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JUNE 2021 JUNE 2021 For members of the CIOB constructionmanagermagazine.com | WWW.CONSTRUCTIONMANAGERMAGAZINE.COM NET ZERO SKILLS

NET ZERO SKILLS TRAINING PROVISION NOT ADEQUATE, SAY CM READERS

WATES’S ZERO CARBON HOMES | BAM TACKLES FEMALE SAFETY | THE FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION FUEL

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06/21 Contents

Welcome The built environment accounts for 40% of the UK’s carbon footprint so it has a major role to play in the country’s efforts to reach ‘net zero’ emissions in three decades’ time. Unfortunately, the required skills are somewhat lacking. A CITB study in March showed the sector needs the equivalent of 350,000 new roles in the next seven years to deliver the government’s 2050 target. And worryingly, a survey by Construction Manager this month finds that 86% of industry professionals consider current net zero training provision ‘inadequate’ (p16-17). Some 79% of those polled said it was ‘not easy’ to find suitable net zero training, and of those that had taken courses, almost two-thirds said they did not deliver the skills required. 32 Respondents complained about a lack of “formally recognised qualifications” and that the training available “rarely delves deeply enough into the subject”. There are positives though. Almost half of those polled said their employers were supportive of net zero training, with one saying “my company is fully focused on sustainability”. We asked a panel of sustainability experts about the skills challenge (p18-20), and one 12 46 22 common sentiment, as Multiplex’s Stephen Smith puts it, is the need to “embed net zero in all roles, not News BIM & Digital Careers & Recruitment just specialists”. “Everyone needs a 04 News in pictures 28 Calculating embodied carbon 44 What’s it like working at good level of carbon literacy,” adds 06 News: High-rise fire safety changes New digital tools ease the process Willmott Dixon? 08 News: BAM’s female safety cards 46 Job spotlight: Sajeda Maka-Ismail Aecom’s Robert Spencer. Construction Equipment 10 Data: Productivity and recovery on setting up her own business Change is in the air. Wates is in 32 Plant invests in net zero partnership with Cardiff Council Opinion Digital and eco innovations Community on a project that aims to make 12 Zoe Price: Tier 1s and P-DfMA 48 Two new categories at CMYA Partnership net zero homes more attractive 13 Caroline Gumble on CIOB identity 49 CIOB Conservation Conference 38 Sustainable drainage systems and affordable to consumers 13 Mark Beard on a tumultuous year 50 Sydney Metro station visit Wavin looks at the SuDS options (p22-26). The skills being learned 14 Louise Priestman on heritage 51 CBC takes on high-rise cladding and employed on this scheme may 14 Feedback: Readers’ views Global 54 Penrith school garden 20 years on soon start to become commonplace 40 Chris Soffe on contract disputes 55 Covid research calls on tier 2 and 3 around the industry. Analysis Covid-19 legal rows on the rise 56 A CLT frame school in Inverness 18 Net zero survey results Shortfall in training provision Legal Diary dates 42 Air quality and construction 58 What’s on over the next month Technical Will Mann How legislation will affect projects Highlights of the CIOB calendar Editor, 22 Net zero homes that buyers want Wates’s Eastern High in Cardiff Construction Manager and BIMplus

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News

Beard starts work restoring UK’s oldest lido Contractor Beard has started work to restore the Grade II-listed Cleveland Pools, the oldest surviving public swimming pool in the UK, built in Bath in 1815. Machinery, building materials and equipment will have to be carried upriver on a pontoon pushed by a barge because the site is only accessible by river.

454 hard hats laid out to Tees Valley mayor visits represent construction suicides freeport construction site A total of 454 hard hats were laid out at a Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen celebrated his building site to represent the number of re-election with a visit to GE’s wind turbine construction workers who die from suicide blade factory site at the recently announced each year. The exhibition, organised by Teesside freeport. Houchen (right) met up IronmongeryDirect, marked Mental Health with Robert Hall, director at local firm Hall Awareness Week (10-16 May). Male construction Construction, which has just bought a £1m workers are three times more likely to die from

90-tonne Volvo to support the project. suicide than the average UK man. SWNS

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Flannery apprentice Jessica Holmes at the new Operator Skills Hub in Birmingham, a joint venture between Flannery News story for CM? and Balfour Beatty. See Email [email protected] Construction Equipment, p32

Hard hat stickers to signal inclusion and mental health training Ranbir Atwal, health and safety advisor at Fortel Group, displays hard hat stickers used in a new scheme that allows construction workers to display that they have undertaken training courses on issues such as inclusion and mental health. The Supply Chain Sustainability School and staff supplier Fortel Group have joined forces for

the scheme. LVRPA

Perfect Circle helps build recyclable wildlife centre Perfect Circle – a company jointly owned by Pick Everard, Gleeds and Aecom – has designed and engineered a £700,000 wildlife discovery centre using recyclable materials. The new centre in Essex’s River Lee Country Park offers bird watchers 360-degree views of the surrounding

area from the 5m viewing tower. MHILMI OSMAN/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Concrete and ice critical to South East Asia’s tallest building A Eurotec concrete batching plant plus a flake ice plant have worked in tandem to produce up to 200 cu m of high-quality concrete per hour for the foundations of the 644m Merdeka 118 tower in Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur. The flake ice maintains the temperature of the poured concrete within design limits required during the curing process.

