There is a lot of preparation and work to be done before and during moving home. However, it can be the perfect time to declutter, as you don’t want to waste time and money by bringing items with you that you no longer use. Decluttering is even more important if
Cole Waterhouse and Tonia Investments have successfully purchased a 3.8 acre brownfield site in Leeds city centre having recently secured planning for 1012 apartments, over five separate blocks. Currently referred to as ‘Leeds City Village’, the triangular site sits opposite Leeds’ cultural district, Quarry Hill. Bound by Marsh Lane to
Network Space Developments has acquired a 2.8-acre site on Welcomb Street, Openshaw, from the LTE Group for an undisclosed sum. The former Manchester College site, accessed from the Ashton Old Road (A635), currently comprises of eight buildings of varying ages and sizes which were previously used as classrooms and workshops
Cyberhawk has signed an agreement with Shamal Technologies to digitally transform the way major construction projects are managed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Shamal Technologies is a leading geospatial company that delivers end-to-end data acquisition, visualization and analytics solutions that can reduce operational risk. The company is the first
There are many individuals who decide to build their own greenhouse – but this can often be quite a challenging endeavour, especially for those who don’t have much experience in this type of project. From the materials, to leveraging; there are typically several things that you’ll need to consider before
Do you enjoy envisioning spaces to make them functional and attractive? If yes, you should consider becoming an architectural designer. Some of the responsibilities of an architectural designer include coming up with ideas for homes and buildings. To get a job, you’ll have to write an architectural designer resume. In
As ecommerce sales continue to grow exponentially, online retailers, distributors and logistics firms are facing a storage challenge. With more orders to handle than ever, there is a need for cost-effective storage solutions that make the best use of existing space. With online sales forecast to increase another 14% in
Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, is calling for organisations to take urgent action for safety compliance across high rise residential development during Home Fire Sprinkler Week. Now more than ever, the need for fire suppression and general safety in high-rise residential buildings is indisputable.
Building Better, an alliance of 29 housing associations and councils, supported by the National Housing Federation, has appointed an initial six manufacturers to its new dynamic purchasing system (DPS) for MMC category 2 construction systems. Future Built, LoCal Homes, Project Etopia, Roe Timberframe, Sigmat and Starship Homes are the first
The Business Plan which was published on 18th May responds to the estimated demand for an additional 50,000 workers every year and is primarily focused on securing construction’s talent pipeline. CITB will run and support several initiatives to inspire people outside of the industry to choose construction as their career
There is a lot of preparation and work to be done before and during moving home. However, it can be the perfect time to declutter, as you don’t want to waste time and money by bringing items with you that you no longer use. Decluttering is even more important if you are downsizing, for example moving from a large home to a smaller one such as a Condo in Naples, Florida. Here are some ways to get started. Take one room at a time Taking one room at a time can make the task of decluttering less daunting. Trying to do the whole place in one go will be more time-consuming and is usually less efficient. Moreover once a room is “done” you’ll get a sense of accomplishment and be more motivated to move on to the next room. Get a professional to uninstall anything If you’ve had anything installed in your home, which you intend to take with you, getting a professional to do this is the best approach. It prevents damage to the item and also the structure of your old home. The last thing you want is to cause damage to a place you have already sold. Test anything you haven’t used in a while You can narrow down what you take with you by testing items you haven’t used in a while. For example, you could check if electrical items still work, or try on clothes to see if they still fit. Then ask yourself if you might use any of these again in the future. Try to be realistic. It’s tempting to hold on to things you think you might use again, but the longer they have been out of use, the more unlikely it is that you will ever need them. Shred paperwork you no longer need Most of us have a stack of out-of-date paperwork. We worry about identity theft, so put these aside to safely dispose of later, but never get around to it. Before moving, you might need to set aside several hours to shred all this paperwork, depending on how much you have. Most documents are now available online, so you could find you need very few paper documents. Sell or donate your unwanted items Some items will simply need throwing in the bin. However, there will be plenty of items that are in good and usable condition, but you have no more use for them. It can be worth selling some of these to help fund your move, but many more will only bring in a few dollars each. You probably won’t want to spend a lot of time selling these. Instead, you could donate them to a charity shop, where the money raised goes to a good cause, and the buyers pick up a bargain on something they will use. The important thing to remember when decluttering is to be a little more ruthless if you find yourself holding on to things you are unlikely to use. Nobody wants to make more work for themselves by packing and unpacking items they’re never going to use.
