The Business Sprinkler Alliance (BSA) was delighted to attend and host a stand at the UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) on the 20-22nd May. While the event provided an opportunity to engage with a diverse group of attendees, it also revealed continued gaps in knowledge about sprinkler
Green or Living Walls are becoming a familiar feature of the built environment. Often incorporated as components of newer and more sustainable construction projects, they provide a visible statement of green intent and benefit city biodiversity, air purity, thermal environment, and noise abatement, and are of proven benefit to wellbeing
Nearly 400 have their say on how to improve construction quality A recent construction industry-wide survey seeking views on the issue of Contractor Design Portions (CDP) has been flooded with responses reflecting how important it is as a topic across the sector. The survey, issued by the Construction Quality Improvement
Warringtonfire’s upcoming laboratory at Birchwood Park has been recognised with a Considerate Constructors Bronze Award in partnership with main contractor Tilbury Douglas. Issued by the Considerate Constructors Scheme, the award recognises the efforts of construction sites, organisations, and suppliers who commit to raising both environmental and community social value standards.
Sika, a leading provider of high-quality roofing solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of its latest Continuing Professional Development (CPD), “Fire Safety in Buildings – Fire Regulation and Test Methods for Roofs.” In today’s built environment, the ever-increasing focus on fire safety in buildings has become a critical concern
The Fire Standards Board (FSB) has announced the launch of the seventeenth professional Fire Standard; Internal Governance and Assurance. The Internal Governance and Assurance Fire Standard focuses on ensuring that fire and rescue services have internal governance structures and business planning processes which enable senior leaders to maintain comprehensive oversight of
The Association for Project Safety has launched its Micro Manifesto ahead of the UK General Election setting out priorities. It regards these as critical for the built environment not only to raise badly needed awareness of important issues, but to reset the construction industry’s safety relationship with government. APS wants to
Baily Garner is thrilled to announce its successful attainment of B Corp status as of 1st May 2024. This remarkable milestone underscores the firm’s dedication to high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability, and aligns with their core purpose: to positively impact people’s lives. The journey towards
The UK construction industry is set to experience a shift in thinking with the September launch of Offsite Construction Week (OCW) – an unprecedented collaboration amongst leading industry pioneers and associations. Organisers of the influential Offsite Expo and Offsite Awards have partnered with industry leaders with the specific goal of
E-learning collaboration to boost staff’s decarbonisation knowledge… The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) is collaborating with Kier Transportation to deliver essential (digital) eLearning to support Kier achieve their decarbonisation goals. This collaboration involves Kier Transportation using CIHT’s specifically designed courses that relate to climate change learning. These courses
The Business Sprinkler Alliance (BSA) was delighted to attend and host a stand at the UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) on the 20-22nd May. While the event provided an opportunity to engage with a diverse group of attendees, it also revealed continued gaps in knowledge about sprinkler systems among real estate professionals. The conference held at the Royal Armouries Leeds & Leeds Dock featured expert panels discussing sustainable and transformational investment in the built environment. Tom Roche, Secretary of the Business Sprinkler Alliance, was one of over 12,000 built environment professionals attending and lent his insight into the discussions, stressing the importance of business resilience and safeguarding commercial premises from the outset. The forum featured a series of sessions on a range of topics including the Building Safety Act, with Dame Judith Hackitt as a panellist in one. It was evident that significant effort and interest is still being directed towards remediation work. It was interesting to note the role that sprinklers were viewed as a tool to mitigate risk. Like so much of the changing regulatory environment there were repeated concerns raised by developers about the lack of clarity in the new regulatory regime. The obvious outcome being delays in programme approvals with consequent deadline and project financing cost. A surprising element was the undercurrent of struggles with true collaboration among stakeholders. The wrapper to this appeared to be the sharing of knowledge and the need to foster and grow trust between all parties; developers, consultants, financiers, lawyers and insurers. On that topic one of the most surprising findings was the number of visitors to the stand across these stakeholder groups who admitted to discussing or making decisions about sprinklers without truly comprehending their benefits or how they operate. “We have known for a while that the knowledge gap surrounding sprinklers existed. What was surprising was that this gap persisted with those who actively claimed to be involved in decisions about their provision,” said Tom Roche. “It’s concerning that such critical safety measures are being debated without a fundamental understanding of their capabilities and effectiveness.” The BSA also noted a lack of awareness regarding the provision of sprinklers under regulatory guidance. Many attendees naturally expected the hotels they stayed in and even the large exhibition spaces would be provided with sprinklers. They expressed shock upon