700-tonne Tideway TBM removed by 1,800-tonne marine crane A 700-tonne tunnelling boring machine (TBM) used to dig the Tideway London super sewer has been removed by an 1,800-tonne Matador 3 marine crane. The crane sailed up the Thames from Rotterdam for the lifting operation. The TBM was lowered onto a barge at Chambers Wharf before being taken away. TOBY HAWKES TOBY

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P40, Global Gleeds’ Chris Soffe on rising contractual disputes post-pandemic

High-rise fire safety Building Safety changes fast-tracked Bill ‘must align Government sets out new requirements closely’ with for high-rise residential buildings ahead new Planning Bill of the Building Safety Bill CIOB calls for clear timescale for legislation The introduction of new fire safety Proposed government legislation requirements for planned high-rise to simplify the planning process residential buildings this summer should work in harmony with the has been welcomed by the Chartered looming building safety changes, Institute of Building (CIOB)’s quality says the CIOB. The institution was commenting commission chair, Paul Nash. after the Queen’s Speech last month The changes (see below, right) will (11 May), which introduced 30 pieces come into effect from 1 August 2021 of legislation due to be passed this and bring in a new gateway system for year, including the Building Safety planning applications, which Dame Bill, Planning Bill, Procurement Bill, and Skills and Post-16 Education Bill. Judith Hackitt had recommended in The CIOB urged the government to her independent review of Building work closely with the CIOB and other Regulations and fire safety following undertakes final inspections and A new gateway built environment organisations the Grenfell tragedy. issues a completion certificate. system is to apply to ensure that its proposed bills to high-rise homes interact effectively. The Ministry for Housing All three gateways apply to multi- Eddie Tuttle, director of policy, Communities and Local Government occupied residential buildings of 18m Fire safety – external affairs and research at the (MHCLG) said the new requirements or more in height, or seven or more key planning CIOB, warned: “The success of the under ‘planning gateway one’ would storeys (whichever is reached first). changes new regime is heavily dependent on ensure fire safety matters which CIOB past president Paul Nash, how the new Building Safety Regulator is constituted and how it operates. 1 Involve the relate to land-use planning are who co-authored the CIOB Guide to We encourage the government to Health and Safety incorporated at the planning stage Quality Management in Construction make clear its intended timescale for Executive becoming the bill, to ensure that the safety of for schemes that involve high-rise earlier this year, said: “The gateways a statutory consultee our buildings and their residents is residential buildings. are just part of the proposals for before permission addressed as a matter of urgency.” The changes will be introduced by a new building safety regime that is granted for He called for the Building Safety high-rise residential making amendments to the Town were set out in the draft Building Bill to “align closely” with the developments; and Country Planning (Development Safety Bill published in July 2020. announced Planning Bill, which is Management Procedure) (England) But as we saw with the introduction 2 Require planning intended to create a simpler, faster applications to Order 2015. of a new national Construction and more modern planning system. include a fire And he expressed concerns that Planning gateway one is the first Products Regulator earlier this year, statement to ensure planned changes to permitted of three gateways through which the government is prepared to make fire safety issues as development rights (PDR) could developments and buildings must changes to the building safety regime they relate to land- “lock in unacceptable standard use planning matters pass. Gateway two will make the ahead of the bill to ensure that the development” without safeguards. such as layout and Meanwhile, the CIOB welcomed Building Safety Regulator the only residents of high-risk buildings are access have been the new Lifetime Skills Guarantee option of building control body for safe, and feel safe in their homes. considered; as part of the Skills and Post-16 in-scope buildings. Construction “As with the Construction Products 3 Help inform Education Bill but said it would will not be allowed to begin until the Regulator, this latest announcement, effective decision- like to see a detailed strategy from regulator has approved the building and the clarity that it provides for our making by planning government setting out how it plans authorities so that to increase the numbers of young control application. Gateway three industry, is to be welcomed.” those decisions people joining overlooked sectors will provide a ‘hard stop’ at which The Building Safety Bill is expected reflect the needs of such as construction. the Building Safety Regulator to be introduced later this year. ● the local community.

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P44, Careers How Willmott Dixon has achieved 27% female representation among staff

BAM addresses women’s safety with new ‘conversation cards’ Senior site manager Leanna Martin came up with the idea following the murder of Sarah Everard

Trialled on a King’s Cross project and then across BAM’s London region, the cards ask questions such as: “One in three women has been subject to physical or sexual violence in their lifetimes. What are your thoughts on this?” Another card says: “Tell us about a time you may have done something to help make someone feel safer.” The cards are printed for use on site and in offices and shared through BAM’s The ‘conversation cards’ are displayed on site and shared online Yammer system. Senior site manager Leanna Martin at BAM Construct UK, who came up with women feel as if they are being followed, the idea for the 11 cards, said that the especially at night, by taking action such as cards have been shared by the company’s crossing the road away from them. senior leadership teams, and diversity and The cards have also been published on inclusion resource groups. They will join the Considerate Constructors Scheme’s BAM’s other safety conversation cards, Best Practice Hub, LinkedIn and Twitter, Martin: “Call out harassment” introduced in 2019. to raise industry awareness. Martin said: “The conversations have Martin added: “We should all be been broad and varied, but often included more aware about these widespread “It is key that we shouldn’t examples of where a female family member issues and be active allies in calling out feel uncomfortable having or stranger has had an issue and sought any harassment and violence, as well these conversations. Have the help and support. By opening up the as encouraging victims to report any conversation. Don’t avoid it just conversation, it has given more light to incidents. As an industry, we have a great because it doesn’t affect you the fact that unfortunately most women opportunity to educate and inform our directly – it affects us all” have been affected negatively by the colleagues and work together to make Leanna Martin, BAM Construct UK behaviours or words of another person. society a safer place for all.” ● “It is key that we shouldn’t feel BAM Construct UK is to create uncomfortable having these conversations. CIOB Members’ Forum ‘conversation cards’ aimed at tackling Have the conversation. Don’t avoid it just The CIOB’s Members’ Forum will take place women’s safety and diversity. because it doesn’t affect you directly – it virtually this year, from 21-25 June 2021. More The cards, produced in response to affects us all.” information is at membersforum.ciob.org. the murder of Sarah Everard and recent Martin said negative behaviours The forum will, as usual, include the CIOB media focus on harassment and violence, addressed by the cards so far have AGM on Wednesday 23 June 2021, which are displayed on site and promoted included: ‘mansplaining’ – and how to will be a virtual meeting. The president has called for a poll of members to determine the through online channels, encouraging avoid doing it or being subjected to it; outcome of the AGM – details of an online poll workers to start challenging conversations loitering and ‘group gathering’; leering will be sent to members in due course. among project teams. and wolf-whistling; and avoiding making

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Percentage of respondents to the Q1 2021 RICS Construction and Infrastructure Monitor who reported labour shortages in the trades in 2021. Data 29 This is up from 25% in Q4 2020.