Cole Waterhouse and Tonia Investments have successfully purchased a 3.8 acre brownfield site in Leeds city centre having recently secured planning for 1012 apartments, over five separate blocks. Currently referred to as ‘Leeds City Village’, the triangular site sits opposite Leeds’ cultural district, Quarry Hill. Bound by Marsh Lane to the west and Shannon Street to the north. It was formerly home to the Marsh Lane Goods Yard. The joint venture sees Cole Waterhouse and Tonia Investments working in partnership for the first time. Speaking about plans for the development, Damian Flood, CEO at Cole Waterhouse, commented: “We seek to build developments where placemaking is central to the design to help deliver places that are desirable destinations as well as great places to live.” Commenting on the acquisition, JV partner Tonia Investment Principal Charlie Qian said: “Tonia is excited to work with Cole Waterhouse. We hope the delivery of this impressive scheme will add to the continued expansion of the City Eastwards. It will provide an acre of new public realm that we hope will complement the success of the neighbouring cultural quarter.” The JV partnership now aim to progress the scheme with Leeds City Council. They plan to make a series of design changes to enhance the residential offering and public realm space. The revisions to the submitted planning application will ensure that the development meets occupiers’ expectations now and in the future; proposed changes include adjusting the balance of studio apartments for larger 1-bed apartments as well as providing a sharper focus on the communal areas and the overall scheme design. Enhancements to the public realm will seek to address functional improvements that enable better use of outdoor spaces for entertainment, exercise and leisure. Damian Flood said: “Understanding the area’s culture and the community’s future ambitions is crucial and we will be appointing a local cultural lead to help us shape the scheme to ensure it meets the aspirations of local residents. This community-first approach has been hugely successful for us at other schemes, helping to really connect and engage with the local market from the earliest stage of the development. “We’re really excited to be working in Leeds at a time when it is undergoing a significant period of transformation and we will be appointing a primarily Yorkshire-based team to deliver the project over the next 6 years. We will be submitting the revised planning application by the end of 2022 with the intention to start on site as soon as planning is granted.” Cole Waterhouse has a strong track record in the residential and BTR sector and has a current pipeline to deliver over 2000 residential units across its sites in Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
Network Space Developments has acquired a 2.8-acre site on Welcomb Street, Openshaw, from the LTE Group for an undisclosed sum. The former Manchester College site, accessed from the Ashton Old Road (A635), currently comprises of eight buildings of varying ages and sizes which were previously used as classrooms and workshops by the Manchester School of Building. Initial development plans are for the delivery of up to 70,000 sq ft of multi-let industrial accommodation with work due to start on site in the first half of 2023, subject to securing planning permission later this year. Joe Burnett, Development Director for Network Space Development commented: “We are delighted to have acquired this site which provides the opportunity to build on the success of our adjacent City Works scheme. “The site is very well located within Openshaw and in a sought-after area of Greater Manchester. It is ideal for both industrial and last-mile logistics uses with its excellent accessibility to a skilled local workforce as well as close proximity to Manchester City Centre. He added: “This latest acquisition aligns perfectly with our strategy for growing our industrial and logistics portfolio by targeting sites located in key urban areas with significant future growth potential.” LTE Group were represented by Cushman & Wakefield. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
Cyberhawk has signed an agreement with Shamal Technologies to digitally transform the way major construction projects are managed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Shamal Technologies is a leading geospatial company that delivers end-to-end data acquisition, visualization and analytics solutions that can reduce operational risk. The company is the first in Saudi Arabia to develop solutions that integrate artificial intelligence technology with unmanned systems. Cyberhawk is a world leader in visual data solutions for energy infrastructure and capital projects. The UK firm captures images of critical infrastructure using drone technology, which is analyzed using Cyberhawk’s cloud-based visualization software, iHawk. As part of the agreement, both parties will combine data acquisition and analytics expertise to launch a powerful Visual Intelligence solution for major capital projects in Saudi Arabia. Shamal Online, the name given to the new data management and visualization platform, will be powered by iHawk. Cyberhawk will also provide technical knowledge transfer support and scale up drone surveying operations for planned construction projects within the region. The construction monitoring solution will support project managers to track milestones, coordinate vendor activities, and schedule future onsite work. The fully enabled IoT solution will empower project managers to make evidence-based decisions by integrating seamlessly with third-party sensors and APIs. Geospatial information, including imagery acquired from ground cameras, CCTV, drones, and autonomous technologies will form data layers for analysis on an unprecedented scale. The agreement was signed during a ceremony held at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) which is an institute focused on driving innovation, economic development, and social prosperity in Saudi Arabia. The partnership is aligned with the Saudi 2030 vision to form strong international alliances and invest in a highly trained Saudi workforce to develop progressive industries and futureproof the economy. Chris Fleming, Chief Executive Officer at Cyberhawk commented: “Countries within the Gulf Cooperation Council are successfully growing and diversifying their economies through digital transformation strategies. Shamal Technologies is a great example of this, and we’re excited about working together to accelerate innovation within the Kingdom.” Haitham Aljahdali, CEO at Shamal Technologies added: “The world is in a data revolution. That leads us to use great visualization tools to empower thousands of asset owners, project, and inspection managers to harness the power of data. Cyberhawk has one of the best-in-class data management and visualization platforms in the world. We are glad to have this partnership with the market leader in the field.”
