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The beginning of the year might not Just as urgently, we need to remain alert to the have been the fresh start we hoped perils of poor practice. Ethics has never been so for. The UK is in the midst of its much in focus as in the media reporting of evidence third lockdown and we are already at the Grenfell inquiry. It has been disheartening onto our second Construction to hear accounts of negligence and downright Minister of the year. Of course, I wish dishonesty, which cast the whole industry in a poor Anne-Marie Trevelyan light in the eyes of the public. well in the role and hope that she has the resilience and vision “We need to Many of us will have watched the painful evidence from individuals, we need to see our industry through the turbulent waters ahead. As Minister of State for remain alert to the perils of whose remorse and regret at the horrifi c turn of events has been almost tangible. business, energy and clean growth, Ms Trevelyan’s responsibilities poor practice. It is well documented that there have been some toxic include energy effi ciency and heat, including fuel poverty – all key issues in the government’s Ten Ethics has never been practices inherent for many years in almost every sector of the built environment, mostly driven by Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution. so much in the pressure to make profi ts at the expense of standards and

The construction industry is well focus as in safety. This is not the fi rst time the poised to address these issues and has been doing so for many years. the Grenfell construction industry has been placed under the spotlight. I’m Point 7 of the government’s plan focuses on developing greener inquiry” sure I speak for the majority in saying that we should expect our buildings, with ambitions to put built environment to be safe, and our homes, workplaces, schools and hospitals at the that any individual action, whether intentional or heart of our green economic recovery – supporting not, should never undermine the eff orts of those 50,000 jobs by 2030, building new supply chains who strive to uphold high standards of quality, for building effi ciency and delivering funding and competence and safety. regulatory measures in partnership with industry. We don’t know exactly what the coming months Plans for implementing the Future Homes Standard may bring, but we must seize our opportunity, to future-proof new buildings and avoid the need as professionals, to step up to the plate and for costly retrofi ts; to extend the Green Homes demonstrate leadership and integrity. Grant and Homes Upgrade Grant to improve the energy effi ciency of homes and replace fossil fuel heating; provision of further funding for the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund to reduce emissions in schools, hospitals and public buildings and to Jayne Hall BSc (Hons) PCABE FCABE continue upgrading ineffi cient social housing are, in Chartered Building Engineer the government’s words, part of the ‘race to zero’. CABE President