Productivity and the Productivity in core UK industries, output per hour post-pandemic recovery Index:1997 Q1 = 100 Agriculture Manufacturing Construction Services 200 Addressing construction’s productivity puzzle is key to enhancing the industry recovery from covid-19, writes Kris Hudson 180

Measuring productivity core UK sector, but it was even 160 is almost as difficult as above pre-covid-19 levels. Some of improving productivity. this growth was due to increasing 140 Various methods unemployment mixed with burgeoning (such as output per activity following the first lockdown, hour, job or worker) are designed to but it doesn’t devalue the industry’s 120 gauge how efficiently resources are response to the pandemic – adopting used. As pandemic restrictions lift and new procedures and processes, and the UK economy unlocks, the ability to increasing resilience and planning 100 boost productivity is critical to support on programmes. economic growth. This is particularly The industry has shown that it 80 pressing given covid-19 and Brexit can adapt and innovate – learning generated huge challenges around valuable lessons from the months of 1997 Q1 2001 Q4 2006 Q3 2011 Q2 2016 Q1 2020 Q4 performance and resources – putting uncertainty and disruption – but a few pressure on skills and availability of periods of growth do not make a trend. SOURCE: OFFICE FOR NATIONAL STATISTICS labour, supply chain capacity, project Data from the Q1 2021 Royal Institution schedules and costs. of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) UK Productivity in core UK industries, output per hour: 2020 Q2 – 2020 Q4 At a country level, the Organisation Construction and Infrastructure for Economic Co-operation and Monitor suggest that productivity Development (OECD) reported that is currently -5% lower than pre- UK productivity was hit harder by the pandemic levels. While this could be Construction pandemic than any other G7 nation a nuance of measurement, it’s clear during 2020. GDP per hour worked fell the long-standing productivity puzzle by -19% from Q1 to Q2, significantly remains unsolved. Agriculture more than the next lowest – France Construction needs to retain an – which declined by -11.2%. On an innovative mindset to improve value industry level, there was a similar and boost productivity – embracing Manufacturing trend in UK construction. Output digital transformation and modern per hour, measured by the Office of methods of construction to drive National Statistics (ONS), recorded a higher performance. Once change is -7.9% drop in the sector’s productivity enacted, rather than postulated, only Services growth over the same period. then will the industry be able to rise Yet the construction sector’s to meet the challenges it faces, and to productivity recovery after Q2 2020 achieve its environmental, social and 0 2 4 6 8 10 was notably improved, increasing economic goals. by 9.8% from Q2 2020 to Q4 2020. Kris Hudson is an economist and SOURCE:OFFICE FOR NATIONAL STATISTICS Not only was this ahead of any other associate director at Turner & Townsend. News in numbers

6Number of new skyscrapers which will 66Percentage of construction firms 90Percentage of heavy side 15Percentage fall in furloughed appear in the City of London by the reporting increased or unchanged manufacturers reporting an annual construction workers in March 2021, mid-2020s, should applications recently turnover for Q4 2020 from the usual rise in materials costs as of according to HMRC, bringing the approved by the Corporation be built. rate at this time, according to ONS. Q1 2021, according to the CPA. total down to 196,000.

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Opinion

Zoe Price ISG “Tier 1s will have an influential role to play driving positive behaviours relating to materials P-DfMA and the role of tier 1s and circularity principles as Understanding platform-DfMA and what it means we look towards the 2050 for our organisations could be key to transforming net zero target” the construction sector, says Zoe Price P-DfMA operates around repeatable and consistent quality achieved through factory manufacture and the reduction of waste, inefficiency and unsafe practices via swift onsite assembly. Tier 1s will have an influential role to play driving positive behaviours relating to materials and circularity principles as we look towards the 2050 net zero target. We’ve adopted a ‘solution-agnostic’ approach to P-DfMA at ISG. We’re not product or manufacturing experts, so why box in our supply chain with preconceived notions. We are looking for innovation and creativity, so it makes sense to ask our supply chain how we can collectively achieve the goal. This is the way we also counter the argument that P-DfMA will create identikit buildings and is the central theme behind our The Construction Playbook shows that The expertise main contractors bring to participation in the Construction Innovation the government sees modern methods of every project is that big-picture realisation Hub’s Platform Design Programme as an construction (MMC) as a central plank in its of client vision translated into built reality, ‘integrator’ and our standard component strategy to create better outcomes from its managing programme, budgets and risk, design programme with the Department annual £37bn investment in construction. and providing guidance and action on for Education (DfE). Standardising and One prominent MMC methodology operational, sustainability and social-value optimising repeatable spaces – figures suggest is platform design for manufacture and considerations. Bringing together teams in the 70% of the public pipeline can be standardised assembly (P-DfMA) – a standardised pursuit of innovation and efficiency is central – frees up capacity to enrich those unique approach to construction components. to all high-performing contractors – so P-DfMA spaces that create the character of a building. Understanding what this means for our own as a service seems a natural fit for tier 1s. The Construction Playbook draws organisations, and where we all fit within the The P-DfMA service we provide to together a template for smart construction new P-DfMA universe is critically important customers uses this skill set to bring together procurement in the 21st century. Knowing to efficient implementation. the best supply chain partners to collaborate where our expertise fits within this So what does P-DfMA mean to you? Is it in a ‘manufacture first’ mindset. P-DfMA framework means we can exploit the a product or a service? Coming from a tier 1 methodology is linked to digitalisation and possibilities for operational and delivery contractor, I’m firmly in the ‘service’ camp: we data-driven decision-making, so requires excellence that will transform our sector, see our role as the integrator, interrogating contractors and supply chain partners to and the performance of our built assets for the customer’s requirements in a collaborative upskill talent and identify future recruits, generations to come. ● forum of expert partners, including consultants, who may come from manufacturing and Zoe Price is chief operating officer for UK manufacturers and assembly teams. technology backgrounds. construction at ISG.