There are many individuals who decide to build their own greenhouse – but this can often be quite a challenging endeavour, especially for those who don’t have much experience in this type of project. From the materials, to leveraging; there are typically several things that you’ll need to consider before putting one up in your garden. For those who want an easier experience, buying a kit will often be the best solution. It’s simple and often cost-effective too, which only helps to make it an even better choice. Even so, you may still be unsure of what to do. Let’s take a closer look at some of the important things to consider when choosing between a DIY project and purchasing a pre-made greenhouse kit. Want to buy? Make sure you buy from a reputable manufacturer First things first, if you do plan on purchasing a greenhouse, you should make sure that you’re getting a product that’s good quality and meets your requirements. If you decide to purchase a greenhouse from Hall, you’re likely to find that there are a variety of good kits to choose from, with plenty of variety too. This is perfect for those who already have an idea of what style and size they’re in need of – but even if you’re unsure, you could always take a look at their range and decide which one you like the most. What are the pros and cons of building your own? There are typically a few things that DIY enthusiasts will find beneficial about building their own greenhouse – but also a few factors that may be less than ideal. The costs For example, you could save quite a bit of money when using recycled materials, but this doesn’t mean that the project will be more cost-effective overall. You may find that modifying an existing structure into a leveraged greenhouse may work out to be a little more expensive despite half of the work already being done, and getting building permits could come at a price. This could end up balancing out the cost a little more. Options for customisation One positive aspect of customisation is that you can choose what materials you use. While it may not always be easy to find everything you need in one trip, it could be a bonus to be able to pick and choose all the individual aspects as you go along. With more options to customise your greenhouse, you can also custom-fit it to your garden’s unique needs. Time and effort Of course, you will need to be considerate of all the work that will go into installing a greenhouse. From sourcing the materials, to preparing your garden; there’s often a lot that you’ll need to do yourself, even when hiring somebody to undertake the build. What are the pros and cons of buying a kit? In general, buying a good quality greenhouse kit will solve a lot of the issues that many people have when going the do-it-yourself route. You may want to keep the following points in mind: Taking the easy option If you do decide to build your own greenhouse, it may be far better to opt for a kit, as you’ll generally find that the building process will be so much simpler and will take far less time to complete. This generally comes at the cost of being less customisable, which means that it may not be ideal for those who have very specific and unusual requirements. However, with a variety of kits in many shapes, sizes and styles, it usually won’t be too hard to find something that works for you. Quality guaranteed While you won’t necessarily have as many options when it comes to materials, it is worth noting that you won’t have to worry about them either. From a good manufacturer, you can generally enjoy quality throughout, with everything being cut to the right measurements. You may even find some parts pre-assembled and instructions to ensure that the building process goes as smoothly as possible. Save money and avoid risks All in all, considering all the different costs of a DIY greenhouse, you’ll usually be able to save money with a kit. While those on a tight budget could cut corners building their own, it isn’t usually going to be worth the risk. Alongside all this, you should also get a warranty when you purchase a good greenhouse. Typically, a manufactured greenhouse will come with at least some form of protection if something should go wrong (often relating to factory defects or similar issues), which at least gives you the opportunity to get a refund or a new one if anything goes awry. When constructing your own, you won’t get this luxury and will have to pay out for any damages yourself. Which one is best? With all the facts laid out, we can see that there are both positive and negative aspects to both. The best thing you can do is consider which one will be the most beneficial to you. If you’re looking to minimise risks, reduce the amount of work needed and potentially save some cash in the process, buying a kit might be the right way to go. Unless you really want to get involved with a project or need to tailor your greenhouse to your garden, it’ll generally be best to go for a kit. While DIY greenhouses do have their benefits, most will find that it’s simply not worth it in the long run. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
