It was great to see so many of you at the Annual Review Luncheon, if you weren’t able to attend, you can take a look at the digital Annual Review by CLICKING HERE 

I’d like to reiterate my thanks to Dan Macey for the 30 months he has put to the role of Chair and what he has done for our organisation. I’d also like to express my thanks to the many of you wishing me luck and offering support as I take the role of chair for the next 2 years.

For those that don’t know me (or what I do as my day job). I head up SCF (Southern Construction Framework) in the South West, which affords me the luxury of being involved in some amazing projects! I am a Director on the JCT (Joint Contracts Tribunal) Board officially representing Local Government in that forum. I also sit on the LGAs construction steering group and represent the South West on the NACF (National Association of Construction Frameworks).

So what now for CESW?

We will advertise and appoint to the vacant roles in the newly created Leadership Council (If you don’t know what that is then you really need to look at the ‘Annual Review’ link above!)

I, the Board and the Leadership Council need to communicate with all of you our members some changes we have made to CESW, what those changes mean and how it will make CESW better for you all.

We need to make sure the CESW 2024 awards are even better (and I implore you all to get nominations in) Last year Serena Williams went on to win at the National awards (G4C future leader)… This year we need to get more of our SW projects that top accolade.

Em Pardede, our new membership Manager will be contacting you all, the main purpose of Em’s role is to make sure you make the most of your membership (clearly we hope that means you’ll stick with us). But Em will also be a prime contact for you all if you need anything (or want us to change something). That isn’t to say you can’t speak to me or anyone else on the Board and/or Leadership council.

Over the coming months I will be asking the Leadership council to introduce themselves to you so you know who they are. But next up for the April Newsletter will be James Beckly (WWA) whom has just taken on the newly created Members Director Role. He will be representing you on the board and I can’t wait to see how this will positively impact CESW.

Chancellor announces personal tax cuts in Spring Budget, with little mention of the built environment.

On Wednesday (6 March) Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced the Spring Budget which included a 2% cut to national insurance, a shake-up to child benefits, £500 million of support to vulnerable households, and a new “UK ISA”.

There were few announcements directly relevant to the built environment, although there were a number of grants to research and local housing/infrastructure projects, including:

• £360mn to boost British manufacturing and R&D, including £100mn to the Turing Institute, and up to £120mn more for the Green Industries Growth Accelerator to further support expansion of low carbon manufacturing supply chains across the UK.
• Money to a number of local areas for housing including £240mn to London and £10.2mn for Cambridge, and further detail on local Investment Zones in regions including Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire
• £3mn to match industry-led funding to attract more people to take up roles as planners for local authorities
• A consultation on a new accelerated planning service for major commercial applications, as well as a response to the consultation on operational reforms to the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime, both of which we will look at.

In response to the Government’s Budget announcement, Gillian Charlesworth said:

“While there was some good news today for individuals, with cuts to National Insurance and reforms to child benefit, this was not the net zero Budget the country needed. The UK urgently requires a clear, long-term plan to decarbonise our homes and buildings, and there is still a long way to go to drive the much-needed transition to clean heat. This plan needs to involve a raft of measures, from shifting levies from gas to electricity to encourage householders to install heat pumps, to providing guidance for local authorities so they can deliver retrofit programmes in each area of the country.

“Maintaining funding for our net zero commitments – including those related to the built environment – is crucial if we are to achieve our climate goals by 2050. It is disappointing to see that this detail was lacking from the Chancellor’s statement today.”

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities invests £208 million in the North for town transformation

On Friday (1 March), the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced a £208 million funding round for towns in the North. Included in the funding is £90 million for Blackpool which will be used to build new homes and renovate low-quality properties not currently fit to be lived in. Sheffield will receive £67 million for new homes on brownfield sites and Liverpool will receive £31 million to be spent on a range of regeneration projects.

