Beard has increased its presence in the care home construction sector, after being awarded contracts worth a combined £25million with Signature Senior Lifestyle, to build two of its new developments in the south east. The sites in Caversham Berkshire and Farnham Common Buckinghamshire, are both expected to be completed in
Glencar has marked the start of the construction of the steel frame on Unit 4 at G-Park Northampton – a new 132,000 sq ft speculative warehouse which represents the final plot at GLP’s Moulton Park development. The Grade ‘A’ rated, highly specified building will be suitable for a range of
The PwC’s membership network report, Skies without Limits, recently revealed that drone technology is expected to uplift the UK’s construction industry by £8.6 bn by 2030. This growth was largely attributed to innovation and improved productivity. As drone technology becomes more sophisticated, it can offer a range of benefits for
THE end of the Brexit transition period has passed, and with it many rules and regulations are changing across the board for many industries – including construction. Jonathan Oram, national framework manager at Pagabo, discusses the changes expected in public sector procurement following the UK’s departure from the EU. What
The construction sector is regarded as being significantly conflict and dispute ridden and is one of the most claim orientated industries. Projects are usually long-term transactions with a high level of uncertainty and complexity and, as a result, they are seldom without bumps along the way. Often plans are changed
The impact of a front door on a home’s kerb appeal September 2020 was a month of records for the UK housing market. The stamp duty holiday triggered the highest number of residential property sales ever agreed in a month. When selling or looking to purchase a house, first impressions
HMG Paints, the UK’s Largest Independent Paint Manufacturer, have attained Made in Britain accreditation. Made in Britain brings together the British manufacturing community, the company will now carry the Made in Britain collective mark across its packaging and products along with its marketing materials and digital channels. The Manchester based
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has launched a new Guide for Construction Quality, focusing on quality management during the site production and assembly stage of construction projects. As we move into 2021, quality remains one of the CIOB’s main priorities, and is Mark Beard’s focus during his Presidential year.
Midlands contractor G F Tomlinson has been recognised as a leader in corporate social responsibility (CSR), having recently achieved a Gold standard CSR Accreditation. CSR Accreditation is a nationally recognised body that awards Bronze, Silver and Gold accreditations to businesses that can demonstrate a positive impact on society through areas
The construction industry’s gender equality is slowly but surely making progress. Data from a study that was conducted in 2018 shows the overall percentage of women on boards was around 22%. Although a small percentage, this number is higher than it was in 2013 where a similar report highlighted that
Beard has increased its presence in the care home construction sector, after being awarded contracts worth a combined £25million with Signature Senior Lifestyle, to build two of its new developments in the south east. The sites in Caversham Berkshire and Farnham Common Buckinghamshire, are both expected to be completed in 2022, providing luxury care homes and assisted living communities for seniors in need of nursing, respite or dementia care. Beard was chosen to carry out the work due to its track record for innovation, excellence and quality in all stages of the building process. Added to that is the commitment to prompt and faultless delivery on all projects, prompt payment of all of its suppliers and creating a safe, Covid-secure working environment on site. Caversham will comprise 86 apartments, including a number of deluxe units, built over four floors, split across a sloping site with views across to the Caversham lakes. Communal facilities will include a café, restaurant, cinema, lounge areas, activity room, a pub, spa bathrooms, hair salon and therapy room. Farnham Common will also offer luxury assisted living and nursing in 74 studio-style bedrooms with private wet rooms, with the same range of facilities on hand to residents. Pat Hughes, director of Beard, said: “It’s a real privilege to be able to work with Signature Care Homes on these two developments, and to be able to deliver on their vision for the highest quality living spaces for their residents. The excellence in design of the buildings and their positioning in their surroundings at both sites makes these homes particularly attractive. “In terms of the care sector it’s an important market for Beard, as we understand there is increasing demand for the kind of high-quality home and care that Signature provides. “We’re confident we can help to meet that demand, bringing the quality of construction honed over more than 120 years that Beard is renowned for. “While we’re all living and working during this Covid-19 period which is likely to be with us some time to come, we will continue to operate to the highest possible standards. We will ensure both sites are run in line with best practice and government guidance on how to keep all who work there safe and well.” Wayne Pryce, Group Development Director for Signature said: “We are looking forward to working closely with Beard to deliver two exceptional care homes that will serve the people of Caversham and Farnham Common. “Beard was selected because we have shared values and they can deliver the high quality environment that Signature residents expect. I look forward to successfully completing the project together and welcoming Signatures’ residents to their new home.”