Do you enjoy envisioning spaces to make them functional and attractive? If yes, you should consider becoming an architectural designer. Some of the responsibilities of an architectural designer include coming up with ideas for homes and buildings. To get a job, you’ll have to write an architectural designer resume. In this post, we are going to share with you a few important tips that you should use when writing an architectural designer resume and an example to help you land your dream job and achieve your career goals. If you’ve been wondering what an architectural designer’s resume is, you are in the right place. It is a document that describes and summarizes your experience, qualifications, and history in designing structures. It describes the projects that you’ve worked on and the skills that you possess. This includes internships, training, work history, classroom projects, and coursework that focuses on building design, architecture, landscaping, and interior design. Is there a difference between a designer and an architect? Architectural designers and architects play an important role in designing buildings. Architects are professionals who have passed a thorough exam and have registered with a board to validate that they possess the required skills. They design and oversee the construction of projects. On the other hand, an architectural designer comes up with plans that are focused on the appearance of a building. Their titles aren’t protected. Therefore, they don’t have strict qualifications. You can work as an architectural designer before you apply for an architect license. Architects and architectural designers usually work together on projects. Here are a few simple rules to follow when writing an architectural designer resume. If you can’t do the work, you should consider hiring professional resume writers. 1. Have a clear header Your resume should have a clear header that includes your details such as name, phone number, and email. Including a header in your resume is important because it helps to hire managers to contact you in case you match what they are looking for. You’ll find some templates with these fields to ensure that everything is organized. 2. Objective After filling the header section, you need to include the resume objective section where you’ll describe the type of job that you are looking for and why you are the best person for the job. This is one of the sections that should distinguish you from other candidates. You should consider including details of your experience in the industry, the skills that you possess, and the outcomes of your work. 3. Focus on your experience Your resume should have the experience section. This is where you describe your experience in designing structures. Start with the recent job or title that you had, your employer’s name, and the number of months or years that you worked. List the positions that relate to the job that you are applying for. Think of the goals that you managed to achieve. Seeking help from resume writing services will help you focus on your creativity in construction. 4. List your skills You need to make a list of the skills that are relevant to the job that you are applying for. If you are experienced in various types of design programs, write them down by name for your employer to know whether you’ll need training or not if they choose to hire you. Write down your experience with designing various types of structures and how you adapt in the field. 5. Education Your resume needs to have a section where you discuss your education qualifications. The education section can be placed at the beginning or end of your document depending on how it’s linked to your career path. For instance, if you studied architecture in college, you should place this section after your objective. On the other hand, if you want your employer to focus on work experience, place it at the end. Working with professional cv writing service will greatly increase your chances of getting hired. 6. Include extra qualifications If other qualifications will help you stand out and get hired, you should consider creating additional sections and highlighting them. The best professional resume writers will help you with this. For instance, if you are a member of a professional body, you should include a section in your document to highlight this. Template Resume Name Email Phone Number Home Address Career Objective Work experience Job title Name of employer and date of employment Duties Skills Education Certificate School name and date of graduation Licenses (List the licenses that you have) Conclusion Writing a resume that stands out is not easy. However, using the tips that we’ve discussed here will help you land your dream job and achieve your career goals. Always keep things simple because no recruiter wants to spend extra time reading a single document.
