With a strong focus on three core challenges for construction, CITB published its Business Plan today (18 May), announcing it will be investing over £233m across Britain to support construction throughout 2022/23. CITB’s investment plan responds to the estimated demand for an additional 50,000 workers every year and is primarily
CITB Chief Executive Tim Balcon is one of 15 construction industry leaders on a new Skills for a Sustainable Skyline Taskforce. The aim of the taskforce, which will meet for the first time in May, is to look at addressing skills gaps around the construction, retrofit and maintenance of low
Keystone Group has appointed Jemma Ison as Group Sustainability Manager to help build decarbonisation into all business operations. Jemma, who has been with the Group for five years, has played an integral part in developing Keystone’s sustainability strategy, which is based on three key sustainability pillars: ‘Our Nature’, ‘Our Resources’
A housing regeneration partnership which has delivered over 1,150 homes to Sheffield is increasing its workforce, with the appointment of a Development Manager. With ambitious plans to build 2,300 properties on a total of 23 sites by the end of 2027, Sheffield Housing Company (SHC) – Sheffield City Council’s joint
A pioneering development of nine high-quality business units will offer much-needed new commercial space in the heart of Warwickshire which could help create up to 100 new jobs, a leading commercial property expert says. Tom Bromwich says the 42,000 sq ft Southam Park development at Kineton Road Industrial estate in
COMPLETE construction partner Stepnell has celebrated the achievements of six young people, who have successfully completed a ‘Get into Construction’ programme run by The Prince’s Trust. Working together with The Prince’s Trust and in collaboration with GLP Training, and with the support of supply chain partners VD Interiors and Phase9
Culture Change in Construction Crucial Calls from Industry Experts at Exclusive Event on First Night of UK Construction Week Leading construction industry intelligence provider, Barbour ABI, brought top industry experts together at an exclusive event after the first day of the UK Construction Week exhibition in London to discuss the
Leading national contractor, Novus Property Solutions, has promoted long-serving former senior operations manager Ray Fielder to Head of Operations for its Southern region – making him responsible for the company’s largest geographic area, stretching from Cornwall to Norfolk. Ray Fielder embodies Novus’ ethos of recognising and rewarding talented people at
Yorkshire based multi-disciplinary construction company Harris CM has completed a board-level restructure and appointed a new managing director as it targets strong operational growth and £70 million turnover this year. Neil Silcock has been appointed as managing director and will assume overall operational responsibility from Jason Adlam, who will continue
Westgate situated in Stafford are pleased to announce the arrival of Nathan Barr as their new Managing Director. Nathan joins the business following a successful career at ODL Europe where he has driven revenue growth through market share and introduction of new products via various channels. Having established his career
With a strong focus on three core challenges for construction, CITB published its Business Plan today (18 May), announcing it will be investing over £233m across Britain to support construction throughout 2022/23. CITB’s investment plan responds to the estimated demand for an additional 50,000 workers every year and is primarily focused on securing construction’s talent pipeline. This year, the organisation will run and support a whole host of initiatives aimed not only at inspiring people outside of the industry to choose construction as their career, but also upskilling and retaining existing talent. The three challenges set out by CITB are: Responding to the skills demands Developing the capacity and capability of construction training provision Addressing future skills needs. Responding to the skills demands Following the findings of the recent Rethinking Recruitment report, CITB’s plan details how it will invest in supporting apprenticeships and building bridges between further education and work to get more learners into construction. Initiatives such as SkillBuild, work experience, taster events, and the 350-strong STEM Ambassador network, aim to inspire more young people than ever to consider construction. In addition, CITB will collaborate with employers on the Go Construct website and promote the wide range of careers construction has to offer. Coinciding with efforts to get more people to think again about a construction career, CITB will create even more accessible routes into construction, focusing on apprenticeships, alongside on-site experiences, and future rollout of occupational traineeships. A total of £60.3m in direct grants will be available to employers who take on apprentices, supporting the industry to address its current and future need for a skilled workforce. Developing the capacity and capability of construction training provision As the industry recovers from the pandemic and demand for construction projects increases, CITB will make it easier to access the right training at a time and place that is right for them. CITB will: Invest £25.9m in direct training delivery to enable the continuation of core skills training and training provision in niche and at-risk skills through CITB’s National Construction Colleges Support more than 300,000 Health Safety & Environment tests over the next year, ensuring there is good availability of tests in as many locations as possible, bringing assurance to employers that their workforce can keep themselves and those around them safe Offer enhanced grant support for priority skills such as Drylining apprentices and rainscreen cladding achievements. Addressing future skills needs Looking to the future, CITB’s plan sets out how it will address long-term challenges. The construction landscape is changing and issues such as net zero, digitisation and modern methods of construction are becoming increasingly important. CITB is investing £2.1m into research to better understand construction’s changing environment. This research will help focus CITB’s work on interventions that have the greatest impact, helping shape new training and standards development. Tim Balcon, CITB Chief Executive, said: “I am proud to be sharing my first business plan as Chief Executive at CITB, which sets out how CITB will approach its role in supporting industry going forwards. “While progress has been made, the construction industry has faced significant challenges in recent years, including inflation, rising fuel prices, the pandemic and Brexit, to name a few. In many ways the industry is still experiencing and feeling the impact of these events, which we know has shifted priorities greatly and pushed the demand for skills to the forefront. It’s essential now more than ever that efforts are focused on helping to alleviate those pressures and address the key needs of industry.” Read the full plan here. There are two case studies used within the Business Plan: – Career changer, Sabrina Robertson had a background in admin and degree in Education and Community Development. Having expressed an interest in construction opportunities at the Barking and Dagenham Construction Skills Fund (CSF) Hub, they were able to support Sabrina in securing the role of Community Liaison Officer for McLaren. – Daniel Jeffries Carpentry accessed CITB funding to help with taking on an apprentice and support the upskilling of the company’s existing employees. Daniel was supported through the application process by CITB Engagement Advisor, Darren Lawrence. For further enquiries relating to the Business Plan, please contact: press.office@citb.co.uk Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
CITB Chief Executive Tim Balcon is one of 15 construction industry leaders on a new Skills for a Sustainable Skyline Taskforce. The aim of the taskforce, which will meet for the first time in May, is to look at addressing skills gaps around the construction, retrofit and maintenance of low carbon commercial buildings in Central London boroughs. Commenting on his new role Tim said: “CITB is in the business of skills and training which is why I am pleased to be part of the Skills for a Sustainable Skyline Taskforce’s Strategy Steering Board. “Decarbonisation is a major challenge – and opportunity – for the construction industry. A green-skilled workforce will be vital as the UK strives to achieve the government’s net zero targets. “CITB has conducted extensive work on skills and sustainability, most recently in our Net Zero and Construction: Perspectives and Pathways report. “The report examined the skills and training needed to deliver retrofit work. It shows how training and recruitment must move with the times. This means new methods of working and the need to diversify the workforce. Construction must encourage and welcome under-represented groups, like women and people from ethnic minorities, into industry. “CITB is working with stakeholders to promote construction careers in a variety of ways, our Go Construct website is a good example. We want to see new, diverse recruits raring to use their green skills, for the good of everyone, from day one of their careers. “For this to happen governments, employers, the training sector and businesses must collaborate effectively on green skills. I’m looking forward to making progress on the challenges ahead with the Skills for a Sustainable Skyline Taskforce’s Strategy Steering Board.”
Keystone Group has appointed Jemma Ison as Group Sustainability Manager to help build decarbonisation into all business operations. Jemma, who has been with the Group for five years, has played an integral part in developing Keystone’s sustainability strategy, which is based on three key sustainability pillars: ‘Our Nature’, ‘Our Resources’ and ‘Our People’. In her new role, Jemma has been invited to join the NHBC Foundation Expert Panel and also to work with BSI to support the development of sustainability criteria for construction materials. This will provide clarity to the industry of high quality but low environmental impact products. Under the Science Based Targets Initiative, a global organisation responsible for setting the world’s targets to ensure a more sustainable future, Keystone has embarked on a journey of monitoring and improving its carbon emissions and has committed to the ambitious target of becoming Net Zero by 2050. As part of this journey, Keystone’s Sustainability Taskforce, comprised of a ‘Sustainability Champion’ from each business, is working through the identification of Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions to provide clarity on the environmental impact of Keystone Group operations and raise opportunities for carbon reductions throughout the organisation. As the first step towards the creation of this strategy, Keystone’s Sustainability Taskforce is currently working with Carbon Footprint to help measure the scope of carbon consumption across the Group. Once this is determined, Keystone will affectively measure improvements against this benchmark going forward. Jemma Ison, Keystone Group Sustainability Manager, says: “Sustainability is a topic I am extremely passional about – both professionally and personally. Keystone is committed to reducing the environmental impact of all Group operations through continued reduction of its carbon footprint and I am focussed on helping the business achieve Net Zero by 2050. “In 2021, I led the implementation of IG Masonry Support’s sustainability strategy by looking for ways to decarbonise our operations as well as offsetting our emissions to achieve carbon neutral status. I am looking forward to drawing on the learnings of last year to help support all Keystone Group brands on their sustainability journeys.” Sean Og Coyle, Keystone Group Commercial Director, adds: “Due to the fantastic progress of IG Masonry Support in its sustainability objectives and the leadership Jemma has shown in the area of sustainability, I am delighted to add the title of ‘Keystone Group Sustainability Manager’ to Jemma’s current role. “We hope this latest appointment exemplifies Keystone’s commitment to lead the way with innovation in construction and sustainable performance. The Group is passionate about investing in our sustainability strategy and implementing affirmative action, to safeguard our future for all.” Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
A housing regeneration partnership which has delivered over 1,150 homes to Sheffield is increasing its workforce, with the appointment of a Development Manager. With ambitious plans to build 2,300 properties on a total of 23 sites by the end of 2027, Sheffield Housing Company (SHC) – Sheffield City Council’s joint venture development company with private developer Keepmoat Homes and Great Places Housing – is seeing construction activity increase across the city. Howard Young (49) and from Greenhill, joins SHC and will be responsible for managing the delivery of over 550 houses on existing live sites, as well as planning for the next phase of six sites and more than 350 homes to be brought forward over the next five years. He brings a wealth of experience to the role having worked in architecture and both public and private sector housing, including the transformation of the renowned Kelham Island. He said: “Born and bred in Sheffield, I have an affinity and passion for the area, so when the opportunity arose to apply to work for SHC, I was very interested. Over the last few years, SHC and its partners have been responsible for delivering new, high quality, affordable housing that has enabled many to step onto the property ladder in their home city and encouraged others to move to the area “I am really looking forward to this role and the challenges ahead, most of which I feel will be influenced by the current economic climate, pressures on supply chain, employment and household incomes. I am confident that SHC’s proven track record and expertise will continue to find innovative and creative ways to address housing need in Sheffield.” In his spare time, Howard enjoys time with his family, dog walking, cycling and local football. Steve Birch, Project Director with SHC added: “We are delighted to welcome Howard to the SHC team, we are confident that his experience, knowledge and familiarity of Sheffield will play a pivotal part in helping to drive our projects forward.” Established in 2011, the regeneration partnership has created over 800 jobs, 75 apprenticeships and spent more than £80m with construction businesses in the South Yorkshire region.
A pioneering development of nine high-quality business units will offer much-needed new commercial space in the heart of Warwickshire which could help create up to 100 new jobs, a leading commercial property expert says. Tom Bromwich says the 42,000 sq ft Southam Park development at Kineton Road Industrial estate in Southam – the first to be brought forward by the Warwickshire Property and Development Group (WPDG) – is exactly what the region needs to meet growing demand for modern, purpose-built commercial space. Tom, founding partner at Coventry-based Bromwich Hardy, said the agency had been appointed sole agents by WDPG, Warwickshire County Council’s newly-formed property delivery company, after a competitive tendering process. “This is a really exciting opportunity for existing local companies and those looking to move into the area to lease space which has been specifically designed to meet the needs of modern businesses. “The scheme will provide nine units of between 1,900 – 15,000 sq ft on land which has been unused for a number of years and will be particularly suited to small to medium sized enterprises who are either starting up or looking for expansion space. “Planning permission is already in place, the units will benefit from excellent specification and be highly energy efficient. Each of the units can be fitted out to the tenants’ own requirements and the location at the heart of the nation’s motorway network cannot be beaten. “The area is desperately short of new commercial units and we are anticipating the highest levels of interest in this site, particularly since the units will be of such high standard and so eco-friendly. They are scheduled to be available in the second quarter of 2023 but we would urge anyone interested to contact us without delay.” Tom said Bromwich Hardy was thrilled to have won the contract to be sole agent for WPDG. “In terms of the commercial market, new development is desperately needed if we are going to satisfy demand and create the conditions the business community needs to thrive for years to come. It is hugely rewarding to have won this contract and we look forward to a long and successful relationship with WPDG.” Rob Andrews, senior development manager at WPDG, said: “We are delighted to be able to bring this new scheme to market and to be working with Bromwich Hardy in doing so. “This scheme marks an exciting milestone for us as the first to be signed off, but more importantly meets our key objectives of bringing new investment and jobs to the county and helping our SMEs thrive and expand.” Bromwich Hardy is one of the country’s leading independent agencies, regularly featuring at the top of industry league tables in Coventry, the West Midlands and further afield. For more information about Southam Park visit https://www.bromwichhardy.com/propertyInfo/2233/
COMPLETE construction partner Stepnell has celebrated the achievements of six young people, who have successfully completed a ‘Get into Construction’ programme run by The Prince’s Trust. Working together with The Prince’s Trust and in collaboration with GLP Training, and with the support of supply chain partners VD Interiors and Phase9 Roofing who donated materials, labour and tools for students, Stepnell helped to facilitate the three-week course onsite during its work on the University of Worcester’s new state-of-the-art healthcare teaching facility. This is currently under development at the university’s Severn Campus on Hylton Road, Worcester. The course has led to all of the young people achieving a City and Guilds Level 1 Award in Health and Safety within a Construction Environment (RQF), as well as a CSCS Card. Elaine Kendall, social value and engagement manager at Stepnell, said: “Upskilling local people and supporting them into employment is a key focus for Stepnell, as we understand the positive societal impact delivering social value has on the communities where we work. We are delighted to be a part of this fantastic programme to help local young gain the experience, knowledge and qualifications they need to start a career in construction. “This collaborative partnership with The Prince’s Trust and GLP Training is helping to improve the employability of young people in Worcester and inspire the next generation, supporting our aim to address the skills shortage we face in the construction industry.” The programme culminated in a celebration event on the final day of activities at GLP Training’s offices, in which representatives from Stepnell, the University of Worcester, The Prince’s Trust and GLP Training were in attendance. Katie Marie Lynch, Youth Development Lead at The Prince’s Trust said: ‘‘The programme was a great opportunity for young people to explore a career in construction. Each of the young people gained invaluable skills both theoretical and practical, including teamwork and building confidence, which enabled them to build a foundation to work in the construction industry. “Working in collaboration with GLP Training and Stepnell was a positive experience and we look forward to seeing the progression of each young person in the future.’ Gemma Parsons, CEO of GLP Training, said: “This is a fantastic programme that enables young people to gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours to enter the world of construction through a supportive learning environment on an actual construction site. “Learners not only gain the relevant qualifications to enter this key sector but also gain practical work experience in a variety of construction skills to introduce them to a career in construction. The young people have been fantastic and their enthusiasm has been clear in both the learning and practical training.” Mark Evans, assistant director of Estates at the University of Worcester, said: “The University makes a significant contribution to the local economy. When procuring works we always look to include a commitment to working with local contractors and encouraging training and development opportunities wherever possible. “It is therefore pleasing to see that our latest development is having such a positive benefit in the local community, offering these excellent training opportunities to young people.” To find out more about Stepnell’s apprenticeship opportunities, visit: www.stepnell.co.uk or join the conversation at @Stepnellltd. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
Culture Change in Construction Crucial Calls from Industry Experts at Exclusive Event on First Night of UK Construction Week Leading construction industry intelligence provider, Barbour ABI, brought top industry experts together at an exclusive event after the first day of the UK Construction Week exhibition in London to discuss the need for culture change. Dr David Hancock, Construction Director at Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) highlighted the scale of the issue: “The construction industry has to educate and source locally, teach more trades and skills to improve communities and put the heart back. We have to care what we build and want to do better. That’s the change this industry needs. We measure costs, not benefits, and the concern is that with rising inflation hitting construction projects, that could become worse. Our industry must not revert to the old ways.” Trudi Sully, Impact Director at Construction Innovation Hub said: “I deliberately avoided construction for a long time, because it seemed a scary place to work. The Construction Innovation Hub is all about culture change. Enabling, educating and empowering the industry is what we do. Over the last four years of the hub we have worked with more than 400 construction supply chain companies to support research and innovation. Much of transformation is about partnerships, to mitigate risk, bring about change more quickly and enable better decision-based outcomes. Better manufacturing processes are leading to those processes being adopted in construction too. Advances in other industries are providing construction with a playbook to follow to make improvements.” Rebecca Lovelace, Founder and Chief Dot-Joiner at Building People said: “The built environment is about a world of amazing opportunities, and we need to get out of fragmented silos to realise its potential. We need boarder diversity in construction, not just more women as diversity brings more innovation and helps culture change. We need to enable anyone who is interested to become involved in the built environment. Barbour ABI is one of the sponsors and a major exhibitor at the UK’s largest construction industry event. UKCW is a new exhibition held at London’s ExCel from May 3-5, 2022. It brings together the whole construction supply chain and aims to support the industry’s recovery from COVID.
Leading national contractor, Novus Property Solutions, has promoted long-serving former senior operations manager Ray Fielder to Head of Operations for its Southern region – making him responsible for the company’s largest geographic area, stretching from Cornwall to Norfolk. Ray Fielder embodies Novus’ ethos of recognising and rewarding talented people at every level: he began working with Novus as a joiner 16 years ago, and having excelled at a number of site and contract roles, he progressed through the ranks to join the company’s senior team. Most recently, he achieved great success when managing Novus’ Southampton operation, priming him for this latest step up. Speaking of Ray’s promotion, Executive Director Lee Hartley said “We have always had a strong ‘grow our own talent’ ethos at Novus, and seeing Ray progress through the company is absolute proof of this. From the moment our colleagues join us, we continually strive to develop and maximise their personal and professional potential to allow them to progress. One of our key values as a business is to nurture, and this applies to both our people and our relationships with clients and suppliers. Year after year, Ray has excelled in each of his roles and it gives me incredible satisfaction to see him reach this highpoint in his career. I have every confidence that Ray will continue to excel and drive our growth throughout the region.” In line with the wider business, Ray’s immediate focus is on rolling out the company’s recently-launched Sustain service to new and existing clients from across the south of England, as well as expanding the reach of the Assure service in recognition of the need for improved passive fire protection across public sector buildings and housing associations. Ray will also oversee the full roll-out of Novus’ innovative Oneserve system, a cloud-based application which offers Novus’ clients and their residents or customers full transparency on any given project, providing real-time updates and acting as an information hub for both contractor and client. Commenting on his appointment and ambition for the region, Ray said: “This is an exciting time for Novus, with new services and technological leaps forward, and I’m proud to be stepping up to a more senior role in this crucial period. Having worked with Novus on both site and office-based positions for 16 years, I feel I know the company very well and it is impressive to see the business taking such ambitious strides whilst managing to retain its family feel – that’s what makes Novus special. I’m looking forward to supporting the new services as they take root in the Southern region and building valuable partnerships with our new and existing customers.” The Southern region will also continue to support Novus’ social value initiatives, which have so far included a mobile foodbank created in partnership with Guinness Homes and designed to serve hard-to-reach rural communities in the South West, which was spearheaded by senior operations manager Mark Noad with Ray’s full support. Ray has also encouraged customer liaison officers (CLOs) across the region to come up with creative ways to keep in touch with residents and build good relations – such as a recent Easter egg donation which saw six CLOs drop off chocolate eggs for local charities.
Yorkshire based multi-disciplinary construction company Harris CM has completed a board-level restructure and appointed a new managing director as it targets strong operational growth and £70 million turnover this year. Neil Silcock has been appointed as managing director and will assume overall operational responsibility from Jason Adlam, who will continue as Harris CM’s CEO, focussing on building new and existing stakeholder relationships. In addition, Jason will continue to deliver property development projects, which has become a key growth area for the company in recent years. Silcock brings a wealth of experience to the role after spending the last 14 years at construction company Simpson (York) Limited, where he was managing director for the past five years. In addition, Rhys Davies has been appointed as finance director at Harris CM. The position will form part of his wider role as group CFO for Tate Group, which is headed up by Harris CM’s chairman Shane Tate, who provides strategic direction, whilst delivering opportunities in the industrial, commercial and residential development sectors. The board also comprises of commercial director, Jason Collins and construction director, James Phillips. Silcock commented: “I am thrilled to be joining Harris CM and to be working alongside such a respected and successful group of people. The business has an excellent reputation and an authenticity which I have found to be particularly appealing and relatable. I’m looking forward to supporting the team in their current roles and in doing so, strengthening the business as a whole as we continue to expand.” Jason Adlam, CEO, said: “Whilst all construction contractors are facing challenges as a result of inflationary pressures, Harris CM remains committed to providing the best possible value for money on its projects and it’s an exciting time for the business. We have already secured a strong pipeline of work for the next 18 months across a wide spectrum of sectors, and we’re on track to hit £70 million turnover in 2022. “To deliver this effectively and continue our growth trajectory, we needed to expand our senior team. We are very pleased to welcome Neil and Rhys to Harris CM and look forward to their experience and industry knowledge helping to shape our strategic direction going forward.” Harris CM is a privately owned construction company that provides new-build and refurbishment property solutions throughout the UK, with nearly 50 employees in 2022.
Westgate situated in Stafford are pleased to announce the arrival of Nathan Barr as their new Managing Director. Nathan joins the business following a successful career at ODL Europe where he has driven revenue growth through market share and introduction of new products via various channels. Having established his career credentials within the manufacturing sector working both nationally and internationally over a number of years, Nathan looks to spearhead the continued growth of Westgate’s business. The move comes as part of extensive expansion plans for Westgate, which has seen significant growth through new market and product developments over the past five years. Nathan’s experience within the manufacturing sector, combined with his achievements in previous roles, strengthens Westgate’s commitment to its future aspirations, its customers, suppliers, and employees. Commenting on his appointment, Nathan said “I am excited to join Westgate at this time to build on the great work and foundations the team has put in place. With an extensive product range, new products in development, ambitious plans and a phenomenal culture we will continue on our growth journey.” Gerrard Gates, Director said “It is a very exciting time here at Westgate and with the arrival of Nathan I am confident that the business will further grow and develop. Nathans specific skills and experience when combined with his ‘can do’ approach fits nicely with culture here at Westgate and, both I and our board, look forward to the positive changes that Nathan’s arrival will bring.”
