Green construction supply chains will be vital if nations are to hit carbon neutral goals by 2050, yet challenges remain around cost and training… For businesses large and small, the COP26 climate summit brought into sharp focus just how important it is that they stay on track with net zero
Ranked first in Corporate Knights group for HVAC equipment manufacturing – First in its group for Building Products – Moves up to 12th in overall ranking, from 38th in 2021 Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), the global leader for smart and sustainable buildings, today announced it has been named among the world’s 100 most sustainable
With an estimated 65,000 burglaries reported between July and September 2021[2], a windows expert is imploring installers and fabricators to re-evaluate the security credentials of their frames and hardware and seek further assurances from regulatory bodies. According to ONS[3], one in five burglars will enter a property via a window.
The Local Government Association is urging MPs to back amendments to the Building Safety Bill – tabled by LGA Vice President Daisy Cooper MP – to protect the future residents of new buildings under 18 metres not covered by the scope of the Bill, The Building Safety Bill will establish
A new Construction T Level qualification is now open for applications at the UK’s only specialist further education construction college. Leeds College of Building is one of a select number of education providers across England chosen to deliver a T Level programme in Design, Surveying & Planning for Construction from September 2022.
Construction work is about to get underway on the latest phase of Barking Riverside, one of Europe’s largest residential projects. Bellway London Partnerships is to build 107 apartments in Phase H East, part of the major regeneration scheme, which is delivering more than 10,000 new homes on the former Barking
The British Board of Agrément, the UK’s first appointed UK Technical Assessment Body, recently issued the first UK Technical Assessment to Hilti Corporation, a multi-national company that develops, manufactures and markets products for the construc-tion, building maintenance, energy and manufacturing industries. Confirmed recently by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing
Industrial fans are the best solution for managing the heat emanating from electrical panels and ensuring a safe working environment. You can choose your industrial ventilation system with fans to adapt to the dimensions, processes and needs of your company. Let’s see how this works and what are the main
If you are thinking about buying your first home, there is no denying that you will have a lot to consider. After all, this is likely to be the biggest investment you have ever made (and by quite a significant amount!). The last thing you want to do is rush
The demand for skilled construction workers has risen globally in recent decades. As a result, construction companies and industry project administrators compete to hire suitable candidates to fulfil their building activities and requirements. If you need to recruit several new hires this year, it’s best to prepare to tackle the
Green construction supply chains will be vital if nations are to hit carbon neutral goals by 2050, yet challenges remain around cost and training… For businesses large and small, the COP26 climate summit brought into sharp focus just how important it is that they stay on track with net zero deadlines. The British government was one of the first to enshrine in law its commitment to be net zero as a nation by 2050. The clock is ticking ever louder. Construction giant Balfour Beatty says the UK’s building and infrastructure sector supply chain will have a vital role in helping the country meet its net zero commitments. It says the supply chain is responsible for 80% of the sector’s emissions. Balfour Beatty is at the forefront of efforts to make sure construction supply chains are as green as can be. Recently it published a paper, called ‘Greening the Chain’. For this, the company surveyed around 40,000 UK construction and infrastructure industry suppliers, in a bid to understand the barriers, issues and opportunities around sustainability faced by the sector. It was a joint effort with the Supply Chain Sustainability School (SCSS). Sustainability a struggle for smaller construction firms One of the strongest messages to come out of ‘Greening the Chain’ was just how difficult it is for smaller businesses to make progress on sustainability, because they lack the resources and expertise of larger companies. “It’s more challenging for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to meet new sustainability requirements, such as supplying carbon data,” confirms Katherine Rusack, senior sustainable procurement manager at Balfour Beatty. She continued: “Last year we spent £1.28bn with SME suppliers. They are a key part of our supply chain. For us to achieve our sustainability goals, we need to support them in a way that’s relevant to their business and operations.” To this end, the company has partnered with the SCSS, who provide materials and training free to Balfour Beatty supply chain members. “It’s a collaborative initiative,” Rusack says. “Many customers, such as National Highways, and larger supply chain partners, also support the school. This is a great example of the construction industry coming together to support the upskilling of the supply chain of all sizes.” SME businesses need all the help they can get on sustainability training, agrees Megan Adlen, group sustainability director at Travis Perkins. She says: “Smaller companies have smaller teams. Unlike larger suppliers, like us, or larger manufacturers, they won’t necessarily have in-house teams who understand sustainability, who can calculate carbon, or who understand net zero and the key