Glencar has marked the start of the construction of the steel frame on Unit 4 at G-Park Northampton – a new 132,000 sq ft speculative warehouse which represents the final plot at GLP’s Moulton Park development. The Grade ‘A’ rated, highly specified building will be suitable for a range of occupiers including last mile logistics, 3PLs, retail/FMCG and manufacturers. The building was designed by UMC Architects and working with Lysander and Fairhurst, Glencar is due to complete the scheme in May this year. Moulton Park is one of the most successful industrial estates in Northamptonshire and is already home to a wide range of regional and national businesses. Occupiers continue to be attracted by the areas’ exceptional transport links, access to national markets and suitably skilled workforce.
The PwC’s membership network report, Skies without Limits, recently revealed that drone technology is expected to uplift the UK’s construction industry by £8.6 bn by 2030. This growth was largely attributed to innovation and improved productivity. As drone technology becomes more sophisticated, it can offer a range of benefits for civil contractors. Here Ian Barnes, Director at SITECH UK & Ireland, the leading distributor of Trimble® technology, shares his thoughts on the benefits of drones. In the last few years, improvements in drone and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) technology has changed how we use them — they are no longer viewed as just high-tech toys. The use of drones has particularly increased in the construction industry to help businesses improve accuracy and productivity. Additionally, as purchase and set up costs gradually decrease to make the technology more affordable, more construction and civil engineering businesses can benefit from the technology. There are several benefits of using drones on site, such as improving survey accuracy of large areas without difficulty, collecting and sharing data, and improving health and safety. Improving these areas can help companies keep their infrastructure projects on track and avoid costly delays. Let’s take a closer look at some of their benefits. Progress tracking According to a study from Engineers Daily, design errors account for 38 percent of construction disputes. Inaccurate and incomplete designs can push projects behind schedule and over budget as confusion mounts. Progress tracking in drones can limit these issues by capturing highly accurate site data. Contractors simply fly the drone to collect data when it’s required, meaning that there’s no need to halt construction work to complete surveys. Collected data can then be uploaded to a cloud-based platform where contractors can access the data anywhere, anytime and easily interpret the information. “Civil contractors and surveyors can use the technology to produce weekly progress reports to share across the company and to stakeholders,” explained Jan Wouter Kruyt, Director of European Operations at Propeller, who teamed up with SITECH to develop the Trimble Stratus® drone package. “More accurate progress tracking can boost overall efficiency while minimising disputes that can often derail projects. For instance, contractors can highlight the parts of a site that they are excavating and provide an estimate on how long this will take and plan the next stages of construction accordingly.” Mapping sites As well as surveying, innovations in drone software now allows contractors to produce detailed 3D maps and models using the data and site footage that they gather from flights. This highly accurate site data can cut costs because the detailed visualisations help teams align on their activities and reduce the risk of design errors that require rework later down the line. For example, Trimble® Stratus, powered by Propeller, uses a data analytics and visualisation platform to capture geo-referenced high-resolution aerial images. All they need to do is lay out their ground control points and fly the drones, enabling them to access highly accurate topographic surveys without causing bottlenecks. As with progress tracking, when 3D mapping is combined with a suitable analytics platform, you can communicate this data across your team and with third parties. Contractors can store and share a single source of truth across the cloud instead of running around with a pencil and a piece of paper. Improved digital mapping also means that every member of the team is aware of the site’s landscape, is working from the same information and immediately receives any updates. Instead of taking hours, or even days to cover the site on foot, all you need to do is fly the drone — providing a real field-to-finish solution for mapping sites. Health and safety According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) annual report in 2019, slips, trips and falls were the second highest cause of injuries and fatalities in the UK construction industry. Construction companies and shareholders are understandably concerned with any injuries on site and are looking for ways to minimise risk. Drones can quickly complete surveys in dangerous areas and take contractors out of the high-risk areas where these injuries could occur. Drones are piloted remotely, and this is essential when surveying sites where it is too risky to send people. In quarries, for example, surveying requires people to move around rocky and uneven surfaces that can put people in danger. Some sites also have dangerous structures or hazardous and flammable materials on-site that workers should not be in close proximity to. Instead of sending out engineers with pegs, operators can stay at a safe distance and easily fly the drone over the area to collect data, saving the surveyor time and minimising risk in the process. As drone technology becomes more sophisticated and accessible to contractors, it could deliver real productivity benefits while minimising risk to workers. It’s hardly surprising that the construction industry will receive a £8.6 bn lift over the next ten years because of these innovations. Drone flights and data processing provided in an easy to use package that covers workflow, data clarity and the practical is just one of the services developed by SITECH to support the digital worksite. For more information on how you can successfully set up your drone flights, visit https://www.sitechukandireland.com/sitech-drone-services/.
