the positive outcomes of job creation and a valuable amenity for the community.

Andy Robinson of Colmore Tang stressed the importance of working with the community to change public perceptions: “Corporate Social Responsibility is not the way forward, instead we need to make a social impact, there are far better things

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this industry can do than write a one-page Corporate Social Responsibility section in an annual report. We, as an industry, need to win the hearts and minds of the public in order to change the image of our industry.”

Andy went on to share with the audience a charitable project that Colmore Tang had been involved with. A family were living in truly awful circumstances in a dilapidated and unsafe home, whilst their daughter was away in America receiving treatment for a rare form of cancer, neighbours highlighted their plight. Colmore Tang stepped in and project managed the total refurbishment of their home. This simple charitable act received widespread publicity, had a real ‘feel good’ effect on the community and the Colmore Tang team. This small project had a real positive effect promoting the

A better way of thinking...

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Break away from traditional thinking Many construction projects run into issues and from our experience we know that more often than not the reason for this is poor planning prior to commencement on site. By engaging with us early, we can work collaboratively to get a better understanding of the programme and help simplify the design, provide innovative solutions through value engineering, manage the risks and develop a mobilisation plan. By doing this, we can reduce costs, save time, deliver operational efficiency, bring environmental benefits and ensure the highest standards of health and safety for our client.

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MCS IMAGE positive outcomes that result from construction projects - improving the image of the sector as a whole.

To address the negative perception, both Mike Petter and Andy Robinson suggested that the industry needs to raise its profile with ‘an all-encompassing brand - bringing the sum of the parts together’ - backed by a co-ordinated campaign, which would benefit from the support of an aspirational leader with the skills to engage with emerging talent to promote the innovations and opportunities on offer.

Jo Morrish, who presented: ‘The Image of the Construction Industry and the Effect it has on Women’, examined how the sector can engage and inspire young women to pursue a career within the sector.

Jo presented ideas such as bringing your child to work days and working alongside career advisors within schools. Following a ‘woman in engineering day’ run by Pick Everard it was found that 90% of attendees were encouraged to join the industry by a brother or father working in construction.

Developing a more varied workforce would address the skills shortage and in turn improve public perceptions.

ADRIAN BELTON PRESENTS AT THE SUMMIT

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BUILT ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE

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MCS PRODUCTIVIT Y PRODUCTIVIT Y WAS THE FOCUS OF THE FINAL SESSION OF THE INFORMATIVE DAY Different processes were examined and how these can be utilised to create a more productive industry.

Rudi Klein, Chief Executive of SEC Group presented ‘Re-Engineering the Construction Supply Chain’ which examined how dysfunctional supply chains result in a highly fragmented process which negatively impact on collaborative working and waste reduction. However, Rudi suggested simple ways to increase productivity, such as integrating the construction procurement and delivery processes, thereby ensuring efficient outcomes that consistently represent the best value solution for clients.

Ann Bentley, Global Chair of Rider Levett Bucknall, presented: ‘Breaking the Vicious Cycle of Low Margins, High Risk and Poor Cash-Flow’ and also discussed supply chain integration and interface management as a solution to solving the productivity issues within the industry.

However, Ann also argued that the difficulties surrounding productivity was maybe not as bad as the industry presented. When compared to France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Spain, the UK is the second highest achiever for Constructing Gross Value Added per hour worked. But, in order to meet the government’s targets to increase productivity, including 50% reduction in delivery time by 2025 - the industry does need to address productivity. Ann argued that along with supply chain integration, other ways to achieve this would be to create a narrative that demonstrates what the industry can become and how this will be achieved, as well as drawing up

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RUDI KLEIN

an implementation plan to promote understanding and adoption of the model by both asset owners and suppliers.

Darren Richards, Managing Director of Cogent Consulting focused on how offsite construction can be utilised to increase productivity through his presentation: ‘How Offsite Construction Can Transform Our Industry’. Mike Petter had previously referred in his session to the benefits of offsite manufacturing and how this method could not only be an answer to increasing productivity within the industry, but also a robust solution to improving the image of the sector.

Darren Richards presented how offsite manufacture for onsite installation can transform construction. The industry needs to understand that offsite manufacture is

BUILT ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE

ANN BENTLEY

about process and embracing this technology would result in huge advancements in productivity. Taking the construction process into well managed factory controlled conditions, enhances health and safety, delivers time and cost savings, as well as quality improvements but most importantly, offsite construction gives an assurance of predictability.