interventions needed to achieve it”. Supplier forum will share sustainability best practices She adds: “This is why we’re looking to bring them together in a supplier forum, starting next year. The aim is to share best practises across the supply chain, and hopefully inspire some of the smaller manufacturers around measures they can take to decarbonise their operations and supply team.” Adlen says a great starting point for smaller companies struggling with sustainability is to use the free SCSS carbon calculator tool. “It’s no good talking theoretically to smaller companies about what needs to be done if they have no understanding of exactly what it is they’re supposed to be measuring and managing. It’s that old adage: if you want it to count, count it.” To that end, she says, the SCSS tool is a good first step to supporting smaller companies’ carbon calculations. In ‘Greening the Chain’ Balfour Beatty says one barrier to companies in the building supply chain moving to net zero is the skills gap, and a lack of training to plug that gap. Balfour Beatty’s Rusack says design is one of the areas in which sustainability training is important. “Equipping the design community with information about more sustainable products and methods can and should be implemented where possible,” Rusack says. Balfour Beatty developing carbon conscious training She adds that Balfour Beatty is also developing carbon-conscious training to help its workforce understand the carbon costs of their behaviour, both for them as individuals and Balfour Beatty as an employer. Yet she also sounds a note of caution, warning that businesses need to be careful not to go over the top: “Not everyone needs to be a sustainability expert. The challenge is to provide training which is relevant and proportionate to an individual’s role.” There’s no doubt that some of the net-zero training that’s required in the building supply chain is onerous. Adlen offers the example of the switch from gas boilers to heat-exchange systems: “Adapting to new technologies such as heat-pumps means tradespeople skilled in traditional boilers will either need to upskill, or an entirely new trade will be needed to support the installation of these new solutions. What will probably happen is that it’ll be a blend of the two.” Adlen adds that the pace of change across the built environment means upskilling is absolutely vital. She says the construction sector has already approached the government for help on this front, but anticipates that much of the upskilling provision is likely to fall to the supply chain itself. “A number of different upskilling solutions are likely to evolve,” she says. “Certainly in Travis Perkins we’re looking at how we might be able to play our part in supporting the upskilling of the trade in some of these areas.” She explains the company is exploring options on this front. Whichever route Travis Perkins ends up taking, there will be plenty of training to provide. “I gave the example of upskilling around heat pumps but that’s just one example among many, many others.” Procurement sustainability training ‘vitally important’ Asked what the most important steps Balfour Beatty has taken to green its own chain, Rusack says that providing its procurement team with training on sustainable procurement is right up there. She said: “We’ve reviewed all the products and services we regularly use and have conducted a heat-mapping exercise against 13 key sustainability areas, including social, environmental and economic impacts.” On the back of this,
Ranked first in Corporate Knights group for HVAC equipment manufacturing – First in its group for Building Products – Moves up to 12th in overall ranking, from 38th in 2021 Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), the global leader for smart and sustainable buildings, today announced it has been named among the world’s 100 most sustainable corporations in the 2022 Global 100 ranking by Corporate Knights. It is the eighth time Johnson Controls has received this honor. The company ranked first out of 26 in its Corporate Knights peer group for HVAC equipment manufacturing and first out of 74 in its industry group for Building Products. Johnson Controls jumped to 12th in the overall ranking, up from 38th last year. Johnson Controls scored strongly in several areas, supported by actions such as committing to invest 75 percent of new product R&D in climate-related innovation and sustainable products and services, incorporating sustainability and diversity into executive compensation, and deriving a high percentage (nearly half) of its revenue from green products and services. “Being named among the top 100 most sustainable companies is an honour, and evidence of our ongoing commitment to lead the way to a low-carbon economy,” said George Oliver, chairman and CEO, Johnson Controls. “The next decade is crucial in our shift to a sustainable economy. Sustainability is no longer an opt-in for the world’s companies; it needs to be part of their DNA. The bottom line is that it is urgent that we cut carbon. The good news is that cutting carbon is also good for the bottom line.” The ranking is based on a rigorous assessment of 6,914 companies with more than US$1 billion in revenues. Global 100 companies earn 47 percent of their revenues from products or services categorised as “clean” under the Corporate Knights Clean Taxonomy. Johnson Controls in fiscal 2020 earned 48 percent of its revenues from clean products and services. Johnson Controls is committed to helping solve the climate crisis, supporting customers in cutting their carbon footprint through offerings such as OpenBlue Net Zero Buildings as a Service. As a global leader in smart, healthy, sustainable building technology solutions, sustainability has been a central focus of its own operations for decades. Among the earliest industrial companies