(Lord) Banner KC to lead review on national infrastructure

Top planning barrister, (Lord) Charles Banner KC, will lead an independent review to look into speeding up the delivery of major infrastructure projects, confirmed by the Housing Minister and Secretary of State on Thursday (7 March) The review builds on wider government reforms to streamline the process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), which are often held up by legal barriers and judicial reviews. See https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lord-banner-kc-to-lead-review-on-national-infrastructure

IN THE NEWS

Spring Budget 2024: sector figures left ‘disappointed’ and frustrated by ‘missed opportunity’ – Inside Housing

Inside Housing reports the heads of several housing sector bodies have reacted with disappointment to the Chancellor’s Spring Budget. It notes the statement had echoes of last year’s in that it fell short on major housing announcements, prompting frustration and disappointment from across the sector at an opportunity missed. Representatives of the National Housing Federation, the Chartered Institute of Housing and the Northern Housing Consortium were among those quoted expressing their disappointment.

 

Built environment institutes renew commitment to sustainability – New Civil Engineer

New Civil Engineer reports that establishments including The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) and the Landscape Institute (LI) have signed a memorandum of understanding to work together as the UK Built Environment Advisory Group (UKBEAG) for another five years, having originally launched in 2016. The group said its members aim to address the imbalance in the availability of expertise “through advocacy and capacity development” and want to “support those grappling with rapid urbanisation, the climate emergency, displacement after crises and post-conflict recovery.”

 

UK construction activity stabilises on back of falling inflation – FT
UK construction activity stabilises on back of falling inflation (ft.com)

CMA finds fundamental concerns in housebuilding market

The CMA has concluded its housebuilding market study in England, Scotland, and Wales. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published its final report on the housebuilding market in Great Britain – finding that the complex and unpredictable planning system, together with the limitations of speculative private development, is responsible for the persistent under delivery of new homes.  The study also found substantial concerns about estate management charges – with homeowners often facing high and unclear charges for the management of facilities such as roads, drainage, and green spaces. Concerns have been found, too, with the quality of some new housing after the number of owners reporting snagging issues increased over the last 10 years.  See CMA finds fundamental concerns in housebuilding market – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Local Transport Fund allocations 2025 to 2032

From 2025, the Local Transport Fund (LTF) will fund a wide range of projects to improve the local transport connections that people rely on every day, particularly across towns, villages, and rural areas.  Over the next 7 years from April 2025, local transport authorities (LTAs) in the North will receive £2.5 billion and those in the Midlands will receive £2.2 billion.  Find out more at: Local Transport Fund allocations 2025 to 2032 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

 

Design and building work: meeting building requirements

New easy to digest guidance from the HSE details the duties and competence requirements for building regulations that clients, designers and contractors must meet.  See: Design and building work: meeting building requirements – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

 

Construction Industry Unveils Plan to Increase Biodiversity and Support the Natural Environment

On Wednesday the Construction Leadership Council’s Green Construction Board launched its Biodiversity Roadmap for the sector, detailing how the construction industry will work together to reduce harm to our natural environment. Construction Industry Unveils Plan to Increase Biodiversity and Support the Natural Environment – Construction Leadership Council

 

Take part in a pilot project to create a quality metric and help remove the need for cash retentions in contracts

The CLC is working with Cranfield University in partnership with the “Get It Right Initiative” (GIRI) to run a pilot project which aims to establish a quality metric as a viable alternative to the withholding of cash retentions as a form of insurance against defects. Clients and contractors are invited to take part in the pilot project and help test the proof of concept for this innovative work. It takes previously successful data gathering schemes used to address health and safety concerns and late payment as its inspiration.  See more at: Take part in a pilot project to create a quality metric and help remove the need for cash retentions in contracts – Construction Leadership Council

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero announces a 39% increase in heat pump applications

On Thursday (29 February), the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero released figures that showed January 2024 had 39% more heat pump applications compared to January 2023. With a total of 2,000, January 2024 was the third highest month so far for heat pump applications. This follows the trend of higher uptake of the technology since the increase of the government grant to £7,500, with the scheme having so far funded 33,424 applications and issued over £133 million in vouchers to customers.

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero releases new measures to help save on domestic bills

On Friday (23 February), the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero announced schemes to help customers repair or replace smart meter in-home displays after their one-year warranty and to provide £10 million in funding for companies to test new technologies and tariffs with their customers to make the most of low-carbon power. This comes as Ofgem announced the energy price cap will fall by £238 from April, meaning bills are now the lowest they’ve been since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Local Government and Building Safety Minister responds to Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee’s fire safety product testing review

On Wednesday (28 February), the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee published correspondence from Lee Rowley, Minister for Local Government and Building Safety, following a series of Committee questions relating to the Independent Review of the Construction Projects Testing Regime. The letter informs the Committee that the Government will not give one single response to the Review due to it being a “multi-stage process”, as well as providing clarifications on some of the current harmonised EU standards, and the steps being taken by the Government to help decoupling homes with shared electrical supplies in social housing.