MCS PRODUCTIVIT Y

RUDI KLEIN, ANN BENTLEY, PAUL UNDERWOOD, JUDY HART & DARREN RICHARDS

Judy Hart, Head of Business Development at Investors in Excellence summarised how to increase productivity by stating ‘change is not rocket science, you are capable of changing to become more productive’.

Andy Robinson said of the event: “The Midlands Construction Summit is a 'go to' event for the region’s industry, given the quality and experience of the thought provoking speakers. I have always found with these type of events that you only get out what you put in. Networking with industry experts is a must and helps us all improve our knowledge of key aspects of the sector. You can never have too much information in my view. The exhibitors also play an important role, as their presence adds valuable content and the opportunity to consult with supply chain specialists.

The event was well organised and attended, I can see next year being a significant event within the Midlands calendar.”

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PAUL UNDERWOOD

The summit speakers strongly emphasised that change must come from within and that everyone has a part to play.

Professionals within the sector are key to making improvements and crucial in building an even stronger Midlands construction industry.

Ann Bentley ended the day on a positive note: “We have a great deal to be proud and positive about. In our midst, we have construction professionals responsible for

BUILT ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE

DARREN RICHARDS

creating some outstanding buildings and by working together, it is not beyond us to resolve these issues to ensure a sustainable future for the Midlands construction industry.”

ADVERTISING FEATURE

MCS Corporate Strategies is a very specialist company working in Research and Development Tax Credits and Patent Box claims. Support for these activities is growing rapidly as government policy actively encourages companies to take up claims.

Main tax relief schemes are: • Research and Development Tax Credits (available for all companies) • Patent Box (available for all companies) The single key criterion for qualification is that you be registered as a UK corporate entity (Ltd Plc). Claims are retrospective (two years) and intended to be claimed year-on-year. SME’s and Large Companies qualify.

Manufacturing, engineering and all disciplines, activities, parts, products, prototypes; IT software and first-of-class items are examples of what is included as items for research and development. The HMRC CIRD definition of R&D is wide and inclusive of broad activities.

MCS has a well established claims experience. The entire process is undertaken in-house, is confidential, involves liaison with clients, their accountants and, importantly, HMRC. Clients are supported throughout and as they expand and enhance their activities.

Consider these recent MCS statistics for R&D Tax Credit Claims: • Claims made .................................................................................................... 643 • Value of claims for clients................................................. £17,456,715.81 • Total value of clients’ projects ...................................... £88,890,400.69

Why not contact MCS and let us advise you?

MCS Corporate Strategies Ltd www.mcs-corporate.com (01926) 512475 gjw@mcs-corporate.com

MCS has created its own Patent Box model to be applied in conjunction with R&D Tax Credits. This can reduce clients’ corporate tax rates from 21% to 10%. Applied with R&D Tax Credits this gives a massive boost to resources you can deploy.

Building and construction industries can take advantage of both schemes across the entire spectrum of parts, products, components and materials used. It covers new, innovative design prototypes and experimental assemblies. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a new challenge for professionals across every aspect of building technology.

Remote control, monitoring for the Internet of Things, intelligent energy and heating control systems and CHP systems are samples of what R&D Tax Credits can support.

Research, innovation, new products, process design and development are being driven by these valuable schemes. We wish to work with ambitious companies to extend the global, domestic, technological and economic effects of their research. Research for this purpose is realistically and widely defined to be flexible enough to allow companies to participate to drive their ambitions.

TECHNICAL SALUS APPROVED INSPECTORS PRODUCE INFORMATION ON THE REVISED BS 9991:2015 FIRE SAFET Y IN THE DESIGN, MANAGEMENT AND USE OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS. Code of practice, as an alternative approach to helping designers and developers comply with the fire safety requirement of the building regulations.

BS 9991:2015 also provides guidance on the ongoing management of fire safety in a building throughout the entire lifetime of the building. This includes guidance for designers to ensure that the overall design of a building assists and enhances the management of fire safety. The recommendations and guidance given are intended to safeguard the lives of building occupants and fire-fighters.

BS 9991 is a guidance document, designed to suggest adequate fire safety measures in residential buildings, particularly given the growing trend for open plan type living. The measures include fire detection and alarm systems and fixed fire-fighting systems. The 2015 revision is a full technical update from the 2011 first version.

To introduce BS 9991:2015 BS 9991 gives recommendations and guidance on the design, management and use of residential buildings in order that they attain reasonable standards of fire safety for all the people who are in and around them.