to report emissions and pledge emission reductions, the company has made tremendous progress – reducing carbon emissions intensity by more than 70 percent since 2002. “At Johnson Controls we have created a business fully dedicated to sustainability – delivering technologies and creating partnerships for decarbonising buildings. The building sector accounts for nearly 40 percent of global annual CO2 emissions, so there is no tackling climate change without substantial investment in buildings. We have the technologies to cut carbon emissions today with tools like our OpenBlue digital platform that optimises building systems and cuts both emissions and costs,” said Katie McGinty, vice president and chief sustainability and external relations officer at Johnson Controls. Moving forward, Johnson Controls is continuing to take significant steps to further improve its environmental impact and has committed to achieving net zero Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 2040 – ten years ahead of the Paris Climate Agreement goal. The company aims to cut its operational emissions by 55 percent and reduce customers’ emissions by 16 percent before 2030. These ambitious 2030 emissions reduction targets have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative. Johnson Controls also recently became the first industrial company to issue an Integrated Sustainable Finance Framework as well as a Sustainability-Linked Bond, building on its earlier leadership in green finance with its prior green bond issuance and the linking of its senior credit facility to sustainability metrics. As part of its Integrated Sustainable Finance Framework, Johnson Controls further committed to achieving ambitious absolute emission reductions by 2025. Sustainalytics, a global leader in the fields of responsible investing and sustainable finance, recently recognised Johnson Controls as an industry leader in the management of the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) material risks. In January 2022, it was ranked third out of 132 companies in the Building Products industry for its strong management of material environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. In the 2021 Drucker Institute’s Management Top 250, which is a list of the best managed companies in America, Johnson Controls placed at number 67 (up from 88 in 2020). The company received its highest marks in social responsibility, receiving 5 stars for its performance in this area as well as 5 stars in customer satisfaction. Today, Johnson Controls will share insights on its sustainability journey and its role in tackling urgent climate change when Oliver joins several leading executives at the 18th Global 100 Executive Roundtable: ‘Driving Global Decarbonisation’. To read more about Johnson Controls commitment to sustainability, please visit:https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/corporate-sustainability/environment
With an estimated 65,000 burglaries reported between July and September 2021[2], a windows expert is imploring installers and fabricators to re-evaluate the security credentials of their frames and hardware and seek further assurances from regulatory bodies. According to ONS[3], one in five burglars will enter a property via a window. Paired with findings from a recent survey which found that over a third of Brits feel a greater need to protect the security of their homes, compared to before the pandemic[4], quality windows will be a key safeguard against burglars. Windows in English dwellings must currently comply with Approved Document Q (ADQ) of the Building Regulations concerning security, for example by meeting the PAS24:2016 security standard. However, an added layer of credibility can be provided through meeting requirements set out by Secured by Design (SBD). The official police security initiative, SBD works with manufacturers and standards authorities to ensure security standards are current and updated in line with emerging crime trends. With burglary statistics anticipated to rise as people spend more time outside their homes Mark Gajda, Head of Technical Services at REHAU, is appealing to fenestration professionals to consider these higher-level security standards when specifying frames. “Security is a key concern for many building occupants because we all want to feel safe in the space we live,” he explains. “Burglaries are likely to rise post-pandemic, so window professionals must go above and beyond to provide solutions that meet this need. With this in mind, we’ve extended our support for tradespeople by joining the SBD initiative, providing installers, fabricators and building applicants alike with further peace-of-mind on the performance of frames.” To gain approval against SBD requirements, products must have passed enhanced security testing to PAS 24:2016. This is completed at a UKAS test centre and requires subsequent submission of relevant reports, which sets SBD aside from ADQ. Mark continued: “REHAU has always put strong emphasis on ensuring our products are tested against all fenestration industry requirements to give building users peace of mind. With the addition of the SBD logo, project and building managers have an extra layer of quality assurance.” “Because homeowners and building occupants may be concerned about burglaries, they deserve the reassurance that the elements making up their home offer adequate levels of security. This is why it’s vital for windows suppliers such as REHAU to keep an eye on how they can exceed the minimum standards of security.” Secured by Design Development Office Hazel Goss said: “It has been a pleasure to sign contracts with REHAU Ltd as a new member based in Herefordshire. They offer a fantastic collection of windows and doors on various ranges. I am looking forward to many years working alongside them.” For more information, please visit: https://www.rehau.com/uk-en/approvals [2] https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-10296171/How-home-secure-burglaries-forecast-rise.html [3] https://www.nimblefins.co.uk/home-insurance/burglary-statistics [4] https://news.samsung.com/uk/over-two-thirds-of-brits-have-no-home-security-measures-in-place-with-half-turning-to-tech-solutions-for-added-peace-of-mind