THE end of the Brexit transition period has passed, and with it many rules and regulations are changing across the board for many industries – including construction. Jonathan Oram, national framework manager at Pagabo, discusses the changes expected in public sector procurement following the UK’s departure from the EU. What will change? Jonathan said: “From the beginning of 2021, we are no longer bound by the EU Procurement Regulations, but the public sector remains bound by the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR2015). Initially, the main impact of Brexit on the procurement process is that all future public sector opportunities will be advertised on Find a Tender, which replaces the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). “No longer bound by the EU’s regulations, the UK government has had the freedom to begin the process of reviewing the current suite of procurement regulations. The government’s ‘Transforming Public Procurement’ green paper – published last month – has some interesting thoughts around trying to bring public sector procurement into something that is more suitable for the sector as a whole, acknowledging that not one size fits all and that there are shortcomings in the current processes.” The proposals in the green paper are at initial exploratory stages, but procurement professionals will watch with interest to see how these will map into new policies in the future. Jonathan continued: “We are expecting to see amendments to PCR2015, most likely over the next 12 to 18 months – being re-released as PCR2022. There are already some additional requirements being implemented alongside the current PCR2015 requirements that tie into the government’s procurement strategies surrounding social value, carbon neutrality and SME engagements – with good examples of this being included in ‘The Construction Playbook’. “However, any future amendments would still have to be in line with the principles of the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), which is an agreement for World Trade Organisation (WTO) members, including the UK. This would include embedding the principles of public procurement within the law and would expand on the three existing ‘EC Treaty’ principles of transparency, integrity, and fair treatment of suppliers to also include value for money, efficiency, and non-discrimination.” Increased flexibility will be key for the future of procurement Two areas that the green paper proposes are around updating and simplifying procurement procedures, as well as the types of resulting frameworks and dynamic purchasing systems, which will have the most impact. Jonathan said: “Within the procurement procedures, one of the more interesting proposals centres around what is being termed the Competitive Flexible Procedure. This would be similar to the existing Light Tough Regime, which is only applicable to procure specific social, health or other services. It would replace some of the existing procedures and give commercial teams the flexibility to design a compliant procurement process that meets both their needs and the needs of the market, which can only be seen as a good thing. “The green paper also talks about the possibility of open frameworks to introduce more flexibility. As it stands, frameworks are locked, meaning once suppliers are appointed there is currently no mechanism within the regulations to add on new suppliers during the term of the agreement. The proposed open type of framework would, at specified points, allow new organisations to bid, and for already appointed organisations to update their previously successful bid to reflect the prevailing market conditions. “The Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) process is also set to be reviewed once more. The rules were made more user-friendly in PCR2015 when compared to PCR2006, but the expansion of the scope and flexibility of DPS could see it fit for wider purposes, with the creation of DPS+. Dynamic purchasing systems are starting to become more prevalent and are proving to be a very useful tool for public sector organisations in supporting local and social value agendas.” Centralised data to support SMEs and greater accountability Jonathan also predicts a tightening up around the past performance of suppliers and how that may influence a bid, saying: “As it stands, past performance can be considered when looking at a bidder’s application for tender, but it remains difficult to exclude them because of it. “At the moment we have the ‘prompt payments’ league table, which will see a company reviewed should they fall off it. What we may see introduced in the future is a reversed form of this, with the building of a supplier list whose performance can exclude them from procurement activity.” As well as increased flexibility, the government is working towards a centralised procurement database, on which company details will exist and link together with tender processes. Jonathan said: “In reality, this is something that has needed to happen for a number of years. Making this standard practice will really help to reduce costs, as well as remove barriers for SMEs, and help with government initiatives to engage with these companies more on procurement activity. “There is a proposed requirement to provide more