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It covers: • Dwellings (single-family dwelling houses, self-contained flats or maisonettes) • Residential accommodation blocks (e.g. for students or hospital staff), with individual bedrooms and the provision of kitchen/sanitary facilities constructed within a fire compartment • Specialised housing The standard applies to the design of new buildings, material alterations, extensions, changes of use to existing buildings. It does not cover hotels, hospitals, residential care homes, places of lawful detention or hostels.

BUILT ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE

BS 9991:2015 presents some significant changes from the 2011 version, which include: • Change from “sheltered or extra care housing” to “specialised housing” and expansion of related recommendations • Expanded recommendations for escape from basements • Updating of recommendations relating to lifts • New recommendations for power supplies • New recommendations for cluster accommodation • New guidance on the management of additional needs and disabilities • General update to take into account new and revised standards published since 2011 This standard is designed to be available for a variety of construction professions such as Architects, Building Control Bodies, The Fire Authority, Fire Risk Assessors and Developers of Housing categories set out above.

The University of Wolverhampton offers excellent programmes in architecture and the built environment with accreditation from the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Chartered Institute of Builders.

Springfield Campus Part of a larger £250m investment in the region’s economy. The Springfield Campus Construction Centre of Excellence will act as spring board for enterprise and entrepreneurship regionally.

Find out more: wlv.ac.uk/Springfield

Architecture and built environment courses are designed to expand technological awareness and prepare graduates for senior management positions.

To find out more and apply:

Email: enquiries@wlv.ac.uk Visit: www.wlv.ac.uk Call: 0800 953 3222

The University of Opportunity

As a leading multi-professional construction consultant in the region, we’re proud to be delivering ground breaking projects and transforming construction as part of the Built Environment Hub.

Founding Member

Join a team that makes a difference: www.pickeverard.co.uk/careers

TECHNICAL So, to give examples of application of the Standard and what it might suggest as alternative measures to that of Approved Document B Where an appropriate sprinkler-based approach is adopted -

the number of bedrooms and the travel distances within the internal corridor can be 15m in a single direction, A fire detection and fire alarm system should be provided to include a smoke detector in each habitable room and a heat detector in the kitchen;

A three-storey house may have an open-plan ground floor with a protected stairway to upper floors;

Within the corridors of flats, maximum travel distances may be doubled to 15m and 60m respectively;

A four-storey house need not have a second staircase;

Maximum vehicle access distance may be increased to 90m in houses and 75m in flats.

Sprinklers or mist installed along with LD1 Fire Alarm, travel distances in flats can be extended to 20m; Within Cluster accommodation, such as student premises, there is no limit to

And in terms of external fire spread the minimum boundary distances can halved.

be used in entirety, further more it is equally important to highlight the Section 9 advice for owners, occupiers and managers of building containing flats or maisonettes to help them make the best use of the design features of the building and regarding guidance for designers to pass to their clients concerning fire precautions designed into a building.

Salus regularly offer CPD sessions to Clients to keep them best advised of changes to legislation and guidance, for further information please contact firesafety@salusai.co.uk

Of course, it is important not to pick and choose the best parts of a the code, it must

BUILDING YOUR BUSINESS WITH BECCI The Built Environment Climate Change Innovations (BECCI) project, is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and is part of the University of Wolverhampton’s Faculty of Science & Engineering.

In the three years since its inception the project has supported in excess of 100 regional businesses, many of whom had never previously engaged with Higher Educational Institutions.

Project Manager at University of Wolverhampton, Glenn Barrowman, explained: “Building your Business with BECCI is our mantra. As a project we are reaching out across areas such as those covered by the Marches and Black Country LEP’s, supporting companies to implement their ideas and strategies by offering practical leadership in what is often an unfamiliar, fast moving and competitive sector. By engaging with innovative

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GLENN BARROWMAN, BECCI PROJECT MANAGER

companies and forging links with academic experts, BECCI helps drive product and service innovation, to positively contribute to the UK campaign to reduce CO2 emissions.”

One such project involved the Walsall Housing Group (WHG), who own and manage more than 19,000 homes in the West Midlands and have become the first social housing provider to achieve the Carbon Trust Standard for both waste and carbon management. The housing group have implemented significant resource efficiency measures across both housing stock and their new office in Walsall.