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Three events shaking up construction Caroline Gumble Mark Beard reflects on a CIOB tumultuous time for the industry

On 23 June, my 12 months as president of the CIOB concludes – 33 years after I became a member. The CIOB, construction and society are very different from when I joined the institute, but the pace of change today makes it difficult to predict the shape of our industry in 33 years’ time. However, I thought it would be interesting to consider how our world and the CIOB may evolve over the next third of the century. The CIOB’s visual identity reflects its place in a changing industry Three seismic events over the last five years give us a strong clue about the likely direction of travel. Leading the First Brexit, and then covid-19, mean over 30 years of globalisation has gone into industry’s cultural shift reverse. As an industry, we need to become far more self-sufficient regarding labour, The CIOB’s new look reflects how we engage materials and building components. The relative lack of cheap immigrant labour with a younger, more inclusive, global will force our industry to modernise and community, writes Caroline Gumble pre-manufactured building elements will likely become common in all building types. Meanwhile, the Grenfell Tower tragedy You may have noticed something different We’re proud of our heritage and our Royal and subsequent inquiry has not shown about us recently – and it’s not just the Charter. We’ve continued to reflect that in our industry in a good light. Society will new haircut. The CIOB has had something the look and the logo – and we still have the expect us to construct buildings that are of a makeover and I’m delighted with our lion to stand alongside the logo when used safe and of a high quality. We will have to fresh new look. on our official correspondence. demonstrate that what we have built is right, not just to the approved specification. As my colleague Kate Macbeth outlined We also now have an updated identity, So how should the CIOB respond to these in last month’s CM, we wanted our visual more impactful and clearly signalling that challenges? identity to help us stand out from the crowd we know construction is changing and we Firstly, we need to constantly remind and help create clarity and consistency intend to help drive that. You’ll probably be ourselves of our purpose, defined by our Royal Charter, and our unique role within when communicating our message. aware that we have talked about the moral the industry. If you haven’t seen the new look yet, compass of the construction industry – a Secondly, we need to collaborate more please do visit the website or check look which acknowledges we will be at the with other organisations, creating mutually out CIOB’s social media. You’ll see new forefront of the cultural shift is important. beneficial relationships, being part of one styling, a different approach to our use of Another important part of the new look industry voice to government. Thirdly, we need to increase the research photography, a refreshed colour palette is to reflect how we engage with a younger, we carry out on behalf of our industry, and typography. more inclusive global community. Many making sure it is relevant to a fast-moving As Kate said, the CIOB identity is “so of you will have heard me talk about these world, and using it to influence policy. much more than a logo… it is the anchor to things – about bringing new talent into Finally, we must remember it is CIOB members who pay for everything the CIOB who we are and what we do. The single most the industry and helping create a more does. We need to keep listening to their important way for audiences to recognise diverse community. A visual identity needs, adapt our service to a changing the brand and the stamp on anything we do.” reflecting a clearer, more forward-thinking, world, and, above all, ensure their hard- From a more personal point of view, international brand was one of the things earned qualification is recognised as the this project was always more than a brand at the heart of this work. gold standard in our industry. It has been an interesting year, being refresh. As an institute, we have a clear As ever, my thanks go to the members the ‘first virtual president’ in the CIOB’s purpose and a mission. We have ambitions who’ve participated in this process – 187-year history, but I hope I have made a for our organisation, our membership and which took more than a year – and to all small positive impact on our industry. for the future of the built environment. my colleagues who are bringing our new Mark Beard is chairman of Beard Group and president of the CIOB. Our new branding reflects who we are look to life. ● more clearly. Caroline Gumble is CEO of the CIOB.

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Feedback A selection of readers’ comments Louise Priestman about news and issues from www. Arup constructionmanagermagazine.com

can lead to permanent damage to historic How do we fabric. Most recently, cavity wall insulation grants led to thousands of buildings balance heritage suffering unnecessary damp and moisture problems. Yet there are still grants to with net zero? install non-breathable insulation into Arup’s Louise Priestman on the historic fabric. challenge of marrying conservation Adapted buildings are a different story. and sustainability goals There should be an honesty in expressing new elements while maintaining a sense of CM 30/04 scale or identity with the original building. Government consults on cladding An example of this is Arup’s recent remediation tax on developers renovation of Coal Drops Yard at King’s Peter Brooker Cross in London: while the building’s Putting the cost solely onto developers striking pitched roof was clearly a misses two key parts of the supply chain contemporary intervention, by using slates that should be contributors to any remedial from the original quarry, a relationship was costs. While everyone is focused on the cladding and therefore the material supplier, created between the new and old. what about poor installation, particularly Historic buildings need their own missing firebreaks in the cladding and version of adaptability, which means around windows and any poorly installed recognising the needs for each building fire detection and suppression systems? individually. Every heritage building is This is defective construction and should be different. There is no ‘one-stop shop’ borne by the contractors and, if they are no longer in business, perhaps the warrantors. solution. A tailored approach is required for our historic fabric. It is important to Stewart Craven understand the needs of the building and Why doesn’t the government make the the behaviour of its users. cladding manufacturers pay up for this It is the responsibility of designers debacle? You will always get installers who don’t come up to scratch and lack knowledge. and engineers to unpick the nuances of Stop making the ‘customer pays’ philosophy Arup worked with BAM and Heatherwick Studio each building and find a solution that the norm. A radical rethink needs to happen. on Coal Drops Yard at King’s Cross, using roof can mitigate some of the challenges of slates from the original quarry installing ‘sustainable’ products. While CM 05/05 there are inherent challenges in this, they Workers urged to open up Heritage and sustainability are both key can be tackled with creative thinking over stress issues on the built environment agenda – combined with rigorous research. Name and email address supplied yet when the two meet, opposing This is why Arup puts significant I believe that I suffered from being priorities often clash. investment into researching new overworked and blamed for things that Sustainable techniques are designed for technologies, digital solutions and were out of my control, as well as being thermally efficient and well performing new material advancements to meet the verbally abused on site by a worker. This had been going on for over six months, builds. Meanwhile, historic buildings are challenges in maintaining valuable sometimes in front of my line manager, designed to ‘breathe’ and be permeable. heritage buildings while meeting crucial and nothing was done about it so I Once you take that away, you compromise sustainability goals. When doing so, our decided to document the abuse in writing. the integrity of the structure. starting place is always to acknowledge Unfortunately I let a work coach from head Both issues are of great importance to that the heritage significance, condition, office know this fact and within two weeks our collective social wellbeing – so how do construction and use of the building I was paid off, citing a lack of trust. Since then, I have been in and out of work but we marry heritage and sustainability goals? are the foundations on which a carbon would really like to leave the industry and The Net Zero 2050 target presents a reduction programme must be built. ● do something completely different – in major challenge for heritage buildings. Louise Priestman is conservation other words, less stressful. Achieving zero carbon in a historic building architect at Arup.