information throughout the life of a contract. This could be via an opensource data standard such as Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS), which is used by more than 30 governments around the world and would allow more transparency and quicker transfer of information. By having this openness, supply chains will be able to run more smoothly and ensure that the correct suppliers can be engaged at the appropriate points. “Overall, any changes that come in the next few years will be positive ones from which the public sector will greatly benefit from. The introduction of much more flexibility is the key and will allow procurement and built environment specialists to work together and ensure that the best results are delivered for clients on a truly case-by-case basis.” For more information, please visit https://www.pagabo.co.uk/
The construction sector is regarded as being significantly conflict and dispute ridden and is one of the most claim orientated industries. Projects are usually long-term transactions with a high level of uncertainty and complexity and, as a result, they are seldom without bumps along the way. Often plans are changed and altered by project members as they react to issues that arise and, if a problem is left unsolved, it can lead to disputes that require assistance from lawyers who not only understand the legal aspects, but also the technical parts of the project. A poorly handled dispute can and will cause you financial loss, wasted time and a great deal of stress. The key to minimising these risks is an early assessment of legal and factual issues between parties to determine the appropriate manner and forum for resolving your dispute. Many disputes that end with a contested and expensive courtroom trial could have been resolved by other means but, in some cases, there is no alternative but to litigate in the courts, particularly if there is contractual interpretation required. It is also important to look at how a dispute is covered within your JCT, NEC or private contract, as provision could already have been made for the way in which it must be handled. The process of opening a construction dispute in the courts Before enacting a dispute, it is essential to seek legal guidance and, for it to be formalised, there must first be an established basis for the claim. While the process is rather straightforward, legal systems in the UK vary, so it is important to follow the one that applies to you. A major part of the dispute process is providing evidence that you took every action possible to resolve the issue without resorting to the courts. If the case has good standing and you have contacted the relevant legal professionals, you can complete a claim form to send to the court. If the claim is considered weightier, a three-track system is used to resolve the issue. Your lawyer will work alongside you to tender the claim to either a small claim [a claim that has a value below £10k], fast track claim [a claim with a value between £10-£25k] or a multi-track claim [a complex claim with a value of £25k or more]. The court will then deliver an ‘order of directions’ that outlines the process for how the case will be conducted. This will provide you with guidance on the documents that will need to be disclosed, the due process, timetable for the trial, and other variables that are specific to your case. Other resolution options It is not uncommon for court proceeding fees to exceed the value of the initial claim, which is why legal professionals will often recommend other avenues to resolve a dispute. These include mediation, adjudication, arbitration and expert determination. The Pre-Action Protocol for Construction and Engineering Disputes requires parties involved to meet at least once before litigation commences, to discuss whether an alternative form of dispute resolution would be a more appropriate means to resolve the issue. This means most cases will have to go through some form of alternative dispute resolution before going to court. Adjudication Adjudication, in some scenarios, is a statutory and contractual dispute resolution procedure. It is the process in which a neutral third party will give a decision on a dispute and is historically most prevalent in the construction industry. This is largely because if you are a party to a construction contract you have a statutory right to refer your dispute to adjudication. If you are the successful party to adjudication, you can apply to the Technology and Construction Court to enforce an adjudicator’s decision. The decision will become binding unless it is revised in arbitration or litigation. Many choose adjudication when drafting contractual terms as it is less expensive than court proceedings and is a quick method, designed to ensure cash flow is maintained during the construction process. Expert determination Expert determination is often used to resolve disputes that are of a specialist nature, such as construction, and when there is a valuation dispute. It allows an expert to determine the dispute, and the involved parties will agree to this by contract, meaning the expert’s determination is binding. If your dispute involves a valuation, expert determination is far more economical than court proceedings, and is often quicker and less