BUILT ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE

RON VAN ERCK PROGRAMME MANAGER EUROPE ADDRESSING THE BECCI ENERGY SAVINGS CONVENTION (NOV 2015)

BECCI BUILDING YOUR BUSINESS WITH BECCI University and Walsall Housing Group achieve significant energy reductions Earlier this year, the BECCI team from the University of Wolverhampton, worked with Walsall Housing Group, to deliver an energy reduction challenge to decrease consumption within Beechwood House, an office complex which was built in circa 1970.

Neil Young, BECCI knowledge transfer manager and WHG challenge project lead explained: “We carried out a six-week investigation that revealed opportunities to radically reduce the energy use of one of Walsall Housing Group’s large offices. We followed this up with an extensive selection process to select seven local SME’s who had come up with ground-breaking energy saving ideas to present to the high level panel at WHG.” The technologies that passed through the BECCI selection process included, photovoltaic panels, lighting controls, voltage optimisation, battery storage, lighting solutions, air conditioning and ventilation systems.

LEFT TO RIGHT: ROBERT STUART AND ANA KARINA FROM THE BECCI TEAM WITH STEVE DAVIS (WHG FACILITIES & ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER OF WHG) (JUNE 2016)

Paul Hampton, director of the BECCI project and head of Built Environment at the University of Wolverhampton said: “I am delighted the team did such an effective job on the WHG energy challenge. The breadth of ideas proposed to improve the energy efficiency and usability of Beechwood House illustrates why low carbon business support projects like BECCI are essential.”

Energy Saving Convention 2016 A Smarter Future for Sustainable Energy in Buildings #energysavingconvention16 This is an event for those with an interest in sustainable buildings and by attending you will be part of the future of SMART Sustainable Buildings. The event will bring together high quality presenters sharing their views on the future of sustainable buildings and demonstrating how a combination of new products and new ways of thinking can deliver real change.

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BECCI

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For information on BECCI supported opportunities please contact the team by email or telephone.

T: 01902 321028 E: becci@wlv.ac.uk

Date: 24 November 2016 Venue: iCentrum Conference facility at Innovation Birmingham Campus, Birmingham, B7 4BP Registration: Contact BECCI@wlv.ac.uk (quoting Built Environment Hub) Telephone: BECCI team on 01902 321028 Duration: 8:30 – 15:00

INVESTING AND DELIVERING GROWTH COLLABORATING TO MAXIMISE EFFICIENCY AND SOCIAL VALUE

FOR MORE INFORMATION e: Michael.nolan@balfourbeatty.com t: 0121 746 7900 w: balfourbeattycsuk.com

Delivering a professional and responsive service

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Technical expertise and innovative thinking enables us to develop solutions that support complex projects where clients require a construction partner who understands their business and shares their aspirations.

Building, Civil Engineering, Property Development, Facilities Management, Repair and Maintenance, Land Surveying and Logistics.

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CC16 WEST MIDLANDS CELEBRATING THE BEST IN CONSTRUCTION

Picking up the outstanding 2016 Heritage Award was Shaylor Group for the restoration of Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) Swan Wing. The highly detailed renovations included work to the facade and interior of the Grade II* listed building which aimed to reveal the building’s hidden heritage and enhance the public spaces.

2016 West Midlands winners include: BIM Project of the Year Speller Metcalfe Habberley Learning Campus

There is a lot to celebrate in the Midlands and the Constructing Excellence Awards acknowledges the best in the region’s innovative construction projects and talented individuals. The awards culminate in two major ceremonies held for the East and West Midlands regions.

CC16 West Midlands It was a night packed full of festivities at this year’s West Midlands Constructing Excellence Awards. Over 600 industry leaders gathered at the ICC, Birmingham on 13 May 2016 for the ninth award ceremony. The awards were hosted by the BBC newsreader, Louise Minchin and co-hosted by Acivico, the Built Environment Hub and the Chartered Institute of Building’s (CIOB) West Midlands branch.

The big winners on the night were Cundall, a construction consultancy who scooped three top awards. Collecting the highly acclaimed Constructing Excellence Award for Innovation for ‘Cundall Virtual Acoustic Reality’ - a cutting-edge tool that offers combination of audio-prediction modelling

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and gaming-quality graphics, the Legacy Award for Sustainability for ‘One Planet Company’ - honouring its commitment and actions towards a more sustainable future.

And finally The Young Achiever of the Year Award went to Cundall employee, Charlotte Homer, for her commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD), events and graduate training sessions.