learning that they often lack sprinkler systems, despite the number of people within them. Another strong stream within the forum was on sustainability. A lot of focus and attention was focused towards schemes that measure the sustainability of projects. It sounded like a new form of accounting where all elements of carbon involved in the construction, operation and decommissioning of a project were weighed and measured. Given the need to address the sustainability challenge it was striking to see this attention and the number of people with a passion for this subject. The case for the re-use of buildings and materials was very strong. What was striking to the BSA was again that that “shock” events like fire and damage to projects were not part of the thinking. Unfortunately, the potential for damage from a fire during the 50 year life of a building was not something that could be found in these programmes. One wonders if we are missing an opportunity or whether the “accounting” has a gap. On this note another element that came as a surprise was the discussion on compartmentalising large warehouses to avoid sprinkler requirements. According to consultants at the forum, some clients are still pursuing this approach to avoid installing sprinklers in new warehouses, despite the obvious fire risks associated with such massive buildings. “After the recent large fire in Cannock, it was troubling to learn that some developers may be actively seeking ways to engineer out sprinklers,” added Tom Roche. “The scale of these buildings means that they are outside the scope of regulatory guidance and need real fire engineering solutions to ensure they are truly sustainable and do not endanger lives but also preserve valuable assets and investments at risk.” Despite these concerning findings, the three-day event provided an opportunity for the BSA to educate attendees on the multitude of benefits sprinklers provide for life safety, asset protection and environmental protection, and address misconceptions. By exposing the gaps in regulatory guidance and highlighting the consequences of neglecting fire safety measures, the BSA hopes to inspire a more informed and responsible approach to sprinkler installation across UK business buildings. For more information about the Business Sprinkler Alliance visit www.business-sprinkler-alliance.org Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Green or Living Walls are becoming a familiar feature of the built environment. Often incorporated as components of newer and more sustainable construction projects, they provide a visible statement of green intent and benefit city biodiversity, air purity, thermal environment, and noise abatement, and are of proven benefit to wellbeing and mental health. Credible as these facets are, there remains a need to consider the implications that the provision of Living Walls may have for the resilience of the building, and the continuity of business or provision of services that are provided from it. Many Living Walls are of a scale and location that presents no additional risk to the scenario that would warrant further consideration, but others, applied at larger scale to a building, might have the potential to exert great influence on the safety and insurability of a building – and others around it – if not properly designed and maintained. Green and Living Walls as External Cladding: A Joint Guide to Managing Risk has been produced collaboratively between key Living Wall (LW) providers and UK insurers via the FPA’s RISCAuthority research scheme to address the potential risks from fire, escape of water (EoW), and weather events that these systems may present if incorrectly designed or managed. With endorsement from the FPA, RISCAuthority, Vertical Meadow, Viritopia, ABI, Biotecture, Growing Revolution, and Scotscape, the document is arranged in two key parts: The guide provides a comprehensive review of the core principles of risk control for Living Walls, outlining the documentation, materials, design and maintenance of Living Walls systems, as well as providing an in-depth questionnaire that allows the opportunity for the specifier, façade designer, or architect to describe the proposed Living Wall system to any authority having jurisdiction. Commenting on the release of the joint guide, Professor Jim Glockling, consultant and former RISCAuthority Director who contributed significantly to its authorship said, “This new risk management document, produced with exceptional collaboration between all stakeholders, sets out an agreed suite of core control principles, provides a framework for information exchange with the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ), and establishes methods of control so that the design may be tailored to meet the needs of all. With some solution parameters currently unverified, the document is as much a call for further research and testing as it is a guidance document.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Nearly 400 have their say on how to improve construction quality A recent construction industry-wide survey seeking views on the issue of Contractor Design Portions (CDP) has been flooded with responses reflecting how important it is as a topic across the sector. The survey, issued by the Construction Quality Improvement Collaborative (CQIC) which was established in early 2023 to further embed and promote a quality culture across Scotland’s construction sector, sought the views on what needs to change to improve the CDP process. In total there were 380 respondents from a wide spread of organisation types and sizes covering a variety of professions and occupations from across the construction sector. Over the last 25-30 years there has been an increasing tendency to use CDP for construction projects where a range of specialist sub-contractors are required to contribute towards the overall design and construction of major buildings. However, many believe the CDP system is being used inappropriately and too