As ecommerce sales continue to grow exponentially, online retailers, distributors and logistics firms are facing a storage challenge. With more orders to handle than ever, there is a need for cost-effective storage solutions that make the best use of existing space. With online sales forecast to increase another 14% in 2022, mezzanine floors offer an ideal storage solution for ecommerce businesses. By installing a mezzanine, businesses can make the most of the space they already have, rather than incurring the expense and time of searching for new premises. A mezzanine floor can be adapted to store whatever you need, whether it’s stock, equipment or even office space. And because mezzanines are constructed from steel, they’re incredibly strong and durable, so you can be confident that they are safe. Mezzanines are also highly versatile and can be easily reconfigured to meet changing storage needs. The alternatives to a mezzanine floor are either to move to larger premises, which can be costly and time-consuming, or to make do with the space you have and hope that it’s enough. Neither of these options is ideal, but a mezzanine floor offers a practical and cost-effective solution to the storage challenge faced by businesses in the ecommerce sector. Specialist mezzanine floor engineers can build a bespoke solution to provide pallet storage on top and shelving/racking storage beneath, or they can create office space on a mezzanine with access by stairs, lift or mezzanine decking. How mezzanines solve the ecommerce storage challenge: Mezzanines make the best use of existing space, rather than requiring new premises. Mezzanines can be adapted to store whatever is needed, whether it’s inventory, packaging materials or office space. Mezzanines are quick and easy to install, with minimal disruption to your business. Building a mezzanine floor is also a great way to make use of otherwise underutilised space in your warehouse or factory. By utilising the height of your building, you can double or even triple your available storage space without having to expand your footprint. Structural engineers are able to design solutions for even the most challenging spaces. They work closely with their clients to ensure that their mezzanine storage solution meets their specific needs and requirements. With extra storage you can be sure to meet customers’ deadlines and have the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have the space to cope with future growth. We asked Western Industrial who are a UK based mezzanine construction specialist how they approach designing and building a mezzanine floor. They commented, “We offer a free consultation to assess our clients’ needs and recommend the best options for their space. We then work closely with them, discussing their mezzanine application, deciding on materials, column grid and site conditions for installation. Our aim is to provide clients with the best solution that will also comply with all fire, safety and building regulations legislation.” As you can see internal expansion is most often the rational answer to space shortage if you are scaling up your ecommerce business. It then becomes unnecessary to move to larger premises with the inherent costs and relocation. You can seriously consider expanding any part of your business upwards and in-house. A mezzanine floor can provide any of the following storage solutions: Extra Office Accommodation Production Facilities Extra Storage Warehouse Space Specialised Areas Showrooms Archive storage Personal Storage Cleanrooms
Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, is calling for organisations to take urgent action for safety compliance across high rise residential development during Home Fire Sprinkler Week. Now more than ever, the need for fire suppression and general safety in high-rise residential buildings is indisputable. We need look no further than the cladding crisis to see the urgent need for legislation, building regulations, and standards to be upheld and revised where required. Keeping people and facilities safe from fire is a requirement for every building, facility, and premise, including high rise buildings. As with any built environment, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Developers need to find the right fire suppression solution to match the risk of a particular building, and the right partner to support this process. If these suppression solutions, such as sprinklers, are not properly installed and maintained, then they aren’t reliable to spring into action when an emergency strikes to save stock, equipment, and most importantly, lives. “We are seeing a cultural and regulatory shift, but there is still work to be done in not only setting standards, but also striving to exceed them. Ultimately, more needs to be done to raise awareness of the range of fire suppression solutions available and what they can do. The right solutions will not only add value to buildings, but also save lives.” said Adrian Kay, UK Head of Technical Compliance & Quality, Fire Suppression at Johnson Controls Ensuring fire safety compliance and suppression in even the most complex of high-rise residential developments may seem like a daunting task, but a safe building is one that brings multiple levels of safety and security together, at all times, in all places. Johnson Controls has put together the following five tips for good fire safety practice, and effective fire suppression: The Need to Use Experienced Engineers: Using experienced engineers and contractors is paramount, as a poor supplier choice leads to inexperienced sub-contractors carrying out work they cannot deliver safely, resulting in delays and potentially serious compliance risk. The Correct Contractor: When choosing a contractor, it is important to choose one that services to recognised standards and carries one of the industry-approved third-party certifications within its scope: LPS1048, FIRAS or IFC. Adhering to Regulations: Sprinklers in new high rise residential buildings over 11m is now a requirement, and every commercial or industrial property must have an individual who is responsible for fire safety, and it is their responsibility to make their premises compliant. Effective Installation: Many contractors are not used to high rise buildings and the complexity required in sprinkler installation, and this kind of expert knowledge is where third-party accredited contractors are essential. Sprinkler Maintenance: Best practice for sprinkler maintenance starts with weekly or monthly checks in-house, with experts employed on a quarterly, six-monthly or annual basis to ensure that systems are cared for and in good Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