formal. Arbitration Arbitration is a confidential process which sees all involved parties agree to refer the dispute to a third party who has relevant experience in the matter at hand. Disputes are resolved based on material facts, documents and relevant principles of the law. In the UK, arbitrations are governed under the Arbitration Act 1996 to ensure they are fair, cost-effective, and quick. The law is followed wherever possible and the language used is often more user-friendly and accessible in comparison to court proceedings. There are limited powers of compulsion and sanctions available to the arbitrator if one party fails to comply with the directions set, and limited appeal rights during the process. It can also come at a similar cost to litigation at court, so it is up to you to decide which process you would like to follow. Mediation Mediation is a common form of dispute resolution within the construction industry. The mediator is an independent person, whose role is not to make a decision, judge or advise, but to facilitate discussions between you and the other parties involved to resolve the dispute. Mediators are generally highly experienced in the area in which they practice and will encourage you and the other parties involved to find a solution which will suit all your needs. By entering mediation, you can help maintain business relationships whilst saving on the cost of litigation. It is also relatively quick, with the process only lasting around one to two days. However, in some cases mediation does not result in parties reaching an agreement, meaning the
The impact of a front door on a home’s kerb appeal September 2020 was a month of records for the UK housing market. The stamp duty holiday triggered the highest number of residential property sales ever agreed in a month. When selling or looking to purchase a house, first impressions really do count. Here, Nick Cowley, managing director of uPVC windows and uPVC doors manufacturer Euramax, explains the impact of a carefully selected front door on a home’s kerb appeal. Homes are selling faster than ever before in the UK. The average time to sell is 50 days quicker than any previously recorded figure, according to a report by real estate website Rightmove. In such a saturated market, it’s vital that a property stands out, for the right reasons. In the initial stages of selling a property, the exterior appearance holds great importance: the front exterior shot of a home typically takes centre stage on online listings and many prospective buyers will make an informal drive-by visit before requesting a viewing. With such a great focus on the home’s exterior, maximising kerb appeal is a crucial element of a successful exchange. Whether a homeowner is enhancing their property’s sellable status, or plans to remain there for years to come, the front door is commonly regarded as a property’s focal point, connecting the inside with the outside. It should reflect the personality of the home, and can provide a subtle hint towards the interior décor inside the property. Selecting a front door that successfully achieves this requires three key decisions: colour, material and design. Colour choice A front door’s colour is ultimately down to personal preference, but there are a few essential considerations that should be made when creating a stand-out first impression. The goal is to radiate a welcoming feel, which can be reached either by adding a new colour or by maintaining the property’s existing colourway. One of the most popular colours to add to a property is a pale green. Inspired by nature, this hint of colour subtly matches any surrounding foliage. This promotes a view of the house and its garden as a single entity, helping the home to blend in with its exterior environment. Alternatively, neutral shades bring a classic and sophisticated style to any property. Recent years have seen a rise in the popularity of grey interiors, so selecting a grey front door complements the interior décor and sets the tone of what’s to come if you were to enter through it. It’s also worth taking the style of the property into account, to ensure the door colour helps rather than hinders the home’s aesthetic appeal. For example, dark colours such as Anthracite grey may be too bold for ornate period homes, but the perfect fit for a modern or Tudor-style property. Considering all these points in advance gives homeowners some creative freedom with their door colour, without compromising on style. Material matters Material is not only key to a door’s aesthetics, but also its functionality. Meeting a door’s aesthetic goals should not come at the expense of performance. Ultimately, a front door must provide security without sacrificing energy efficiency, so material choice should support these performance objectives. A traditional material choice would be timber, thanks to its timeless look and customisability. There are many types of wood to select from and it can be painted any colour. However, timber comes with its downsides. Repeated exposure to harsh weather conditions can cause warping and peeling, hampering the door’s insulating properties and demanding periodic maintenance. PVCu is another material option, which outperforms timber on energy efficiency and maintenance. PVCu doors have a smooth finish