  

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities release £220 million to provide 800 homes for rough sleepers

On Wednesday (28 February), the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced it is giving nearly £220 million to councils across the country to tackle homelessness. The funding includes £107 million to provide 800 planned homes for rough sleepers, a £109 million increase to the Homelessness Prevenetion Grant and a £6 million boost for off-street spaces for rough sleepers in the winter to provide warmth and safety.

IN THE NEWS

George Galloway wins the Rochdale byelection

George Galloway has won the Rochdale byelection with 39.7% of the vote representing the British Workers’ Party. The byelection, triggered by the death of Sir Tony Lloyd, has been beset by controversy, including Labour removing support for their candidate, Azhar Ali, after he made inflammatory comments about Israel and Palestine. Ali finished fourth with 7.7% of the vote, being beaten by an Independent named David Tully with 21.3% and Paul Ellison for the Conservatives with 12% of the vote. This was a -43.9% swing for Labour.

Renting reforms: Minister discuss watering down no-fault eviction proposals – BBC News

BBC News reports it has seen a series of draft government amendments to the Renters Reform Bill to water down the proposed ban on landlords evicting tenants without reason. This comes from around 50 Conservative MPs, many of whom are landlords, who have expressed opposition to the Bill. Ministers are consulting the rebel MPs on these measures to see if a deal can be struck in return for their support of the Bill.

 

Scheme to reduce energy bills will take 60 years to complete – The Times

The Times reports Ministers are reassessing the viability of the Great British Insulation Scheme, with only 2,900 using the scheme in the first eight months of its operation out of a 300,000 target over three years. Most of the homes which have used the scheme so far have also only installed one energy efficiency measure and some parts of the country have had as few as one hundred homes benefit. Insiders claim the scheme has become immensely bureaucratic, with less than half of those applying being eligible and some measures making it less economic for suppliers to carry out work. Industry figures are reported to fear that the scheme is about to follow the same fate as the £1.5 billion Green Homes Grant which was scrapped six months after its launch.

Comment: Why a circular built environment makes economic and environmental sense – Reuters

Reuters published an opinion article by Anis Nassar and Sebastian Reiter, an economist at the Centre for Nature and Climate of the World Economic Forum (WEF) and partner at McKinsey respectively. Nassar and Reiter argue the best way for the construction industry to reduce its strain on the environment, currently contributing more than a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions and producing 100 billion tons of waste a year, is to adopt a circular model to support sustainable economic growth. Joint research by the World Economic Forum and McKinsey show a circular economy could abate 75% of embodied emissions, up to 4 gigatons of CO2, and add up to $360 billion in extra profits annually by 2050. The study was done by examining six building materials: cement, steel, aluminium, plastics, glass and gypsum.

 

UK competition watchdog opens probe into 8 housebuilders over information sharing
‘Complex and unpredictable planning system’ to blame for building shortage, says Competition and Markets Authority.  The UK’s competition watchdog has launched an investigation into eight housebuilders over whether they shared commercially sensitive information after a year-long study into why Britain builds too few homes.  https://www.ft.com/content/6171255c-96b2-4b52-a56f-751ad3c9d7c6

 

UK ministers must ‘move faster’ on net zero energy reforms, warns infrastructure tsar
Sir John Armitt accuses Whitehall of taking ‘too long’ to decide on measures to support decarbonisation.  Read more at the FT https://www.ft.com/content/de58ea7a-aabe-4199-8754-5e1567609f96

 

Hundreds of homes with RAAC concrete to be evacuated in Aberdeen – Sky News

Sky News reports around 500 homes in Aberdeen’s Balnagask area have been identified as having RAAC panels following an inspection last year. This includes 364 council properties, 299 of which are currently occupied. Aberdeen Local Authority has said is it exploring options for the long-term viability of the site, including remedial works or demolition, and it has asked the housing support officers involved to find alternative arrangements for residents to “understand their individual needs”. A detailed appraisal is expected to be presented to the council within six months.