The Local Government Association is urging MPs to back amendments to the Building Safety Bill – tabled by LGA Vice President Daisy Cooper MP – to protect the future residents of new buildings under 18 metres not covered by the scope of the Bill, The Building Safety Bill will establish a Building Safety Regulator (BSR) within the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to implement a new, more stringent, regulatory regime for higher-risk buildings. These are defined as residential buildings, care homes and hospitals over 18m. However, the Bill leaves residential buildings under 18 meters out of scope. This will create a two-tier system where buildings below 18 metres will face less rigorous safety regulations than buildings over 18 metres. The current scope of Building Safety Bill would not have covered the Cube student residence in Bolton. In December 2019, the flammable cladding at the Cube rendered the only staircase untenable within half an hour and a resident was rescued from the top floor of the building moments before the flat from which she was rescued was destroyed by fire. This suggests that had the fire taken place later in the evening when more residents were asleep, it would probably have resulted in fatalities. In addition, we have already seen serious fires in Barking and Worcester Park, among others, which have demonstrated the very real danger that the failings of modern construction pose to residents in buildings under 18m. Cllr David Renard, housing spokesperson at the Local Government Association, said: “The Building Safety Bill, along with the Fire Safety Act, are important pieces of legislation will strengthen the building safety system in the UK. “The LGA has long-warned about the need for building safety reforms to avoid creating a two-tier building safety system which leaves buildings under 18 metres vulnerable and unprotected. The height of a building does not define the risk to its safety, as has been proven by a number of dangerous and potentially fatal fires in buildings below 18 metres. “We urge MPs to back these amendments to ensure the extension of the Bill’s protection to those buildings under 18m that require it on the basis of risk is hardwired into the legislation.”
A new Construction T Level qualification is now open for applications at the UK’s only specialist further education construction college. Leeds College of Building is one of a select number of education providers across England chosen to deliver a T Level programme in Design, Surveying & Planning for Construction from September 2022. At the heart of the course, a 45-day industry placement opens opportunities for the brightest talent entering the market. T Levels are a new, two-year qualification for 16- to 19-year-olds. Designed with employers, each T Level is equivalent to three A levels and has been developed to meet industry needs and prepare students for work. To gain approved provider status, the College applied to the Department for Education demonstrating a positive commitment from local employers and detailing the specialist equipment and expertise offered. This application was backed by the College’s Good Ofsted rating in 2019. Leeds College of Building is one of only a handful of providers in Yorkshire to offer the Design, Surveying & Planning for Construction T Level, and the only specialist further education construction college to offer this in the UK. The T Level will use industry-standard equipment at both its North Street and South Bank Campuses, delivered by expert staff from the construction industry. According to the Department for Education, T Levels give students the skills to progress and help rebuild the economy following the Coronavirus pandemic. Typical employment on completion might include technician roles in architecture, building services, civil engineering, surveying or town planning. “Leeds College of Building is the UK’s only general Further Education college specialising in Construction and the Built Environment. As such, we are perfectly placed to work with our established network of regional and national employers to enhance T Level opportunities for students,” said Nikki Davis, Vice Principal at Leeds College of Building. “T Level students at Leeds College of Building will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and specialist teaching expertise. Students also benefit from established progression opportunities within higher and degree-level apprenticeships at the College and employment opportunities through our construction partners. “Leeds College of Building is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. This new qualification will help us to better serve the region’s young people and workforce, opening up even more opportunities into high paying, skilled jobs.” Time is split between 80% classroom learning and 20% industry placement lasting approximately seven weeks. All students will develop a general understanding of construction, including accurate and appropriate measurements, construction methods and building regulations, digital engineering techniques, design principles and processes, mathematical problem solving, and sustainability and environmental impact. In addition to the core content, students at Leeds College of Building will specialise in surveying and design for construction and the built environment. They will also study laser scanning – a land surveying method that can accurately measure and collect data from buildings and landscapes.