late in the process. The top line results from the survey show: Colin Campbell, Associate Director at the Scottish Futures Trust, who co-chairs and provides the secretariat for the CQIC work, said: “This has been a phenomenal response to the survey, showing just how passionately industry feels about the issue. We will now begin sifting through all the submissions with a focus to engage further with industry later this year, with the aim to produce best practice guidance for the sector to follow.” Iain Kent, Commercial Director of Morgan Sindall Construction and co-chair of the CQIC, which is the Quality Working Group within the Construction Leadership Forum’s Transformation Action Plan, noted: “The use of CDP has grown over the years and it can have an impact on the quality of the design and construction. Whilst there is undoubtedly a need for CDP in specialist areas of construction, the level of response to this survey shows change is needed that will benefit the whole of the construction industry.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Warringtonfire’s upcoming laboratory at Birchwood Park has been recognised with a Considerate Constructors Bronze Award in partnership with main contractor Tilbury Douglas. Issued by the Considerate Constructors Scheme, the award recognises the efforts of construction sites, organisations, and suppliers who commit to raising both environmental and community social value standards. The Birchwood Park site, which is nearing completion, achieved a perfect 45 out of 45 score. The report judged the site on three different pillars: Respect for the Community, Care for the Environment, and Value for their Workforce. The site received top marks in all categories, earning an ‘excellent’ rating for each and individual praise for its environmental and social policies. Warringtonfire and Tilbury Douglas implemented a series of measures to demonstrate the social value of the site, including an open doors week and hosting a Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity site presentation on mental health, promoting health and wellbeing conversations. The teams also made further charitable donations to Warrington Youth Zone and the Trussell Trust Food Bank, and purchased sanitary products for the workplace via the Hey Girls social enterprise. The report highly commended Warringtonfire and Tilbury Douglas for the project’s environmental pledges, which included a Net Zero 2050 carbon reduction plan, avoiding diesel-powered plant and equipment during the construction, promoting the use of HVO fuel, and planting over 50 trees. Tilbury Douglas’ ISO 14001 accreditation, the international standard for environmental management systems, further reinforces the project’s commitment to environmental protection and sustainability. Local students from Warrington Vale and Royal College were also welcomed to the site throughout National Apprenticeship Week, with several offered future work experience placements. Iwan Lewis, Project Manager of the site for Tilbury Douglas, said: “Investing in the next generation of construction professionals is a key priority for my team and together with Warringtonfire we have actively engaged in educational outreach activities with Warrington and Vale Royal College to address the skills shortage in the construction and fire stopping industries.” Martin Horne, Regional Director at Tilbury Douglas, said: “We are proud of the value created through our partnership, the successful outcomes achieved, and the alignment of goals and values between our organisations.” Phil Shaw, Managing Director at Tilbury Douglas, said: “It’s a great result and evidences the team’s inherent culture on site driving our sustainability strategy, ‘People, Planet, and Performance’, or PPP, which sets out to deliver improved social and environmental outcomes for our business, customers, and supply chain.” The 101,000sqft Birchwood Park site is set to be the new hub for Warringtonfire’s fire testing services. Due to open its doors in January 2025, it will triple the company’s testing capacity. The laboratory will have two vertical furnaces, two horizontal furnaces, and one indicative furnace ready for test specimens when it launches, with two more furnaces to be added by the end of 2026. Dafydd Llewelyn-Jones, Project Manager for Element Materials Technology, said: “This award recognises all the hard work put into the project, both from our team and Tilbury Douglas. We’re particularly proud of our social value scores, especially our outreach with the local community. Warrington has always been our home, so it is important that we continue to make valuable contributions to both the next generation and the environment.” To learn more about the new site at Birchwood Park, visit https://www.warringtonfire.com/about-warringtonfire/warrington-site-relocation-and-expansion Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Sika, a leading provider of high-quality roofing solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of its latest Continuing Professional Development (CPD), “Fire Safety in Buildings – Fire Regulation and Test Methods for Roofs.” In today’s built environment, the ever-increasing focus on fire safety in buildings has become a critical concern for specifiers, contractors and building owners. Understanding the relevant regulations, testing methods and certification to enable navigation of the wealth of product information available is therefore essential to ensure the safety and compliance of roofing systems. Sika’s new CPD presentation addresses this need by providing comprehensive coverage of the standards, fire testing and certification for roofing applications, the types of roofing systems and insulation available, the Construction Products Regulation (CPR), and the Building Regulations that apply. This CPD aims to equip attendees with the knowledge and understanding needed to make informed decisions when specifying roofing solutions that prioritise fire safety. “At Sika, we