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero releases fuel poverty report for 2024

On Thursday (15 February), the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero released its annual fuel poverty statistics report for 2024, using data from 2022 and 2023. The report includes the latest statistics on the number of households living in fuel poverty in England and projections of the number of households in fuel poverty in 2023 and 2024. It found that in 2023, 13% of households (3.17 million) were in fuel poverty in England, according to the Low Income Low Energy Efficiency metric. This is effectively unchanged from 13.1% in 2022. However, due to energy efficiency improvements, there has been an increase in the share of households meeting the 2030 fuel poverty target in 2023, up to 54% from 53.1% in 2022.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities launches a consultation on householder development rights

On Tuesday (13 February), the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities launched a consultation looking into various propositions to expand development rights for householders. The potential changes to the Town and Country Planning Order 2015 include improvements for householders looking to improve and enlarge their homes, changes which enable the installation of electrical outlets and upstands for recharging electric vehicles, and an increase in the size of heat pumps that are allowed to be installed outside a building.

Michael Gove calls for councils to build new homes on brownfield land

On Tuesday (13 February), the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities published a press release calling for big city councils to prioritise building on brownfield sites to protect Green Belt land. This follows a set of proposals released on the same day to remove regulatory barriers for the development of brownfield land and buildings.

 

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities invests £3 billion for affordable housing

On Monday (12 February), the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced the Affordable Homes Guarantee Scheme is receiving a £3bn funding boost, doubling its size to £6bn. The scheme, which provides lower-cost loans to housing providers, will see 20,000 new affordable homes built and can also be applied to by providers carrying out vital building safety works, such as the removal of unsafe cladding.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announces £50 million investment for estate regeneration in London

On Tuesday (13 February), the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced a package of support to improve the quality of life of housing estate residents in London via regeneration works. This funding comes in addition to the Affordable Homes Programme and includes £4 million to be allocated to establish a Euston Housing Delivery Group to help regeneration in a new “Euston Quarter”.

IN THE NEWS

Rishi Sunak announces plans to turbocharge development of cities – The Times

The Times reports Rishi Sunak has pledged to speed up new home building in Britain’s cities. These comments came alongside the unveiling of new rules that will allow brownfield land to be used for tens of thousands of new homes in England’s twenty biggest urban areas. Sunak said he accepted “people’s anger” over the inaccessibility of home ownership and accepted that the Conservatives need to do more to help the younger generation onto the housing ladder.

 

The uninsurable world: what climate change is costing homeowners – Financial Times 

Financial Times published a long read on the damage already being done to homeowners by climate change. Alongside a breakdown of the international economic losses caused by extreme weather in 2022, the article contains anecdotes from homeowners who have experienced significant costs after their properties were damaged by extreme weather. It also explores the implications for the insurance industry, with the increased rates of weather-related property damage leading to higher average premiums.

Lee Rowley meets council chiefs to discuss action against rogue building owners

On Tuesday (20 February), the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced the Minster for Housing and Building Safety, Lee Rowley, had spoken to a group of council chief executives to discuss the action they are taking against building owners who fail to fix medium and high-rise buildings with known building safety issues. The Department has also provided £8 million in funding to councils to help combat the issue.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announces new rules for short-term lets

On Monday (19 February), the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced several rule changes for short-term lets in an effort to prevent them resulting in local residents being pushed out of their communities. This means planning permission will now have to be sought for future short-term lets and a mandatory national register will be created to ensure accommodation is safe. Homeowners can continue to let out their own main or sole home for up to 90 nights a year.

 

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero publishes draft strategy and policy statement for energy policy

On Wednesday (21 February), the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero published its Draft Strategy and Policy Statement for Energy Policy in Great Britain. Following approval from Parliament, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero will designate the Strategy and Policy Statement, at which point the document will be in force. Included in the document are strategies concerning:

• Targets for renewable and low-carbon deployment
• Making sure the benefits of the net zero transition are equally felt across the country
• The domestic heating transition
• Supporting vulnerable consumers and those experiencing fuel poverty with the transition
• Ensuring sufficient electricity supply for low-carbon technologies