Building Better, an alliance of 29 housing associations and councils, supported by the National Housing Federation, has appointed an initial six manufacturers to its new dynamic purchasing system (DPS) for MMC category 2 construction systems. Future Built, LoCal Homes, Project Etopia, Roe Timberframe, Sigmat and Starship Homes are the first firms selected by Procurement for Housing and Building Better to provide 2D panelised systems, assembled on-site. The DPS is worth £600m over four years and will run in parallel with Building Better’s first MMC framework which launched in July 2021 and covers category 1 volumetric 3D systems. The alliance aims to give members access to a range of different MMC solutions so they can find the right one for their site. Building Better took the decision to create a DPS, not a fixed framework, so panelised manufacturers can join at any point during the term of the DPS. The category 2 segment of the offsite market is evolving rapidly with new products and manufacturers emerging all the time. By setting up a DPS, social housing providers can access the latest solutions and suppliers as they come to market. Over 215,000 homes are managed by the 29 housing associations and local authorities that make up Building Better. Since the launch of its volumetric framework in 2021, alliance members have put nearly 40 schemes through it, getting costs on over 900 MMC homes. With the launch of its DPS, Building Better will help the social housing sector to produce around 5,000 MMC properties by 2026. Manufacturers wanting to join Building Better’s DPS must first be certified by the Buildoffsite Property Assurance Scheme (BOPAS) or assessed by building warranty provider the National House Building Council (NHBC) and their products must aim to meet the Future Homes Standard. Once they have passed an additional selection procedure, looking at their commercial, social and sustainability credentials, manufacturers can bid for opportunities via a tender call-off. This process has been streamlined for social housing providers too, with members receiving a tender template pack and hands-on support from Procurement for Housing. Trina Chakravarti, Project Director of Building Better said: “The emerging nature of this part of the MMC marketplace means that social housing organisations have, to date, been wary of category 2. Some told us they were anxious about committing to a panelised manufacturer; not knowing if the company or even this form of MMC would be around in four years. Because of this, we knew a different procurement approach was needed; one that would still provide high standards and ease of access like our category 1 framework, but a solution that didn’t ‘clip the wings’ of manufacturers operating in such a fluid environment.” John Bellamy, Category Manager for Construction & Sustainability at Procurement for Housing (PfH) said: “A major benefit of setting up a DPS is the learning. As an alliance, we’ll be able to grow our understanding of what housing organisations actually require with category 2 and the technical solutions they gravitate to. Creating a framework now would have meant guessing the answers. But a DPS allows us to gather data and feedback on products and manufacturers, educating ourselves and helping us to normalise offsite and use it at scale across the sector.” For further information about using Building Better’s MMC Category 2 DPS, click here For manufacturers wanting to join Building Better’s MMC Category 2 DPS, click here Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
The Business Plan which was published on 18th May responds to the estimated demand for an additional 50,000 workers every year and is primarily focused on securing construction’s talent pipeline. CITB will run and support several initiatives to inspire people outside of the industry to choose construction as their career and to upskill and retain existing talent. Skills Demands The plan details how CITB will invest in supporting apprenticeships and building bridges between further education and work to get more learners into construction. It intends to create 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 made available to employers who take on apprentices, supporting the industry to address its current and future need for a skilled workforce. Capacity and Capability of Construction Training Provision £25.9m will be invested 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. The plan will support over 300,000 Health Safety & Environment tests over the coming 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. Future Skills Needs The plan describes how CITB will help to address longer-term challenges such as net zero, digitisation and modern methods of construction. £2.1m will be invested into research to better understand construction’s changing environment to help focus CITB’s work on interventions that will have the greatest impact and shape new training and standards development. In a statement, Tim Balcon, CITB Chief Executive, said; “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.” Robert Candy, Scaffolding Association Chief Executive, said; “It is welcome news that CITB are investing levy payers’ money into the areas that need it most. Skills shortages and training provision that is fit for purpose and accessible are shared priorities of the Scaffolding Association. Tim is speaking at our conference in September and we look forward to working with him and his team in addressing the skills shortage”. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News