that is naturally insulating and weatherproof, requiring minimal maintenance. Contrary to popular belief, PVCu doors are now available in a range of colours, including Anthracite grey and Chartwell green. Their sleek, clean appearance makes PVCu doors an ideal option for modern properties. However, the modern appearance of PVCu may look out of place on a traditional property, while timber doors may not meet all the performance goals. Composite doors combine the benefits of different materials to offer maximum security, unrivalled energy efficiency and virtually zero maintenance. With a variety of colour choices and the option to add a woodgrain effect, composite doors are suitable for any home, whatever its style. Design details Having decided on colour and material, it’s important to think about the door’s design. As with colour choice, homeowners should be mindful of their property’s architecture and ensure that their door is in keeping with the style. The UK’s most popular four-panel door with two glass panels at the top and two solid panels at the bottom is a classic option that suits most properties. However, a modern property may benefit from a trendy design such as a door with four central glass square panels. It’s also advisable to spend some time considering the door’s accessories. Every front door must have a handle and a letter box, but you may decide on additional features such as numbers or a door knocker. Traditional doors may suit gold fittings, whilst contemporary properties may better suit chrome hardware. Euramax is a leading UK manufacturer PVCu and composite doors, which come in a range of colours with an array of customisable glass and accessory options. What’s more, our made-to-measure service allows us to offer bespoke products to meet any homeowners’ specific requirements. Whether your contemplating selling or just want to improve your property’s exterior, the front door holds the key to success. Carefully selecting a door’s colour, material and design ensures that the door seamlessly fits with the property’s style, while allowing the home’s interior style to shine through, making the property stand out for all the right reasons.
HMG Paints, the UK’s Largest Independent Paint Manufacturer, have attained Made in Britain accreditation. Made in Britain brings together the British manufacturing community, the company will now carry the Made in Britain collective mark across its packaging and products along with its marketing materials and digital channels. The Manchester based paint manufacturer has a vast portfolio of products and covers markets including Industrial, Commercial Vehicle, Decorative, Defence and more. The Made in Britain collective mark unites the British manufacturing sector and helps consumers, buyers and specifiers identify products that are made in Britain. As a proud family business and British Manufacturer, HMG one of the last few remaining British paint manufacturers, will be looking to work alongside other Made in Britain members. “We’re proud to be a paint manufacturer in Britain, with more and more paint manufacturers offshoring production and decision making we feel HMG can provide a unique offering to UK Manufacturers” commented John Falder, Managing Director of HMG Paints. “We have an extensive history of working closely with our customers to develop long term sustainable partnerships. HMG offer a huge variety of products, all of which are manufactured in Britain, but we are also specialists in developing innovative bespoke paint and coatings solutions for customers.” Innovation runs deep at HMG Paints; the company was the first in the UK to utilise Graphene within its coatings. With a broad spectrum of knowledge and expertise HMG boast a portfolio including wet paint, powder coatings and aerosols, covering virtually every type of surface imaginable. The company is also extremely agile, a key example of this was the ability of the company to transform a clean-room department into a Hand Sanitiser production line within 48 hours. The First Thing Sanitiser, which saw the company crowned UK Business Heroes by the Chamber of Commerce, was supplied to critical industries such as pharmaceutical packaging, health, transport, utilities and defence with the company also providing donations to Greater Manchester Police along with local care homes and other frontline workers. Its product innovation also continues with colour, with HMG producing its own systems of colourants and colour matching software. HMG’s ColourBase software boasts a library of over 200,000 different colour formulations, including RAL, BS, Pantone, NCS, OEM, commercial fleet, agricultural machinery and house colours. This colour choice, combined with colour matching services gives manufacturers a virtually unlimited colour choice for the products they manufacture. To see a full list of HMG Paints products and services visit www.hmgpaint.com via the website you can also find out more about the company’s history and partners. You can see a full profile of HMG Paints on the Made in Britain website by visiting: https://www.madeinbritain.org/members/hmg-paints If you require further information on the press release, please contact: Gracienne Ikin or Stephen Dyson HMG Paints Communications gikin@hmgpaint.com or sdyson@hmgpaint.com 0161 205 7631