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Analysis FOUR IN FIVE CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS SAY NET ZERO TRAINING ‘INADEQUATE’ “Everyone is waiting for legislation/technical A CONSTRUCTION MANAGER SURVEY INDICATES standards to use as THERE IS A HUGE SHORTFALL IN NET ZERO SKILLS justification for training” TRAINING PROVISION ACROSS THE INDUSTRY

Do you find it easy to find suitable 21% training courses in net zero skills? 79% n Yes n No

equivalent of 350,000 new roles in the next seven years to deliver the government’s promise of net zero emissions by 2050. But some 79% of those polled said it was ‘not easy’ to find suitable net zero training, and of those that had taken courses, almost two-thirds said they did not deliver the skills required. “We need formally recognised qualifications following rigorous training on what net zero means in practice,” said one respondent. Courses on traditional (pre-1919) buildings and retrofit were seen as the weakest, with 35% and 29% respectively of respondents describing training they had taken as ‘not useful’. Do you receive The scale of the built environment’s Specialist or private training net zero skills challenge has been “At the providers are the course deliverers adequate net 14% zero skills laid bare by Construction Manager moment the of choice (72% of those surveyed), training research which found that 86% of schemes we with product manufacturers (41%) currently? industry professionals consider are involved a distant second. n Yes n No current training provision in do not One respondent said “This 86% ‘inadequate’. require it” type of training rarely delves The research follows a CITB study deeply enough into the subject to which shows the sector needs the get a full understanding” while

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Who would you typically use for net zero skills training?

Further education

Higher education

Specialist or private training providers “There are plenty of tools online Product and CPD sessions if you are manufacturers interested in finding them” 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

How would you rate the net zero training currently available for the following? (on a 1 to 5 scale, where 1=not useful and 5=extremely useful) Is your employer supportive n n n n n Not useful Somewhat useful Useful Very useful Extremely useful in providing Retrofit net zero skills 51% 49% Traditional buildings training (pre 1919) for staff? n Yes n No Building envelope

Heat pumps

Other onsite energy, eg solar PV “This type of training rarely Whole building performance delves deeply enough into the subject to get a full Quality of installation understanding” MMC/offsite manufacturing

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

another complained “There does employers are “supportive” of Some two-thirds of those polled not seem to be consistency across equipping staff with net zero skills. said that if clients required net zero the provider market”. One said: “My company is on projects, their employers would be Another said they would be fully focused on sustainability, more likely to invest in training. more likely to book net zero net zero emissions and the “At the moment the schemes we are training if it “works for all, not environment as a whole.” involved in do not require it,” said one. just the big boys”. Another commented: “There are Over 150 construction More positively, almost half plenty of tools online and CPD sessions professionals responded to the (49%) of respondents said their if you are interested in finding them.” survey last month on CM’s website. ● What would encourage your employer to send staff for net zero skills training? If you have Work pipeline received any Clients requiring net zero 34% net zero on projects training, Formally recognised did it qualifications deliver Grants for training the skills 66% Training courses you required? that cater for SMEs n Yes n No 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

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“A lot of small “Everyone needs a good HOW CAN changes will add up” level of carbon literacy” CONSTRUCTION Julia Barrett Robert Spencer Chief sustainability officer, Director, sustainable UPSKILL FOR Willmott Dixon development, Aecom The most important thing is If you are going to get contractors, for everyone in the industry to design engineers and architects all NET ZERO? understand the part they can working together on net zero, then play in delivering a net zero economy. A lot of small you need a common language and that language has FOR CONSTRUCTION TO DELIVER ON changes will add up. We are going to need a lot to be carbon. We have been working in Aecom for the ITS NET ZERO GOALS, THE SKILLS more skills in terms of automation, big data, offsite last year or so with a net zero emissions buildings construction, sustainability, change management, taskforce to look at this exact challenge. GAP MUST BE ADDRESSED. CM project management – things that people don’t We have not got a skills shortage within Aecom ASKED A RANGE OF SUSTAINABILITY always think of when they think about construction. but we have got a need to bring everyone up to EXPERTS HOW THE INDUSTRY We need to promote careers in the industry better, a good level of awareness of carbon literacy. It is SHOULD PREPARE ITS WORKFORCE making it more accessible and more aspirational. about being able to understand what the carbon When we talk about net zero, we are talking FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL implications of your design are. And that then can about timescales that are not tomorrow. They drive your design principles for how you actually CHALLENGES AHEAD might be 2030 or 2050. The problem with long build assets out going forward. timescales is there is always something more There are areas where you can get some urgent to do today. We need to create a problem very quick wins in terms of carbon. In the built that is immediate and needs a reaction. environment, the carbon required for energy and Willmott Dixon is involved in the Supply heating and lighting is not as significant as the Chain Sustainability School, which provides free carbon you embed in the projects during the learning, advice and support. We have a portal, capital works. So if you can come up with design a bit like a personal carbon calculator, that solutions that are going to reduce that embodied calculates fuel use in the supply chain and helps carbon then you are onto a winner. companies to reduce their carbon footprint. You might be able to use the existing We are also involved in the Aldersgate Group. foundations on a brownfield site, rather than It’s an alliance of leaders from across business building a new corporate headquarters on a trying to drive change for a sustainable economy. greenfield site, for example. If an existing building In October last year, we launched a skills briefing is in such a bad state that you need to take that calling on government, businesses, and education building down, you could still use some of the providers to collaborate on boosting the supply of foundations, plus you could use a modular or skills across the low-carbon economy. prefabricated approach.