Material Supply Chain Group Statement

Statement from John Newcomb, CEO of the Builders Merchants Federation and Peter Caplehorn, CEO of the Construction Products Association, co-chairs of the Construction Leadership Council’s Material Supply Chain Group.  The first report of the year from the Construction Leadership Council’s Material Supply Chain Group (formerly Product Availability Group) shows 2024 starting in the same way that 2023 ended, with good levels of product availability and prices remaining flat or falling slightly. See Material Supply Chain Group Statement – Construction Leadership Council

 

IN THE NEWS

UK insurers urge public-private schemes to deploy £100bn green investment – The FT

Concerns that lack of suitable projects could undermine post-Brexit reforms designed to boost domestic infrastructure. UK insurers have called for new public-private partnerships to help funnel a promised £100bn of investment unlocked by post-Brexit regulatory reforms into green infrastructure projects. See UK insurers urge public-private schemes to deploy £100bn green investment (ft.com)

 

Retrofit research project aims to improve UK heat efficiency data – H&V News

H&V News reports the new government-funded Homes to Net Zero research programme will monitor and build understanding about the effectiveness of different measures for improving heat efficiency in existing homes. The project sees a partnership between University College London, Oxford University, utilities provider E.ON and the Energy Systems Catapult. The research will use a network of 2,500 homes that are currently used as part of the Energy Systems Catapult’s Living Lab Project to investigate the range of retrofit interventions available.

 

Hat pump boss greets government’s easing of installation curbs – The Energyst

The Energyst reports Aira UK, a recent entrant into the UK heat pump market, has voiced support for the Government’s proposed easing of planning rules for heat pumps. The Government’s ongoing consultation is looking into measures that will accelerate the uptake of heat pumps, including reducing the distance separating externally-mounted devices from neighbours’ properties and other relaxations in planning restrictions. Aria UK CEO Daniel Särefjord argues planning rules are the main barrier to heat pump installation, with 95% of gas boilers being replaced with another gas boiler today.

 

Energy Efficiency – Beware of Unexpected Consequences – Landlord Today

Landlord Today reports the head of insulation manufacturer SuperFOIL Insulation has warned of the dangers of condensation, mould and structural problems if insulation is installed without adequate insulation. William Brown, managing director of SuperFOIL Insulation, has called for more awareness that heat efficiency has to work hand-in-hand with ventilation and that an unhealthy balance between the two can cause health risks from contaminated air, mould and damp.

 

Simulation model to determine coefficient of performance of air-source heat pumps – PV Magazine

PV Magazine reports a research team at the University of Twente in the Netherlands has developed a simulation model to accurately determine the coefficient of performance of air-to-water heat pumps under non-frosting conditions. The novelty of their approach comes from considering how ambient temperature and relative humidity impact the coefficient of performance, taking into account evaporator and condenser pressure drops in the simulation process. According to the team, the model shows a 1.5% deviation from coefficient of performance values from heat pumps’ datasheet. The researchers aim to extend the model to a frosting simulation and a defrosting mode. The researchers are quoted explaining the significance of their model, saying “Although the effect of relative humidity on the COP is less pronounced than the impact of ambient temperature, it can still result in performance gains of up to 10.4% for the reference heat pump”.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announces new standards to improve service for all social housing tenants

On Tuesday (6 February), the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities released plans for new standards to ensure social housing residents are satisfied with their landlords. This comes after a survey recently found that a quarter of social housing residents are not satisfied that their landlord listens to their views and acts upon them. With the Social Housing (Regulation) Act now on the statute book, the Regulator of Social Housing has greater authority to inspect providers and restrict those who fail to comply from receiving funding from the Affordable Homes Programme.

Environmental Audit Committee hears evidence on grid connectivity queues for the Net Zero transition

On Wednesday (7 February), the Environmental Audit committee heard oral evidence from several providers of clean energy on how best to fix the grid connectivity issues currently being experienced in new clean energy projects. This was discussed in the context of a predicted increase in electricity demands from decarbonised housing stock. Susie Elks, Senior Policy Advisor at E3G, called for the roll out of heat networks where practical, and for efficiency improvements to existing housing stock in order to facilitate the transition to clean energy.