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has launched a new Guide for Construction Quality, focusing on quality management during the site production and assembly stage of construction projects. As we move into 2021, quality remains one of the CIOB’s main priorities, and is Mark Beard’s focus during his Presidential year. “Our members are the standard-bearers for quality in the construction industry,” says Mark. “The vast majority of building work that takes place is of high quality, but our customers have a right to expect more. Regrettably, many parts of our industry are stuck in old ways of working, and for this reason, I urge members to champion the CIOB Quality Guide, to embed it into your businesses and to help everyone in our industry rediscover the pride in doing the job right first time. As an industry, we need to go beyond the bare minimum and seek out the highest possible quality standards. By embracing the CIOB’s new Guide for Construction Quality, we can and will achieve better.” The Guide promotes an approach to quality management that begins by identifying those issues that impact on quality on site, assessing their likelihood and impact, and proposing practical measures that can be taken to either mitigate or remove them. It is intended to be a practical guide for use by practitioners working collaboratively throughout the construction supply chain. Paul Nash, Chair of the CIOB’s Quality Implementation Group, said: “By focusing on quality during the site production and assembly stage of a project, this guide aims to raise the bar for improving quality on site. The report of the independent inquiry into the construction of the Edinburgh Schools and, more recently, the evidence we have heard from the Grenfell Inquiry, have underlined why a guide such as this is needed now more than ever if we are to ensure that the buildings we create are safe for those who use them. Along with the Code of Quality Management, this Quality Guide is part of the CIOB’s ongoing commitment to raise standards and promote best practice in quality management and building safety in our industry.”
Midlands contractor G F Tomlinson has been recognised as a leader in corporate social responsibility (CSR), having recently achieved a Gold standard CSR Accreditation. CSR Accreditation is a nationally recognised body that awards Bronze, Silver and Gold accreditations to businesses that can demonstrate a positive impact on society through areas such as social, environmental, ethical, human rights and consumer concerns. Recognised as being on the highest end of the scale, G F Tomlinson was awarded the Gold standard in the CSR Accreditation’s judging criteria, and since 2013, the company has followed a refined social value policy, ensuring its activities are in accordance with the Social Value Act 2012. In the last three years, G F Tomlinson has generated £22.5 million worth of social value through its CSR efforts across the Midlands region and beyond. Notable CSR initiatives include its ongoing relationship with Ashbourne Road District Allotment Association (ARDAA), which began in 2017 after the contractor helped to create an accessible centenary garden for people with disabilities or recovering from illness. Since then, it has supported ARDAA through the creation of community starter plots and a growing academy, and it is currently helping with the conversion of one of their smaller plots, to turn it into an accessible plot for a long-standing plot holder and volunteer member who has recently become physically disabled. The company has also generated £9,973 in social value through the delivery of a new environmental learning hub in 2019 at Turner Farm in Derbyshire, which is designed to teach young people how to protect and enhance biodiversity. Since 2018, the contractor has also invested 22,118 hours in employment, training and skills initiatives, and has engaged with 10,486 students – showing its commitment to supporting young people and preparing them for the world of work. With dedicated in-house careers advisors working with schools in five counties, GF Tomlinson continues to invest in young people as a cornerstone employer, addressing the industry skills shortage through training and employment of young talent. “CSR is of the upmost importance to G F Tomlinson and it’s embedded in everything we do, so it means so much to be recognised by an official body for our efforts. Our processes provide a focused approach to delivering economic, social and environmental benefits, leaving positive legacies relevant to the communities we’re working in,” said Chris Flint, director at G F Tomlinson. “Achieving the Gold CSR Accreditation status highlights our successful integration of CSR initiatives throughout the business and shows our commitment towards building a better world for future generations by improving the environment and helping to provide a cohesive community to live and work in. We’d like to say thank you to our staff who share and convey our values, and to our supply chain who continue to offer their support as part of our CSR efforts.” As a result of the accreditation, G F Tomlinson has been added to the CSR Accredited members directory and will be automatically entered into the International CSR Excellence Awards.