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“Embed net zero in all “Every course needs to “We need more skills roles, not just specialists” be net zero compatible” across the life cycle” Stephen Smith Jean Stevens Alastair Mant Executive director SHEQ Managing director, Director of business Europe, Middle East and Duprez Consulting transformation, Canada, Multiplex We need to act now and set out UK Green Building Council We recently launched One milestones for net zero because Construction companies need Decade to Act: Our Net Zero the pace of action required to identify the role of their Carbon Pathway, which sets out our plans for means we need to be absolutely clear on what organisation, themselves and their employees how we will become net zero by 2050, including will happen and by when. 2050 sounds far away in achieving the targets. The industry and supply chain emissions. but we need shorter-term, harder targets. individuals don’t currently know what net zero While acknowledging that we don’t yet Net Zero ‘greening’ of existing housing actually requires. have all the answers, the cornerstone of our stock needs to be undertaken in a timely fashion, They also need the time to identify and then approach is to champion cultural and behaviour scheduled in with existing housing repairs and fill the skills gap. We need more skills across change within our business, our clients and improvement plans, so as to be more cost the life cycle. It needs to become part of all supply chain, to find solutions together. We have effective, more productive and cause less professionals’ work and development. already started a campaign to educate our staff disruption to residents. And it’s not just technical skills that are on the climate emergency and the impact of the Communication is the single biggest barrier required but also different ways of thinking and construction industry. to improving training for net zero skills. With no acting. That is why we run a number of courses The next step will be to provide each role in clear policy direction emerging and policy not being which focus on leadership, purpose, storytelling, our business with specific actions they can take informed by specialists, the information coming out systems thinking and innovation methods. to eliminate carbon from our projects. We will be is woolly and inconsistent. Every educational course We have led the creation of the Net Zero establishing specific green skills and jobs targets needs to be made ‘net zero compatible’ quickly. We Carbon Buildings Framework Definition and for our business for 2022, 2025 and 2030. are already churning out the new workforce without try to provide clarity through documents such We will embed net zero skills into all current the relevant skills required to achieve net zero. as our guidance on renewable energy use and roles, ensuring every person has the required I am working with The Skills Centre, who will be carbon offsetting. skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours to delivering skills for retrofit, green new build and help the business transition to net zero. Action specialist green occupations. We have recently cannot be isolated to a few specialist roles. developed ‘Greening London Construction’ which supports a range of green interventions including L1/2/3 qualifications, personal support, job entry and in-work support. Staff have the opportunity to obtain a net zero qualification and we are promoting business mentoring across the supply chain to improve understanding of the green agenda.

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“Empower and “Industry and education “Retrofitting existing mobilise the should work together buildings is the carbon pioneers” on relevant content” biggest challenge” Andrew Mather Luke Osborne Ingrid Berkeley Associate – strategic Energy and emerging Senior sustainability sustainability, Ramboll UK technologies advisor, ECA consultant and partner, Closing the green skills gap Construction employers Max Fordham will be transformative and must should understand the gravity Retrofitting existing buildings be prioritised by the sector, of the situation ahead of us to make them net zero carbon is government, educational systems, and investors. and the fact that each and every part of the the biggest challenge the construction industry Green skills can be broken down into two industry will need to play its part. will face in meeting the UK’s goals. parts: a baseline green skill set or ‘carbon Having an awareness of the direction of travel The industry needs to invest in training literacy’ and a more advanced, innovative and the scope of works to be installed will be in how to construct and retrofit buildings to green skill set or ‘carbon pioneer’. Both have essential. Workers should be supported through Passivhaus standards and use of heat pump different hurdles. relevant training and qualifications needed to technologies. Training will be required not only Carbon literacy is well established within deliver the works. for installers but also occupants in terms of the sustainability teams across the industry but The obvious are things such as heat pump new technologies required – changing from gas often does not extend far into organisations, and EV chargepoint installation training – but boilers to heat pumps is a big change in mindset in particular contractors and the supply chain. there are many more things to consider. Smart and is not as simple as simply taking out a boiler Embedding it into everyday conversation across controls, building automation and control and replacing with a heat pump. the construction industry is the first step and can systems (BACS) and energy storage will also It is crucial that a fabric-first approach is be easily actioned by good leadership at project, be key players. taken using methods like Passivhaus to reduce company, and industry levels. The biggest issue is in ensuring that there the energy demand of buildings before changing The bigger challenge is empowering and isn’t a sudden knee-jerk reaction leading to their heat source to electric. mobilising the ‘carbon pioneers’. These people, the creation of numerous courses that do A set of practical design and specification in emerging new roles, will challenge the status not actually address the requirements. It is interventions for designing for longevity and lower quo. They need support and funding to develop important for industry to work together with embodied carbon also needs to be developed. the new materials and processes. education providers on relevant content and a commonality of standards. Existing apprenticeships should be re-evaluated and new skills and requirements incorporated.