Construction work is about to get underway on the latest phase of Barking Riverside, one of Europe’s largest residential projects. Bellway London Partnerships is to build 107 apartments in Phase H East, part of the major regeneration scheme, which is delivering more than 10,000 new homes on the former Barking Power Station site. The building of these apartments will run alongside Bellway’s current development of 371 homes at Fielders Quarter, which is also part of the wider landmark scheme being led by Barking Riverside and L&Q. “With the demand for new homes in London at an all-time high, Barking Riverside will make a hugely significant contribution towards meeting the capital’s housing needs. Bellway London Partnerships is already playing a key role in this ambitious residential project, and this latest phase of development cements our position as one of the leading developers at Barking Riverside,” said Bill Kenneally, Regional Director of Bellway London Partnerships. “Our ethos is to deliver high-quality and attainable homes for Londoners, something which is reflected by the fact that more than half of the apartments we are building at Phase H East will be provided as affordable housing for local people.” This newest development will comprise four linked buildings, all five storeys high, with a central landscaped green space for residents to enjoy. It will contain 53 apartments for private sale and 54 affordable homes. “Residents at Barking Riverside will benefit from excellent transport links to the rest of the capital, particularly when the new Barking Riverside Overground station opens next year, opening up direct train journeys to Central London in 20 minutes,” Bill added. “However, our new development will also accommodate those who need to drive for work or leisure. An underground car park will contain spaces for 48 cars, while off-street parking will be provided for a further 25 vehicles. The development will also include parking for motorcycles and bicycles.” The first homes at the new development are expected to be completed and ready for occupation by the end of next year.A selection of one and two-bedroom apartments are currently available at the highly in-demand Fielders Quarter, with prices starting from £258,655.
The British Board of Agrément, the UK’s first appointed UK Technical Assessment Body, recently issued the first UK Technical Assessment to Hilti Corporation, a multi-national company that develops, manufactures and markets products for the construc-tion, building maintenance, energy and manufacturing industries. Confirmed recently by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), approval was granted to the BBA to roll out the issuing of UK Technical As-sessments; in support of UKCA Marking. While UKTAs are not mandatory, UKTAs will be an important channel for manufactur-ers to achieve the industry expected UKCA Marking. Rickard Bergeryd, Structural Codes & Approvals Manager/ Anchor Expert and Olga Katsanova, PLS Manager BA Fastening & Protection from Hilti Northern Europe said, “Being awarded the first UKTA certification by the BBA makes us very proud and fur-ther strengthening our market leading position providing high quality technical prod-ucts and services to the UK market. This also contributes to a higher level of Safety and accuracy of our products and upholds our commitment to supporting the industry in building a better future.” John Albon, BBA’s Chief Scientific Officer, said, “We are delighted to be able to issue Hilti with their UKTA certificate. This is a big step forward in supporting our clients and the industry in getting ready for the upcoming CE to UKCA transition, enabling the BBA to respond quickly to client demands due to pressures on them to future proof their businesses”.