The prestigious Project of the Year Award went to Atkins, Mace & Network Rail for the inspirational transformation of New Street Station, Birmingham. Plans involved increasing the infrastructure to cope with a passenger capacity in excess of 52 million people per year along with 42 new escalators and 14 new lifts.

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Client of the Year WM Housing Health & Safety Award Lift & Engineering Services Heritage Award Shaylor Group - Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) Swan Wing Innovation Award Cundall - Cundall Virtual Acoustic Reality Integration & Collaborative Working Award Sandwell Council - West Midlands Community BIM Framework Leadership & People Development Award Lift & Engineering Services Project of the Year Atkins, Mace & Network Rail New Street Station SME of the Year O’Brien Contractors Legacy Award for Sustainability Cundall - One Planet Company Value Award Sandwell Council Young Achiever of the Year: Charlotte Homer - Cundall

CC16 EAST MIDLANDS home for The Lincoln University Technical College.

Recognising and rewarding emerging talent is crucial to the industry’s future - Mike Reader who currently leads Pick Everard’s strategic development team, collected the Young Achiever of the Year Award.

2016 East Midlands winners include: BIM Project of the Year Nottingham City Homes The Meadows Project Client of the Year Leicester City Council Health & Safety Award BAM Morgan Sindall JV - The A14 Kettering Junction 9 to 7 Project Heritage Award Robert Woodhead – Marble Hall Innovation Award Woodhead Group - Good to Gold Integration & Collaborative Working Award G F Tomlinson Building - Heart of the Campus (HOTC) Development

CC16 East Midlands Taking centre stage at the high profile Constructing Excellence Awards for the East Midlands, were some of the industry’s leading pioneers and most ground-breaking projects. Hosted by BBC Breakfast business presenter, Steph McGovern on Friday 03 June 2016 - 350 construction professionals gathered at the Nottingham Belfry to the celebrate the industry’s finest.

It was an outstanding night for Robert Woodhead who picked up a total of four awards, winning the prestigious Heritage

Award, for the restoration of Marble Hall and the highly regarded Innovation Award for the ‘Good to Gold’ project. Success did not end there with the construction company also collecting the Leadership & People Development Award and finally the Value Award, for the Rethinking Housing Delivery Project.

Taking away the highly acclaimed Project of the Year Award was Willmott Dixon Construction, for the Greestone Centre, which involved refurbishing the Grade II listed building to create a new permanent

BUILT ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE

Leadership & People Development Award Woodhead Group – Good to Gold Project of the Year Willmott Dixon Construction – The Greestone Centre SME of the Year BE Design Legacy Award for Sustainability Stepnell - Montague House Value Award Robert Woodhead - Rethinking Housing Delivery Young Achiever of the Year: Mike Reader – Pick Everard

CC16 EAST MIDLANDS

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CC17 SHOWCASE YOUR BUSINESS AT THE MIDLANDS’ LEADING CONSTRUCTION AWARDS Planning for the 2017 Celebrating Construction East and West Midlands Awards is well underway. Incorporating WM7's ‘Built in Quality Awards’ and the Built Environment Hub's ‘Constructing Excellence Awards’ - next year’s events will again be held at the ICC Birmingham and the Nottingham Belfry.

Roy Casey from Success Train said of the Awards: “Success Train has been a sponsor of the West and East Midlands Celebrating Construction awards for many years. As members of Constructing Excellence and the Built Environment Hub we are delighted to support the region in promoting its top performers. We are in no doubt as to the value of these awards and the benefits of sponsorship.”

2017 Sponsorship Opportunities Being a sponsor of the Celebrating Construction Awards represents true value by offering a whole host of branding and networking opportunities in print, online and face-to-face at the event. Not only do the Celebrating Construction Awards allow businesses to align their brand with excellence in the industry, they provide one of the most effective platforms for targeting the construction sector presenting the ideal opportunity to maximise industry exposure and penetrate this economically important market.

Category Sponsorship There are 13 categories, all of which are available for sponsorship and given equal

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prominence at the ceremony. Category winners in the regional awards are automatically entered into the National Constructing Excellence Awards.

Sponsorship Packages include: • Exclusive ‘ownership’ of an Awards category • A table for ten at the Awards dinner and complimentary drinks reception • Company logo and acknowledgement in pre-event publicity and website • Announcement of the sponsorship in the Built Environment Hub newsroom • Built Environment Hub dedicated eshot and social media • A half-page advertisement in the Built Environment Magazine • Company representative to present the trophy • Company logo on the winner’s trophy and highly commended certificates • Photograph of your representative presenting the award

Additional Sponsorship Opportunities Include: Drinks Reception Make an instant impact and help to get everyone in the right mood by sponsoring the highly popular welcome drinks reception.