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Technical

principal design manager at Wates’s BUILDING NET ZERO HOMES Cardiff office. It may be unusual to use so many low-carbon elements THAT BUYERS WANT at this scale for general-needs housing, but there’s nothing that is not proven. A GROUNDBREAKING HOUSING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN CARDIFF “The new element is the marketing COUNCIL AND WATES AIMS TO SHOW THAT NET ZERO HOMES ARE and sales. Will it demonstrate that we WORTH MORE. KRISTINA SMITH FINDS OUT HOW can realise enhanced sales values to pay for the cost of the uplift in energy Would you pay £6,000 more for a net zero carbon by 2035, when grid Homes at Eastern performance?” says Jones, who has been low-carbon home? That is the question decarbonisation is factored in. To do High in Cardiff will involved since the scheme’s inception. benefit from an that the Eastern High housing this, the homes will be equipped with a Eastern High will be a testing energy management development in Cardiff is asking. raft of low-carbon technologies and an system which ground for a new green mortgage Cardiff Living – a partnership innovative energy management system pushes and pulls from Monmouthshire Building Society between Cardiff Council and Wates which pushes and pulls electricity electricity which, for the first time, takes into from the grid to Residential – is developing a mixture from the grid at the optimum times. account the lower energy bills these achieve the lowest of affordable homes and homes for However, it isn’t the technology cost and lowest homes will have (see box, p24). This sale which promise significantly that will be the biggest hurdle on this carbon energy could have wider implications for lower energy bills and a trajectory to development, according to Stuart Jones, both new-build and retrofit projects in

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Uplift in energy performance for phase one compared to Building Regulations. Phase two will go further 17%

Project team The clever bit is the low-carbon Eastern High, ‘brain’, a home energy management Construction manager CV: Cardiff system provided by low-carbon Stuart Jones Client: Cardiff housing specialist Sero (see box, p26). Living (Cardiff Stuart Jones is Council-Wates “We run energy in residents’ principal design Residential homes on their behalf and they get manager for partnership) a lower energy bill, without them Wates’s Cardiff Contractor: Wates needing to do anything,” explains office, with Value: £61m responsibility Contract form: Andy Sutton, Sero’s founder and for the region. JCT D&B design and innovation director. Before joining Energy “We run the homes to get the Wates just over three years ago, management outcomes that the residents Jones was development director service: Sero for Morganstone and before that Energy want, such as hot water, the right Greenhill Construction. Previously, he Ground source heat level of heating in each room, EV spent nearly nine years as technical pumps contractor: charging, and we do it at the lowest director for Leadbitter. Having gained Thermal Earth a Geography degree at the University Groundworks: possible cost and the lowest carbon of Wales, his career began in the Randalls footprint.” Monthly energy bills social housing sector with jobs at Start on site: could be between £30 and £40. Hendre Housing Association, Lovell December 2020 Part of the additional cost of Partnerships and Kier Partnerships. Completion: 2023 the low-carbon technology and grid management software will establishing that low-carbon homes be paid for via a grant from the are worth more than those with more Welsh government’s Innovative “The supply chain was trying standard energy consumption. Housing Programme (IHP). Wates to build what they have and Sero – which hooked up for always built, but our QA Rising energy performance the scheme because they happened system picked that up” The 214-property development, to be co-located in the same building Stuart Jones, Wates on the former site of Eastern High – worked together on a funding bid School off Newport Road in Cardiff, which resulted in a £4.1m grant is part of the 1,500 homes that Wates is delivering for Cardiff Council, Above and right: from concept through to delivery. Construction work underway on It comprises a 44-apartment the Eastern High Community Living scheme for older development people, 21 two- and three-bed council houses and 149 properties for sale. Improving energy efficiency has always been part of Cardiff Living’s remit. Phase one schemes are being delivered with a 17% uplift in energy performance compared to current Building Regulations. Phase two, which includes Eastern High, must go further. So, as well as an improved fabric that delivers the 17% uplift, Eastern High homes will benefit from ground source heat pumps, smart thermal storage, PV panels, batteries and electric vehicle (EV) charging.

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Green mortgages for net zero homes New finance models are recognising the value of energy reduction in the housebuying process

Homebuyers on the Eastern to be put on the market. This High development will be 225-home development – a able to take advantage of the partnership between Pobl, first-of-its-kind mortgage Tirion Homes and Sero from Monmouthshire Energy – also benefited Building Society. from an Innovative Housing “The society has developed Programme (IHP) grant to the a tool that recognises the tune of £7.6m, which paid for efficiency of owning a higher a much higher proportion of EPC (energy performance the low-carbon technology certificate) property,” on the homes for sale. explains Monmouthshire The first phase of Parc Eirin Building Society’s lending sold out before the green which will cover all the technology costs Eastern High includes a 44-apartment operations manager Graham mortgage was ready for for the affordable housing and some Community Living scheme for older people Sumsion. “As such, it lowers market. Eastern High, where of those for the properties for sale. the contribution you make to an additional £6,000 will “Typically, someone would energy costs as part of the be added to the properties commission the boiler, someone affordability calculation and for sale to part-fund the low Challenges on site else the MEV heat recovery. enables a higher amount for carbon technology, could be With enabling works underway in early the borrower versus a lower the real testing ground. 2021, Wates planned to start work on its Now all the systems need to be rated property.” An alternative finance first show home in April. Construction commissioned together” This mortgage represents model at Eastern High could Stuart Jones, Wates a significant step forward see an arrangement where of the Community Living block was for housing valuation and the homeowner does not pay due to start in August, in parallel with green mortgages, an issue the additional £6,000 uplift the first few phases of general needs have bespoke thermal bridge details Sero’s Andy Sutton pursued cost. Instead, Sero will pay low-rise housing. The whole build-out which are not radically different from in a previous role at BRE the cost and take payment is scheduled to take until 2025. standard ones, but they are a little bit Wales. There, he led a project over a 10-to-15-year period, called LENDERS (Levering using some of the energy bill Jones foresees few problems with different. At times, the supply chain Economics for New Drivers savings each month. So, the installing the low-carbon technology. was trying to build what they have to Energy Reduction and householder would still pay Care needs to be taken with setting always built, but our QA system picked Sustainability) which less for their energy, but not out the borehole arrays for the ground that up and many of our supply chain proposed a system to better as little as those who had paid reflect energy costs in the £6,000 extra upfront. source heat pumps – three boreholes work on multiple repeat sites, so the mortgage applications. There is still a question to feed between four and five houses same mistakes are avoided next time.” “One of the problems is mark over how this – due to future easement issues, and The most challenging stage in that net zero typically costs alternative model might once installed they must be protected. terms of the technology will be its more in capital construction be received by potential But this is established technology, he commissioning, says Jones. cost,” says Sutton. “But the buyers, says Jones: “Is that person who pays typically going to introduce another says, installed by specialists. “Typically, someone would is not the one who pays the level of complexity and On the other hand, site management commission the boiler, someone energy bill.” uncertainty?” Wates also must keep an eagle eye on the standard else the MEV heat recovery. Now all Monmouthshire Building wondered whether buyers trades – these houses are traditional the systems are interlinked and Society will also be might baulk at signing up offering the mortgage at a with Sero to manage their brick and block – to make sure the need to be commissioned together: development in Parc Eirin in energy, but they don’t have thermal bridging details are right. grid management software, PV, Tonyrefail, where the second to and it hasn’t been an issue “We have had the odd glitch on battery, hot water storage, ground tranche of housing is about at Parc Eirin, reports Jones. earlier schemes,” says Jones. “We source heat pumps. It needs more