 

Michael Gove gives evidence to the Lords Built Environment Committee

On Tuesday (6 February), Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, was questioned by the Built Environment Committee on topics including the finances of the Department, nutrient neutrality, Modern Methods of Construction, and the rate of housebuilding in relation to migration. During the session, Gove argued that for MMC to work, construction companies need to be assured of the economic benefits of the practice, with a sufficient pipeline of work to show a return on investment.

IN THE NEWS

Labour ‘not sorry’ for scrapping £28bn green manifesto pledge – The Times

The Times reports Labour has scrapped its £28 billion per year green investment pledge. Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said she will make “no apologies” for it, as she argues the party is holding itself to the fiscal rules it has set out to make sure green investment is “responsible and achievable”. Despite this, she has insisted she will be the UK’s first “green chancellor”. Labour have cut their plans down to spending £5 billion per year, reducing their flagship policy to insulate 19 million homes by 2030 down to 5 million. Retained sections of their previous green pledge are the formation of a state-owned energy company called GB Energy, and investing in decarbonising heavy industry through a national wealth fund.

In partnership with their members LMC, Constructing Excellence are carrying out research into perceptions about construction.

However, unlike most research which focuses on what those outside of the industry think, we are turning it on its head – we want to hear from those working within construction.

What do you love? What do you want to change? What’s the best route into a fantastic career in construction? These are just some of the issues they’d love to explore with you.

The research will support the implementation of the Constructing Excellence Behavioural Framework. This will highlight the behaviours that we want to see from individuals, organisations and institutions as we move forward as a sector.

They will be carrying this research out in partnership with the PR and communications experts at Liz Male Consulting (LMC), with the ambition to create a report that focuses on how we should present ourselves as an industry that is ready to build and retain the right skills and talent we need for the future.

For every response received, LMC will make a donation to the Construction Youth Trust, so please jump on this link and give your views right now. It will take just 10 minutes of your time.

This month Martyn Jones asks what we should make of the recent flurry of economic data and what it reveals about our growth and productivity?

As the think tank UK in a Changing Europe (UKICE) puts it: “The UK’s economic performance … has been at best mediocre. While this is partly the result of policies such as austerity, and while Brexit has reduced growth, it also reflects long-standing structural weaknesses.”

The UK’s growth for 2023 was 0.1 percent, just avoiding a recession. But if we take per-capita GDP as a measure better reflective of the way our economy is performing, it fell by 0.7 per cent last year and is 1.5 per cent lower that it was at the time of the last election, and just ahead of formal Brexit.

The solutions to our low growth and productivity are well rehearsed: More business investment, greater innovation, and improved skills (particularly mid and lower-level ones), better infrastructure, and tackling regional inequality are usually top the list.

And there are strengths too that we in the UK can draw on to grow and become more productive: Political stability (although somewhat lacking recently), strong institutions, recent improvement in the performance of schools, the expansion of higher education, our world class universities, and the strength of our legal and financial services.

Then there are the opportunities for growth in the transition to a net zero economy, which presents unprecedented opportunities for the UK to become a more resilient and productive economy whilst also tackling climate change. In stark contrast to the rest of the economy, which at best is flatlining, economic data showing that the UK’s green economy grew by 9% in 2023.

Clearly the value of green industries like renewables, eco-friendly heating and energy storage is growing and will help unlock further cash for the UK, according to economists at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). They argue private investment and an industrial strategy are key to unlocking growth and the transition to a green economy.

Are we in construction ready to play our part in raising productivity and transitioning to net zero? Our performance over the last several decades is not encouraging given our reputation for being among the lowest productivity sectors across the economy.

A report published in 2017 by McKinsey Global Institute stated that construction sector productivity has largely remained stagnant over the past several decades despite the technologies and new forms of cooperation presented by the ICT paradigm.

Meanwhile, in manufacturing benefitting from the technologies and ways of working sparked by the ICT paradigm, particularly by lean supply chain management, productivity has almost doubled during the same period meaning that a manufacturing worker can now produce twice as much in the same number of hours whilst increasing quality.

Are we in construction wilfully opposed to innovation and increasing productivity? Or is construction so different our productivity performance cannot be judged in the same way as other sectors of the economy: The perennial we are backward vs we are different argument.

Our culture is cited as a major barrier to change, often being described as traditional and averse to new ideas. And our market structure and operating system are seen as acting against innovation and raising productivity.