Souvenir Brochure The Celebrating Construction Awards souvenir brochure is distributed to all attendees at the event, showcasing the achievements of award finalists.

There is a wide variety of additional branding opportunities available at the Celebrating Construction Awards – from table chocolates to menus! If you would like to discuss further promotion and sponsorship opportunities, please contact: Stuart Maunder Business Development Manager T: 01743 290001 E: stuart.maunder@radar-communications.co.uk

CALLING ALL INSPIRATIONAL PEOPLE & PIONEERING PROJECTS Enter the Celebrating Construction Awards and gain the recognition your company deserves! Tell the judges why your project or innovation is worthy of an CC17 Award - our new and improved entry forms will be open shortly!

Visit: www.celebratingconstruction.org

BUILT ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE

www.celebratingconstructionawards.org

CELEBRATING CONSTRUCTION SUCCESS IN THE MIDLANDS

ENTRY DEADLINE: 24.02.17 Book your place alongside hundreds of leaders and innovators from across the Midlands construction sector www.celebratingconstruction.org WEST MIDLANDS

EAST MIDLANDS

28 April 2017 The ICC Birmingham

19 May 2017 The Nottingham Belfry

BEH THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT HUB – CONNECTING THE MIDLANDS CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY The Built Environment Hub is a progressive membership organisation committed to improving business performance by driving innovation and best practise in the construction industry.

By getting involved, members have access to training, technical support and opportunities to promote projects where business objectives have demonstrably benefitted from the application of best practice methods and innovative construction technology.

Membership is open to all organisations across the Midlands involved with or having an interest in the built environment.

The Hub is a collaboration of Midlands regional businesses – a not-for-profit membership organisation owned by the members. The Hub works to support and advance the construction sector through collaboration, knowledge sharing, networking and by engaging with government and major public sector bodies to influence policy and industry initiatives to ultimately safeguard the interests of our members and help build their businesses.

The Built Environment Hub encourages networking and knowledge exchange by providing learning platforms to strengthen improvement throughout the industry - such as the local Best Practice Clubs, Forum activity and Demonstration Programmes.

The Hub is also behind such events as the Midlands Construction Summit and the Celebrating Construction Awards together with highly targeted events as the recent Midlands High Speed Supplier Seminar, held at The Think Tank, Birmingham early this month.

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“We believe it crucial for the Midlands construction industry to speak with one voice and have strong regional representation,” said Mark Wakeford Chairman of the Built Environment Hub. “It is vitally important for our organisation to engage at a national level with government and major public sector bodies, to influence policy and industry initiatives to safeguard the interests of the Midlands construction sector and the associated building technologies supply-chain.”

The Hub’s website: www.builtenvironmenthub.org provides a platform for members to engage in debate, showcase best practice and is an essential resource information centre. This online tool means that the Hub can remain lean and efficient.

Members come from across the entire supply-chain and are united by a commitment to stringent standards of quality and service to their customers.

The primary objective of the Hub is to deliver tangible benefits to support business objectives and improve the performance of the construction industry.

In an increasingly difficult market, by joining a positive force for change, members can influence the agenda, gain industry intelligence into trends and innovations which will help shape business planning and potentially assist entering new markets.

For more information on joining the Built Environment Hub Visit: www.builtenvironmenthub.org/members/member-benefits Email: hannah.jones@builtenvironmenthub.org

BUILT ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE

A centre-point where the Midlands construction industry network and information is exchanged and distributed

Membership of the Hub is open to companies operating in the East and West Midlands – so if you are a contractor, manufacturer, architect, client, consultant or engineer then why not join?

MEMBER BENEFITS: The primary objective of the Hub is to deliver tangible benefits to our members, to support business objectives and maximise network opportunities. The Built Environment Hub brings practical support by providing members with: • Access to a range of focused Forums

• Online member listings & profiles

• Participation in Meet the Buyer events

• Procurement & economies of scale initiatives

• Comprehensive marketing & PR activities

• Discounted marketing & communication support initiatives

• Networking & knowledge exchange

• Discounted exhibition, conference & seminar activities

• Access to research & participation in research projects

• Access to annual Awards events

To enquire about membership, please contact the Hub on: 01743 or email info@builtenvironmenthub.org

www.builtenvironmenthub.org

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