On Tuesday 8th October, 340 people from local businesses attended an open day to hear about the opportunities to work on the development of the Agratas battery facility near Bridgwater.   In partnership with Agratas’ contractor, Sir Robert McAlpine, Agratas invited businesses operating in various sectors, including catering, offsite consolidation, and signage to hear updates on the Gravity Smart Campus development and explore future supplier opportunities.   David Crew, Managing Director, Somerset Chamber of Commerce, said: “Somerset has many skilled and talented businesses who are ready to help deliver this exciting project.  “The supplier engagement day was very well-attended and informative, describing a fantastic opportunity for local businesses to be at the heart of the green revolution here in Somerset as vehicle manufacturers switch from fossil fuel vehicles to electric vehicles.  “Somerset Chamber is looking forward to supporting local businesses, Agratas and its partners to mobilise and deliver this transformative project in our region.”  During the supplier engagement day, businesses were provided with a comprehensive project overview, detailing the objectives and significance of the Agratas facility. Attendees were updated on the site progress to date, highlighting key milestones achieved and the work packages currently being considered for future collaboration. The event offered valuable networking opportunities, enabling suppliers to connect, discuss potential partnerships, and engage at exhibition stands where they could ask questions and gain a deeper understanding into the project’s requirements.  Jefferson Weber, Head of UK Construction at Agratas, commented: “It was fantastic to see so much enthusiasm and expertise in the room at the first supplier engagement day for the Agratas facility in Bridgwater. While this is a nationally significant project, Agratas is committed to a local-first approach that provides opportunities for businesses and individuals across Somerset.”  Graham Lill, Project Director at Sir Robert McAlpine, said: “This supplier engagement day marks an exciting opportunity for us to connect with local businesses in Somerset. It highlights our commitment to collaborating with the community as we move forward with the Agratas facility project. Sir Robert McAlpine is proud to work alongside high-quality businesses from the region, and together, we can create a meaningful impact on the local economy.”  The Agratas site at Bridgwater is a multi-billion dollar facility that will design, develop and manufacture high-quality, high-performance, sustainable electric batteries once operational. It is set to be the biggest battery facility in the country and by the early 2030s will contribute almost half of the projected battery manufacturing capacity required for the UK automotive sector.  The facility itself will create up to 4,000 new high-skilled green tech jobs in the area, with many thousands more expected to be created in the UK supply chain.   Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is delighted to announce the winners for the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction Awards 2024.   The awards ceremony, which celebrates and honours the outstanding individuals within the sector, took place on 30 September at Birmingham’s Burlington Hotel at the start of UK Construction Week. The Awards Ceremony was hosted by National Federation of Builders, and showcased the influential women that work in construction, making female and non-binary role models more visible and accessible to inspire others, and demonstrating that the sector is open to everyone.   The category winners were:  The Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction were also unveiled at the awards with the UK’s Most Influential Overall accolade awarded to Katherine Evans from Bold as Brass.  Danny Clarke, Engagement Director, England at CITB, said: “Congratulations to our award winners and to all of those who were shortlisted for the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction. We are delighted to recognise the incredible women and allies who are driving real change in the construction industry.   “The award ceremony and Top 100 shortlist celebrate the women that work at every level within the sector and their phenomenal achievements, while inspiring others and encouraging the next generation to pursue careers in this field. We are proud to showcase those who are leading in our industry and hope to see more even more applicants next year.”   Richard Beresford, Chief Executive Officer at National Federation of Builders (NFB), said: “It was a privilege to attend the Top 100 Most Influential Awards event and celebrate the outstanding women and allies that have gone above and beyond this year.  It is testament to the positive changes taking place in the industry and we must build on its success and continue to empower and support our women in construction.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Yesterday, senior leaders and professionals from across the construction industry gathered at the 2024 Construction Leaders’ Summit, bringing together some of the most important voices in building safety and sustainability. Hosted by construction data experts, NBS, in collaboration with data analysts Glenigan, at the Royal College of Physicians, London, the event kicked off with a deep dive into the issue of safety in construction and the role construction product testing has to play. Speaking at the event, Paul Morrell OBE, former Chief Construction Adviser to the UK Government, said: “There can be no question about the objective: we need buildings that are designed, constructed, and operated to be safe, incorporating products manufactured and marketed with the same end in mind.” He stressed that the industry must not wait around for Government direction, saying “This change involves the entire supply chain, creating a chain of connected duties. The industry needs to decide what competence looks like in accordance with guidance and standards, and we must all take reasonable steps to ensure that these are upheld.” Talks throughout the day also focused on sustainable construction and in particular, the sustainable practices that are moving the needle on delivering net-zero emission targets and how the role of digital adoption will continue to be a key driver in delivering higher standards of safety and efficiency across the board. The event included other insightful talks. Chris Hines MBE, owner of A Grain of Sand & former Director of Sustainability for The Eden Project, gave an informative speech on the collaborative mindset needed to deliver a step change in sustainable and regenerative development. He said: “Large-scale infrastructure projects are drivers of change, by example and by practice. Construction has a key role to play in the race toward Net Zero, through leadership, expertise, innovation and collaboration. We need to work together, using every tool we have available.” With a focus on the entire construction supply chain, the afternoon session also examined how safety and sustainability considerations have impacted building product manufacturers as well as designers, particularly in the way building information is used and managed by the industry. The day ended with a discussion on digital and AI in construction alongside some of the leading voices in applied construction technology, including Fyma CEO Karen Burns and BDP-Pattern Associate Director Nick Tyrer. Dr Stephen Hamil, Innovation Director at NBS, concluded the event by saying: “The Hackitt Review, Building Safety Act and its secondary legislation have laid out clear duties for designers, contractors, and those who own and operate buildings. Now, the industry is figuring out how to organise itself to live up to these duties. “It’s a complicated but essential task, and that’s why the summit is a great opportunity for professionals across the sector to share best practice and receive take-away advice that they can implement in their day-to-day decisions.” If you missed out on this year’s event, sign up to access presentations and content from the day and watch the on-demand webinar here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals