The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has supported calls for the introduction of an ‘MOT style’ gas safety record for landlords. The campaign for the MOT style system for yearly gas safety checks for landlords has been proposed by the Association of Gas Safety Managers (AGSM), and is now backed by the HSE. The group has already begun a consulting process on the proposed change and since it launched the campaign in November 2013, the AGSM has joined forces with Home Group, among others, to raise awareness of the benefits of the MOT system for the Landlord’s Gas Safety Record (LGSR). If the move to an MOT system was approved, it would mean that gas safety checks would be able to be carried out up to two months prior to the due date, while the due date would not change from year to year. AGSM Chief Executive Officer, Claire Heyes, said that the firm believes the best way to make major savings in gas access is through a switch to an MOT system throughout the industry. She believes that such a system would improve landlords’ productivity, permit a bigger focus on other areas of safe affordable warmth, make things clearer for vulnerable and elderly tenants, improve cooperation with tenants and plan servicing for the summer period. Meanwhile, Stuart Kitchingman, of the HSE, confirmed the group’s support of an MOT style system when speaking at this year’s AGSM Gas Safety Management Conference. The resultant meetings between HSE and the AGSM have agreed that they are to put in place a thorough consulting process and will assist with the additional approval with an impact assessment. Home Group Chief Executive, Mark Henderson, commented that the Gas Access Campaign has ensured that the issue of yearly safety checks remains high on the agenda. He added that the proposed MOT style system will provide a considerable change that with help to improve safety.

The sustainability director at Balfour Beatty has left his post after the contractor merged its health and safety department with its sustainability, environment and energy division. Heather Bryant, health and safety director at the firm, will lead the newly merged team in the new role of health, safety, environment & sustainability director. The changes have resulted in Paul Toyne leaving his role as sustainability director and has subsequently left the company. Paul Raby, HR director at the Balfour Beatty group, emailed staff last month to tell that this move has been done to recognise the clear links between ensuring the health and safety of workers, customers and the public, as well as the activities the company undertakes to protect and support the environments and communities in which they conduct their business. He said that the move will provide a good opportunity for the two teams to come together regularly and move forward the strong work that has been seen so far in both areas, adding that this decision backs up the firm’s ‘Build to Last’ aims of lean, expert, trusted and safe. In addition, Mr Raby thanked Mr Toyne for his significant contribution to the firm and wished him the best luck for his future work. Mr Toyne spent three years with the company, during which time he was part of several industry groups, chairing the Construction Excellence Sustainability Group and also sitting on the green Construction Board’s Carbon Infrastructure Working Group. Last month, Balfour Beatty secured a £130 million deal for a new lorry park job on the M20. The firm said it will use the latest in Building Information Modelling to come up with the most efficient approach to the construction and design programme. The contract will involve the firm developing proposals during the project’s early contractor involvement phase and will also take in the building of a lorry area subject to Government allowance.

More contractors are being urged to report incidents in order for others to learn from them. Bill Hewlett, Technical Director at Costain, has been appointed as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Structural Safety (SCOSS) and he delivered the message of encouraging more incident reporting. An independent body, SCOSS is supported by the Health & Safety Executive, the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Institution of Structural Engineers (IstructE). Its aim is to encourage the highest standards of structural safety by sharing stories of near misses and safety failures. The presidents of both IstructE and ICE appoint the chairman and have now selected Mr Hewlett to take up the post, who will now be involved in the Confidential Reporting on Structural Safety (CROSS) scheme. Mr Hewlett said that both CROSS and SCOSS provide an invaluable and unique service, and that it will be crucial for CROSS and SCOSS to be in the full breadth of structural engineering, including infrastructure, nuclear and petro-chem as well as all types of buildings. He is aiming to expand the organisation’s reach in order to encourage more contractors to report their near misses and incidents. He added that he will be particularly looking for more engagement with the contracting sector of the industry, especially small and medium sized enterprises, while also examining their global outreach. Mr Hewlett also said that he is encouraging everyone from all sectors of the industry to play their part in the scheme by reporting their own structural safety experiences as well as signing up for their newsletters. He concluded by stating the vital importance of understanding risks and hazards in ensuring structural safety and that this was the best way to learn about them. Contractors who report via the CROSS scheme will do so confidentially and will help to bring about beneficial changes for the industry, more information can be found at the Structural Safety website.