Industrial fans are the best solution for managing the heat emanating from electrical panels and ensuring a safe working environment. You can choose your industrial ventilation system with fans to adapt to the dimensions, processes and needs of your company. Let’s see how this works and what are the main differences between the industrial fans for specific purposes. Why is an industrial ventilation system so important? The energy consumption inside large factories and industrial warehouses is much higher than the one used in private homes and small buildings. This is why it is important that the electrical panel remains at a constant temperature and does not overheat, causing damage to machinery and risks for workers. In these cases, fans for electrical panels are the best solution because they allow a constant temperature, consume little energy and keep the parts of the panel in good health, extending their life. In this way the factory consumes less, requires less maintenance and is always perfectly safe. Depending on the size and needs of the workplace, you can choose a more or less powerful and more or less sophisticated wall or ceiling industrial ventilation system. Here are the various types. Types of fans for electrical panels These machines are divided into two macro-categories: Small size filter fans for electrical panels Wider and more powerful roof mounted heat extractors The choice of one option or the other depends on a number of factors that characterize the place to be cooled. First of all, the size of the space to be cooled must be evaluated. Then you have to take into account the amount of electricity and consequently the amount of heat that is released from the electrical panel and that is to be blown away by the industrial fans. Industrial ventilation systems, in fact, suck hot air out from electronic components which, by lowering the temperature, have a longer life and less maintenance needs. At the same time, cold air is sucked out from the work environment to maintain a constant and adequate temperature for both machinery and workers. Why should you choose this solution? Fans for electrical panels are a compact solution, small in size and highly efficient, for cooling the air in workplaces with particular characteristics. Remember that you can install them in your workplace, in the wall or ceiling version, only if the place respects these conditions. The external air has a lower temperature than the internal one. The air present in the environment has no oily characteristics, nor is it rich in dust. The space requires a minimal cooling capacity. If fans are useful for cooling electrical panels, in fact, the same cannot be said for more complex industrial processes that require a much larger and more sophisticated air conditioning system. In short, an industrial ventilation system is the ideal solution for small rooms where production and factory processes develop little heat and which do not need intense refrigeration. Listen carefully to an expert in industrial ventilation and cooling systems to find the right machinery for your work environment.
If you are thinking about buying your first home, there is no denying that you will have a lot to consider. After all, this is likely to be the biggest investment you have ever made (and by quite a significant amount!). The last thing you want to do is rush into the decision and purchase a property before you are really ready to do so. With that being said, continue reading to figure out whether you are ready to purchase your first home. Is it financially the right thing to do? The first thing you need to do is look at the financial side of things. You need to determine whether or not a property is something you can truly afford. There are a number of different elements you need to consider here. Firstly, you need to figure out whether you would be approved for a mortgage, and if so, if this is something you can afford. You can get the likes of bad credit mortgages if you don’t have a good history, so there are certainly more options than there used to be in this regard. Once you have found a home loan lender, you need to make sure that you can accumulate the deposit that is required. You then need to make sure that you have the money available should there be any problems around the home. After all, maintenance, repairs, and such like are going to fall on your shoulders. If your entire funds are being taken up every month with mortgage payments, you’re not going to have any money left to live. Are you ready from a personal perspective? You may have the finances to fund the purchase of a property, but are you really ready to move? Remember, when you buy a home, you are committing to the area in question. You are putting down roots. Is this something you are prepared to do? Are you confident that this is the best place for you to live? Don’t just think about now but think about the future too. After all, there is no point in purchasing a property if it is only going to keep you satisfied for a year or two. You also need to think about the future in terms of the property’s resale value and whether it is a worthy investment. This is why research is so important. Final words on the personal and financial questions to ask yourself before buying your first home Hopefully, this blog post has helped you to figure out whether or not you are ready to buy your first property. It is important to remember that there is no set time or deadline when it comes to buying a property. It is all about what is right for you. You can go your whole life without buying a home; it is about what makes you happy, so never buy a home just because you think you have to.