The construction industry’s gender equality is slowly but surely making progress. Data from a study that was conducted in 2018 shows the overall percentage of women on boards was around 22%. Although a small percentage, this number is higher than it was in 2013 where a similar report highlighted that only 13% of board members were women. Over the past few years, a focus has been on rebalancing the industry’s gender disparity, by looking at potential career progressions and targeting pay gaps. But another factor which is rarely spoken of is the way language can negatively impact the representation of women in the sector. With this in mind, what can be done to raise awareness on the unconscious biases in the industry in order to achieve a more equal world for all? Whilst industries across the world are step-by-step moving towards greater equality, it is important to remember that change does not come overnight. Combatting problematic, systematic gender inequalities is a long and complex process, and it will take time for us to reach the ideal. Furthermore, we are quite early on in the movement which means that much of the research hasn’t been completed yet. In this sense it is quite a dynamic time – we are seeing positive change happen before our very eyes! This gap in the research led me to conduct a study which looked at the systematic gendering in the language that is used within the construction industry. Part of my leadership and professional development degree, this small-scale three-month research project was designed to gain a better understanding of the unconscious biases that are perpetuated by both men and women in the construction industry. Half of my participants were men, the other women. There were variations in personnel, hierarchy and sectors within the construction industry. This was important to me as I wanted the study to be as representational as possible. My findings presented interesting results. Whilst on the whole men believed that there wasn’t a problem per se in the construction industry, many felt that better training schemes could be implemented to change the language that is used to address women in constructional sectors. My study also showed that the majority of the time, men were simply unaware of the impact of their words on women. This is as a result of the unconscious biases in the sector that are perpetuated by people of all trades and levels. Female participants also highlighted that they were often the only woman in a meeting room. Whilst this isn’t a bias, it does impact the way women are seen and understood in the sector, and reinforces the idea that construction is still very much dominated by men. What are the recommendations going forward? Gender inequality is a deep-rooted issue which will take time to undo. To create the change that is needed and bring everyone on the same page, we must all be aware of the problematic unconscious biases that afflict the industry. Many women like me are very happy to participate in what’s considered harmless ‘banter’ between colleagues, once a relationship has been formed. Language is heavily situational and rooted in context, and that can often be the distinction between a ‘joke’ and a more serious comment. My recommendations going forward is that there needs to be more training and education. Having female industry champions would be of a great help, and seeing more women in leadership roles would inspire those entering the sector. Whether it is through HR or equality practitioners reviewing policies, or taking training schemes to networking events, the possibilities are endless. Change can be on all manner of scale. Yet a very simple approach would be for senior staff members to make men and women aware of the language that can and cannot be used to address a female. A short seminar or meeting in which conversations can be had would make a huge difference. Circulating findings such as mine would be of benefit from an educational perspective; publishing to large organisations within the construction industry, key players and influencers will drive the industry-wide change that is urgently needed. Lendlease is an example of a construction company that was one of the first in the industry to be awarded the ‘National Equality Standard’ in 2017. The rest of the industry at every level should be aiming for this too. Gender equality advisors could be a further option in cases where women and men feel they cannot speak-up about their experiences. The reason why many females shy away from calling-out prejudiced language is because they fear negative repercussions. This situation is a disadvantage to everyone; women do not get the chance to address the issue, which means that the language causing the harm will still be perpetuated by men who are none the wiser. Here, it is again the responsibility of senior members to set a precedence for others to follow, creating inclusive rather than divisive working environments for everyone’s benefit. More importantly, to really get a hold of the gender inequalities we have to start taking a more integrated approach. The industry already knows the problem with siloed thinking – it doesn’t pay to be separationist – and at the moment women are presented in simply a different category to men, even though the jobs they do and the way they work are the same. By eliminating this barrier, the equality which the industry desires might become a little closer.