understand the critical importance of fire safety in buildings, and we are committed to equipping our customers with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed decisions,” said Mark Harris, Head of Sustainability at Sika Limited. “Our new ‘Fire Safety in Buildings – Fire Regulation and Test Methods for Roofs’ CPD is a testament to our dedication to supporting the industry and ensuring the safety and well-being of occupants.” In addition to the “Fire Regulation and Test Methods for Roofs” CPD, Sika’s Roofing Division offers a range of other CPD topics, including: These CPD sessions are designed to provide industry professionals with the necessary knowledge and insights to navigate the evolving roofing landscape and make informed decisions that prioritise safety, sustainability, and performance. To learn more about Sika’s CPD offerings or to schedule a session, click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Fire Standards Board (FSB) has announced the launch of the seventeenth professional Fire Standard; Internal Governance and Assurance. The Internal Governance and Assurance Fire Standard focuses on ensuring that fire and rescue services have internal governance structures and business planning processes which enable senior leaders to maintain comprehensive oversight of internal activities, assuring them that the service is operating effectively. One of the desired outcomes of the Fire Standard is that services’ internal change and improvement projects are managed through robust development, approval and initiation processes. This will ensure that such projects are aligned to the vision and strategic objectives of the service, and that delivery and organisational development plans are clear and understood by all within the service. An expected benefit of achieving the Internal Governance and Assurance Fire Standard is that fire and rescue services will improve governance, internal culture and increase transparency. As with all Fire Standards, there’s a corresponding Fire Standards Implementation Tool to support services with the implementation. The tool was designed to support services understanding how well they meet the standard; helping them to embed the standard into existing and new action plans and address any gaps. Chair of the Fire Standards Board, Suzanne McCarthy said: “The Board welcomes the launch of the new Internal Governance and Assurance Fire Standard and recognises the contribution it will bring to fire and rescue services and the communities they serve. “The standard builds on our portfolio of comprehensive and professional Fire Standards which ultimately help support the safety, health and well-being of the public via English fire and rescue services.” Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, CFO of West Sussex FRS and Chair of NFCC’s Improvement Committee, said: “I’m proud to have led the development of this new Fire Standard which will support all fire and rescue services to follow a consistent and robust process when developing internal governance and assurance procedures. “I also hope that working towards achieving this standard will create internal cultures and a positive working environments that are open to learning, self-evaluation and receiving feedback, creating a more productive, motivated and efficient workforce.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Association for Project Safety has launched its Micro Manifesto ahead of the UK General Election setting out priorities. It regards these as critical for the built environment not only to raise badly needed awareness of important issues, but to reset the construction industry’s safety relationship with government. APS wants to further build on a partnership with the next government that continues to empower the built environment to play a full role in tackling challenges particularly around in areas around building safety and mitigating risk within the building and construction industry. Although APS’s ‘key asks’ are neither especially new nor innovative, the fact is they remain its primary messages for the 650 new Westminster parliamentarians to be elected on 4 July. APS has identified Five ‘Asks’. They are . 1. Training and Skills Development Issue: There is a significant shortage of skilled workers to meet the housing targets set in all the main party manifestoes, but especially in the Tory or Labour ones, both now launched. More info here. Solution: Invest in comprehensive training programmes, and real, meaningful apprenticeships to build a skilled workforce capable of safely constructing the planned 1.5+ million homes likely to be needed over the next five years. APS Ask: Immediate allocation of funds and resources to training centres, and educational institutions – with enforceable output targets. 2. Planned and Selective Immigration (Short Term) Issue: Our members tell us that the current domestic workforce is insufficient to meet critical housing targets in the short term. Solution: Implement a planned and selective immigration policy to attract skilled workers from abroad similar to the Australian model. This would be a short-term tactic for five years. APS Ask: Fast-track visa processes for skilled immigrants with proven experience and identifiable, ‘provable’ skills in the construction sector. 3. Long-Term Construction Workforce Development Issue: Many UK college/university training programmes are simply insufficient to meet the demand for skilled workers. Solution: Enhance and expand apprenticeship programmes to ensure a steady pipeline of skilled workers for future projects. APS Ask: Partner with industry leaders and educational institutions to design and implement effective programmes relevant to modern methods of construction and developing technologies. 4. Environmental Protection in Planning Issue: Proposed fast-track planning on brownfield sites and abandonment of nutrient neutrality pose environmental risks. Solution: Ensure all planning and construction projects adhere to strict environmental protection standards to prevent uncontrolled pollutants in sensitive environments. APS Ask: Implement rigorous environmental impact assessments for all new construction projects. Some pioneering local authorities are showing this can be done; think how much more with government backing. 5. Retrofitting Existing Buildings Issue: The focus on new builds overlooks the potential of retrofitting existing structures to meet modern housing needs and environmental goals. Solution: Develop a robust and realistic retrofit programme to improve existing buildings’ energy efficiency and safety APS Ask: Allocate funding and incentivise homeowners and businesses to retrofit their properties. In summary, APS urges the next UK Government to prioritise the development of a skilled workforce through improved domestic training programmes and selective immigration (visa) incentives. It is crucial to balance the push for new housing with environmental protections and retrofitting initiatives to ensure sustainable growth. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Baily Garner is thrilled to announce its successful attainment of B Corp status as of 1st May 2024. This remarkable milestone underscores the firm’s dedication to high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability, and aligns with their core purpose: to positively impact people’s lives. The journey towards B Corp certification began at an annual quality summit in September 2021, where employees expressed their desire for Baily Garner to pursue this prestigious accreditation. Embracing this initiative, the Baily Garner Futures Group—a team of dynamic young professionals— drove the operation forward. In March 2022, they assembled a team who’s dedication and hard work culminated in the submission of Baily Garner’s B Corp application in March 2023, with certification granted just over two years later. Andy Tookey, Managing Partner, expressed his happiness when he was notified of the good news: “I’m absolutely delighted to announce that Baily Garner was awarded B Corp status. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our staff and perfectly supports our purpose to positively impact people’s lives. Special thanks goes to the team: Laura Day, Matt Allcock, Lucy Mullineux, Lisa Coleman, and Tim Bush. Their tenacity and dedication have been instrumental in this success. This was no small feat, and their perseverance through the lengthy application process is truly commendable.” The B Corp certification process is rigorous and comprehensive, requiring substantial effort and meticulous documentation. Baily Garner achieved an impressive score of 98.9, well above the required threshold of 80, reflecting the firm’s alignment with B Corp’s values and its commitment to positively impacting people’s lives. Tim Bush, Senior Partner, highlighted the thorough and demanding nature of the B Corp certification: “The process involves the B Impact Assessment, multiple rounds of reviews, scoring and accreditation. We are proud of our score of 98.9, which not only underscores our operational excellence but also how driven we are to fulfil our purpose. In particular, the assessment process gave strong validation to our work with underserved populations and our focus on public projects.” The certification covers five key pillars: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment, and Customers. Baily Garner’s focus on sustainability and social responsibility, especially in relation to public sector projects benefiting communities with high levels of deprivation, significantly boosted their score and exemplified their ethos. Laura Day, Project Team Leader, shared her pride: “I am proud to work at Baily Garner, a newly certified B Corp, receiving recognition for our commitment to Governance, Workers, Community, Environment, and Customers. We challenge the norms of the construction industry to make our business and our planet better for all. This certification shows our dedication to continuous improvement and positive impact.” Achieving B Corp status is not just a badge of honour but a commitment to ongoing improvement and adherence to the highest standards. Baily Garner achieved this status solely using their own resources, without the assistance of management consultants or external companies. They will need to recertify every three years, reaffirming their commitment to the principles that earned them this prestigious status. As B Corp continues to grow in recognition, Baily Garner stands proudly among the 2000 certified B Corps in the UK, committed to making a positive impact on people, communities, and the planet. Credit: https://www.bailygarner.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The UK construction industry is set to experience a shift in thinking with the September launch of Offsite Construction Week (OCW) – an unprecedented collaboration amongst leading industry pioneers and associations. Organisers of the influential Offsite Expo and Offsite Awards have partnered with industry leaders with the specific goal of inspiring strategic collaboration across the offsite construction sector. A UK first, Offsite Construction Week will bring together clients, manufacturers, developers, architects, specifiers, project managers, legislative and accrediting bodies for a week-long series of events, debates, and discussions on how to accelerate sector growth by removing current barriers to MMC implementation. Uniting industry leaders from different construction and material sectors, the newly-formed Advisory Group will create a set of objectives for successfully expanding the application of offsite construction methods and technologies, ensuring that every stakeholder’s perspective is reflected in the resulting strategy. The Advisory Group comprises 20 of the most well-informed and respected industry figures at the forefront of offsite innovation from pioneering companies and industry bodies. For full details of the Advisory Group, go to: www.offsiteconstructionweek.co.uk/advisory-group Together, these industry leaders will curate the Offsite Expo Masterclasses, roundtable debates and events that take place throughout the five days of Offsite Construction Week. Through a series of practical seminars that share insider knowledge of projects success factors and learnings – speakers will offer solutions to legislative, procurement, procedural, and financial roadblocks to accelerating the pace of implementing offsite methods and products in construction. Key topics to be addressed will include but are not limited to, creating industrialised construction ecosystems, enhancing building safety, increasing productivity, closing the performance gap, driving innovation, digital delivery for tomorrow, creating a zero-snag culture and delivering against net zero carbon targets. On behalf of the Advisory Group, spokesperson Tudi Sully said, “We will act as industry ambassadors for delivering a better built environment, chairing roundtable debates and connecting decision makers from various client organisations, industry bodies, government stakeholders and the supply chain. “By engaging in an open, unbiased and critical debate of current roadblocks to the implementation of approaches such as DfMA, offsite, MMC and industrialisation; showcasing past project challenges and successes; and offering insights from different vertical sectors, the Advisory Group will demonstrate a roadmap for the wider adoption of these innovative solutions. “With the ambitious goal to help accelerate the UK government’s agenda for a safer, more sustainable and faster-growing built environment, the Advisory Group will not only connect top decision makers but will also oversee an educational outreach to young professionals, apprentices and students in construction programmes – all of which will start at Offsite Construction Week.” The Advisory Group’s involvement during Offsite Construction Week will include curating the programme and leading the Masterclass seminars, sharing insights from the organisations they represent and presenting a highly focused, factual overview of the sector and the challenges it faces. Whilst the discussions in the Masterclass Theatre will equip attendees with a well-balanced view of the industry’s roadmap for the future, the Advisory Group will set the tone for a series of live webinars on some of the most pressing issues in the industry. About Offsite Construction Week Taking place from 16-20 September 2024, Offsite Construction Week will showcase the most comprehensive series of offsite technology events ever seen in the UK. The aim of the curated selection of seminars, industry awards ceremony, site tours and features exhibition, is to highlight the benefits and advancements in offsite construction, driving innovation and collaboration across the sector. Unilateral Support Offsite Construction Week is supported by a robust lineup of industry associations, including BUILDOFFSITE (BOS), Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT,) Light Steel Frame Association (LSFA), MMC Ireland, Modular and Portable Building Association (MPBA), Offsite Alliance, Steel Construction Institute (SCI), Structural Timber Association (STA) and others have come together to support the most comprehensive series of offsite events the country has ever seen. To keep informed go to: www.offsiteconstructionweek.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
E-learning collaboration to boost staff’s decarbonisation knowledge… The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) is collaborating with Kier Transportation to deliver essential (digital) eLearning to support Kier achieve their decarbonisation goals. This collaboration involves Kier Transportation using CIHT’s specifically designed courses that relate to climate change learning. These courses are specifically tailored for the highways and transportation sector and provide CPD in subjects including decarbonisation and carbon literacy. These accredited CIHT e-learning courses explain why the global effort to mitigate the risk of dangerous climate change demands very significant changes to how transportation professionals plan, design, deliver, operate, maintain, and decommission transport systems. Sue Percy CBE, Chief Executive, CIHT said: “The UK needs to cut transport emissions in half by 2030 – and then carry on towards 2050’s Net Zero. That isn’t something to start thinking about in 2049. Within the CIHT, we have engaged with members, partners (including Kier Transportation) and stakeholders, and through CIHT Learn, users can now dedicate a larger portion of their ongoing learning to sustainability.” “We welcome this important collaboration with Kier Transportation and the support we are now able to provide their staff as they join us on this decarbonisation journey.” “Through taking these courses, colleagues at Kier Transportation will learn how to identify gaps in their awareness, knowledge and skills and create a personal Continuing Professional Development plan tailored to their job role and its influence over transport decarbonisation.” Matt Tompsett, Head of Environment & Sustainability, Kier Transportation said: “Everyone’s talking about carbon and it’s continuing to raise higher on the agenda of organisations, up and down the value chain.” “We know that not everyone is an expert in carbon, but it’s important that we give our people the right tools and knowledge so they can make informed decisions and implement climate solutions in their sphere of influence, whether that be in their own lives – or at work.” “That’s why we decided to work with the CIHT to develop and roll our carbon literacy training for our people. It’s a big step in the right direction, to ensuring the right conversations are taking place so our people understand how they can influence and reduce our carbon footprint.” As of 8 May 2024, Kier Transportation employees have completed 1,476 courses. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