Chairman of the Crossrail project, Terry Morgan, has been awarded a knighthood as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2016. As well as the knighthood, the construction industry also received a CBE for property developer and former crane owner Martin Ainscough in the honours list. Sir Terry Morgan started his career as a craft apprentice for Lucas Girling and was knighted for his service to UK infrastructure, skills and employment. He was appointed as Chairman of Crossrail in 2009 and was last year chosen to be chair of the HS2 College governing body. 2015 also saw him appointed by the Government to head the development of its strategy for transport infrastructure skills. Patrick McLoughlin, Transport Secretary, said that he was pleased to see Mr Morgan receive such a prestigious honour for all his excellent work in helping to develop the Government’s strategy for transport infrastructure skills as well as delivering the Crossrail scheme. He added that by putting the development of engineering skills at the centre of the Crossrail project, he has been able to show that the delivery of major infrastructure projects within budget and on time and skills investment go together. Having been an apprentice at the start of his career, Sir Terry has been able to inspire a new generation of apprentices and encourage more young people and women into this crucial industry, regardless of their aspirations and background. Mr McLoughlin added that Sir Terry has lead his peers throughout the construction sector and an ongoing champion of vocational skills. Mr Ainscough built up the UK’s biggest crane hire firm with his brothers before selling it almost 10 years ago for £255 million. The award of a CBE was given for his charity work through the ‘Martin & Judith Ainscough Charity Trust.’ Stephen Huntington, Chief Executive and Chairman of HR Wallingford, was also awarded an OBE for his services to engineering and environmental hydraulics.

National social enterprise and procurement organisation Fusion21 has made the shortlist in the Chartered Institute of Procurement (CIPS) Supply Management Awards 2016. Announced as a finalist in the ‘Best Contribution to the Reputation of Procurement’ category, Fusion21 is one of two organisations nominated for the award – which recognises procurement activities that contribute to the public good. These prestigious awards are respected as a benchmark for excellence, and honour UK organisations and individuals working within the procurement and supply chain industry. Fusion21 has a sustainable business model which complies with the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 and enables social value through the procurement process. Members include registered providers, local authorities, education providers and the NHS. Dave Neilson, Chief Executive at Fusion21, said: “The CIPS Supply Management Awards recognise best practice in the industry – competition is tough and it’s fantastic to be nominated alongside big brands working within the private and public sectors. “As a national social enterprise we support public sector organisations to deliver efficiencies, and create social value within local communities. Our approach to procurement leads to a variety of positive social outcomes – from job creation and tackling unemployment, to reducing reoffending and supporting wider community regeneration.” Fusion21 has generated around £56 million of community impact across the country, and created more than 2,500 jobs. Earlier this year, the social enterprise won the ‘Driving Value for Money’ category in the first Cabinet Office Social Value Awards. CIPS Supply Management Award finalists will be announced at a ceremony in London on 14 September, 2016.

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has warned that apprenticeship schemes are to become endangered due to uncertainty regarding the new UK-wide Apprenticeship Levy for training. FMB Scotland has said that unless the Scottish government makes a commitment to ring fence the new training Levy, then the growth of apprentice schemes in Scotland will rapidly decrease. In 2015/16 the number of young people being enrolled into apprenticeship schemes surpassed its 25,000 target, with 25,818 apprentices starting. The Scottish government has pledged to raise the apprenticeship target to 30,000 in the next four years. In 2015/16, the number of apprentices starting their courses aged 16 to 24 was 79%, while the amount of starters at level three and above went up by 1% to 65%. More than 30% of Scottish apprenticeship starts were in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) frameworks, while 19% were specifically geared towards learning skills in the construction industry. 59% of apprenticeship starters were men, with 41% women. The figures were published by Skills Development Scotland (SDS). In response to the statistics, FMB Scotland Director, Gordon Nelson, said that while the rise in apprenticeship numbers makes for positive reading, the employment outcomes and quality of the schemes should be the most important consideration. He added that there are now concerns that the positive work could be undone if the Scottish government chooses not to re-invest funds raised by the new UK-wide Apprenticeship Levy. Mr Nelson said that there is a lack of direction from leaders in terms of showing how the Levy will be carried out in Scotland. The SDS report figures relate to modern apprenticeships that have a funding contribution from the public which has been administered by the SDS for the Scottish government. The latest ‘State of Trade’ survey by the FMB shows that almost half of SME employers are finding it hard to recruit carpenters, while more than a third are struggling to source plumbers.