We lack the overall and consistent single-point of leadership that is evident in the automotive industry with major car assemblers leading and driving much of the sector’s innovation, raising productivity, and now leading the charge to net zero.

Much of the production in construction is still being tied to specific locations making it more difficult to industrialise. And conditions differ significantly for every client and building type, making flexibility and the securing of scarce resources more of a priority for us in construction than lean efficiency.

Then there is our all too often and deliberate separation of design and construction. Imagine this happening in the automotive industry, with every car buyer taking their own bespoke design drawings to a manufacturer.

So, what are the solutions? The results from a recent RICS Global Construction Monitor (GCM) survey offers some ideas in the ways the respondents answered one of their questions: “How do you plan to increase labour productivity in your business?”

At the global level, the following interventions on productivity were ranked as the top two: upskilling the workforce and greater investment in data/digitisation. The respondents to the survey ranked improving procurement and supply chain management in third place – implying more collaborative inter-organisational relationships, more seamless processes, and greater focus on internal and external customers.

Constructing Excellence in our regions is well placed to play a role in increasing productivity and capitalising on the opportunities in transitioning to net zero. Clearly our Theme Groups – Future Skills, Smart Construction, Climate Crisis all have a role to play.

And there is Constructing Excellence’s new Behavioural Framework: A tool providing a means for leaders from across the movement to model inclusive and collaborative behaviours and provide a means for reflection, dialogue, and action to drive a more collaborative culture and in doing so raise productivity and support our transition to net zero.

Role: Generation for Change South West (G4CSW) – Sub-Committee – Chair or committee member

About G4C:

G4CSW is part of Construction Excellence South West, and we share joint aims to promote future leaders in the industry. G4CSW has been rapidly growing momentum as the South West’s young professional voice of the UK built environment.

G4CSW is particularly focused on encouraging students of school age to consider a career in the industry. We hope our group of inspiring and relatable individuals will help demonstrate the opportunities available in the industry to the next generation.

Overview:

Are you an ambitious and enthusiastic young/junior member of the construction industry who is keen to influence the agenda, raise your profile, accelerate your growth and become a future leader? Or do you know someone who is?

If so, you may want to seize this opportunity to get involved with G4CSW.

G4CSW is being BRAVE – it is undergoing an exciting change and restructure.

The G4CSW committee is being split into 8 sub-committees, so we can provide the best possible service to key locations and cities in the South West. These locations and cities align with the current Constructing Excellence South West clubs. Each sub-committee will have its own Chair, who will report back to our overall South West Chair (Lizzy Painter) on a regular basis with the other sub-committee Chairs. This is to ensure continuity across the group, alignment of agenda, and to help each other grow into these roles. We are looking for individuals to join the sub-committees for their area, either as a Chair (where there is an available role) or on the sub-committee.

Key Responsibilities: role as a G4CSW Sub-Committee Chair

As a sub-committee Chair, you will be expected to:

· Networking Events: Organise local networking events for young people in your area who work in the construction industry on a regular basis (e.g. monthly).

· Careers Events: Support local careers events in your area for students of school age.

· Podcast Series: Support the G4CSW podcast series, which interviews young people in the industry about their experience and ambitions, by recommending content and sharing the series with your contacts.

· Leadership: Run your sub-committee for your area, ideally hosting online (or in-person) meetings on a monthly basis.

· Collaboration with CESW Clubs: Attend committee meetings for the equivalent Constructing Excellence South West club, and provide them with updates on G4C activities.

· Collaboration with G4CSW: Attend committee meetings for G4CSW (i.e. with the other sub-committee areas) on a quarterly basis.

Key Responsibilities: role as a G4CSW Sub-Committee member

As a sub-committee member, you will be expected to:

· Support the Chair: Support the Chair for your area in their role mentioned above.

· Networking Events: Help organise local networking events for young people in your area who work in the construction industry on a regular basis (e.g. monthly).

· Collaboration with your G4C Sub-Committee: Attend sub-committee meetings online (or in-person) on a monthly basis.

Application process:

Interested candidates should submit your application to Lizzy Painter (Elizabeth.painter@rwkgoodman.com). Please explain a bit about yourself, the role you are applying for, and why you think you will make a good fit. Please include “G4C SW Sub-Committee Application” in the subject line.

The closing date for applications is Friday 5 April 2024.