The demand for skilled construction workers has risen globally in recent decades. As a result, construction companies and industry project administrators compete to hire suitable candidates to fulfil their building activities and requirements. If you need to recruit several new hires this year, it’s best to prepare to tackle the task beforehand. Here are some strategies that enable your recruitment department to source highly-skilled construction workers. Before conducting interviews, it’s helpful to screen applicants using psychometric assessments. Psychometric tests measure an individual’s specific characteristics using a wide range of assessments. Traditionally, these qualifications include cognitive abilities and behavioural traits, evaluated through aptitude and personality tests. In addition to enabling employers to make more informed hiring decisions, psychometric tests streamline the recruitment process. The concepts and data driving psychometric tests are scientific, making them more dependable than personal judgments from the hiring staff. Large multinational corporations are increasingly using psychometric testing in hiring new employees, suggesting its effectiveness. With that being said, the construction industry can also use this screening method. Whether building sustainable homes, constructing manufacturing plants, or working on real estate projects, you must hire the best construction workers. Unfortunately, not all construction companies know how to effectively advertise work opportunities, leading to low applicant turnout. One primary step in recruitment is knowing who and where your target audience is. Multiple candidates often visit various platforms to seek job advertisements. Therefore, construction companies must place job postings on sites where many potential applicants keep an account or actively use it. Consider these two major platforms: Many people rely on social media platforms to seek something important. These could include vintage and rare items, long-lost friends, and ideal jobs. They visit these social networking sites at least once a day. For instance, 72% of the American public today uses at least one type of social media platform, according to Pew Research Center. Therefore, it’s essential to know whom to target and decide which social media platforms are popular and widely used by them. “LinkedIn is arguably the most popular way to find good recruits. Remember to also check out the industry groups (actively participating where possible),” comments James Durr of Birmingham auction house Property Solvers. Besides social media platforms, job seekers often maintain accounts on job recruitment sites. These digital platforms are widely accessible to employers and employees. Evaluate these sites and pick those that allow construction workers and staff to perform job searches effectively. A hiring manager can also check which websites have the most qualified candidates and devote more resources to these platforms. Besides leaving it to the hiring specialist, there are options like online hiring platforms and free recruitment agency software, which complete the work of a manager by choosing skilled candidates. You don’t even have to be that involved in the hiring process. These tools are specifically made to filter and create shortlists of potential workers, so you won’t have to go through each one and collect. Besides, you can even send the whole list to your client with one click. You can forget about asking writers to create offers for your potential workers since these tools also do that. On top of it all, you can track the status of your proposals and be able to follow every stage of the hiring. Companies may not be the only ones assessing in a highly competitive job market. Candidates also look at an employer’s working conditions and benefits before applying. As such, study how your organization can entice more skilled workers. Consider conducting a survey or placing yourself in a construction worker’s shoes and determine which work factors are essential. Look beyond your salary and monetary offers, insurance and health benefits. Study the different motivations that drive an employee, including job security and career advancement. Simply put, provide an attractive package that allows them to choose to work for you rather than your competitors. After determining which positions in your construction company you need to fill, it’s time to write better and more effective job descriptions to guide your future candidates. When creating an outline for your job post, be concise in describing the job requirements so applicants can discern whether the construction job is a good fit for them. Vacancy announcements should clearly state your company’s minimum requirements and avoid posting vague job descriptions. A construction job description must be written clearly and include what skills are vital for the position. A job vacancy post must also indicate the required experience, education, or background requirements. Additionally, clearly state whether the job is temporary, contractual, or permanent. Think of all the other details necessary for a candidate to know and add them to the posting. Safety must be a primordial concern for a construction company, as workers in the sector are highly vulnerable to injuries. Advertising your company’s safety compliance accreditations or its record of solid safety practices can be used as leverage to attract more qualified candidates. This holds especially for those who consider this element a major deciding factor for their job application journey. Recruiting new employees becomes easier when you use a safety culture that promotes worker protection. It also demonstrates that you’re concerned about your employees’ well-being and implement the appropriate critical measures to make their jobs as safe as possible. Conclusion Setting up recruitment strategies is essential for any construction company. Hiring qualified candidates will allow your construction business to operate smoothly, incur lesser risks and damages, decrease turnover, and improve productivity. The key is to generate the proper methods and ways to attract new and efficient employees. To effectively hire the ideal candidates, know where to find them and be clear with what you want from them. Consider providing attractive compensation packages to help you become one of the most preferred construction industry employers.