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The net zero evangelist Sero founder Andy Sutton is setting out to convert the housing stock in Wales

EV charger. “There are a couple of small-scale providers, but not many,” “Residents have to be says Sutton. enjoying a better quality of When CM spoke to Sero, it was about life at a lower cost. The to sign a deal with a large electronics ultimate goal is for energy hardware manufacturer to ensure bills to be south of £50” robust and warrantied control systems Andy Sutton, Sero are available for the new-build and retrofit homes it plans to service.

Is it worth it? Andy Sutton’s ambitions advantage of a blustery night It remains to be seen whether the aren’t modest: he’s out to at a wind farm. “Residents Eastern High scheme will prove that decarbonise the whole of have to be enjoying a better low-carbon homes are worth more Wales’ housing stock – and quality of life at a lower that’s just for starters. An cost,” says Sutton. “The than bog-standard ones. Without the architect by profession and ultimate goal is for energy IHP grant, the additional cost added in the early part of his career, bills to be south of £50.” to each for-sale property would be far he spent 10 years with BRE Sero will be adding 500 higher than £6,000. Wales before founding Sero new homes that are starting Sero’s Whole Home Survey app is being However, the cost of low-carbon in 2017, where he is director on site this year to its books used to assess homes as part of a retrofit of design & innovation. and 2,400 existing homes, programme with 26 social housing providers technology is falling fast, according Sero is part developer, many via the Optimised to Sutton. “For the very first schemes, part low-carbon technology Retrofit programme. With work and that needs to be factored the uplift was £30,000. Now, it is just consultant and part energy £13m of Welsh government into the programme.” under £20,000. Next April we expect management mastermind. funding, Sero is working with Sutton says: “Our mantra 26 social housing providers Sero will oversee the the cost to be under £10,000 and is reduce, balance, generate. and other partners on commissioning, with Wates planning potentially around £5,000,” he says. Reduce means a fabric-first Optimised Retrofit and has fact-finding missions to some Cardiff Council isn’t convinced. On approach and getting the developed a Whole Home of Sero’s other developments – subsequent developments for Cardiff right kit in a home. Balance Survey app for professionals including Parc Eirin at Tonyrefail and Living, the plan is to use similar is drawing the right energy to use to assess homes. from the grid at the right Data from this will feed into another scheme at Ely Mill, Cardiff, low-carbon technology combinations time. Generate sees some Pathways to Zero app that where just three houses are getting for the affordable housing but not for energy generation on, if will work out the best way to the low-carbon treatment. the homes for sale. “We are looking at possible, combined with decarbonise that property. Though Sero is ‘agnostic’ when a scaled-down version on the houses technology that can turn The idea is to get away housing developments into from single element retrofit it comes to hardware suppliers, for scale. When Cardiff looked at the ‘virtual power stations’.” programmes which don’t make it has been forced to play a closer uplift, they decided it was too big On new housing such as carbon sense, such as fitting role in sourcing the home control an impact on their sales value,” says Eastern High, Sero is working super-efficient condensing systems which monitor energy use Jones. Perhaps Eastern High will with the developer to advise boilers into draughty, single- and send signals to the batteries or change their minds. ● on the low-carbon elements glazed homes. of the build and to supply its To test its concepts, Sero Construction work on Sero’s low-carbon development at Parc Eirin, Tonyrefail energy management service. is also carrying out its own Customers can interact via developments. Parc Hadau an app or customer services in Pontardawe is one: 35 team, with Sero helping to homes built around a central set heating and hot water community space with cars patterns to optimise comfort. limited to its boundaries. Meanwhile, Sero also Extensively landscaped minimises energy cost with ‘gold standard’ SuDS, and carbon footprint by the homes will have cross- controlling where energy laminated timber (CLT) walls, comes from and when – for concrete floors for thermal instance EV charging could mass and – if they stack up be switched on to take financially – blue-green roofs.

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BIM & Digital

“If you’ve never ADDRESSING THE done a carbon calculation in CARBON WITHIN your life, within two minutes of TO REDUCE EMBODIED CARBON IN CONSTRUCTION, YOU NEED using the tool CARBON CALCULATORS – AND THREE HIGH-PROFILE TOOLS you can work out the carbon HAVE RECENTLY BEEN LAUNCHED. CM REPORTS footprint of a beam or column” Will Arnold, IStructE

Carbon reduction targets are scary: to avoid the catastrophic effects of a 1.5 deg C of global warming, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change suggests that humanity must curb its carbon emissions by 49% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. To cut carbon, we must first measure it wherever we can find it – and there’s a lot of carbon to be found in the built environment (see UK Green Building Council definition, box). In recent months, three high- profile carbon calculators have been revealed: Balfour Beatty’s AutoBIM Carbon Calculator and the Costain/ Winvic tool are both in testing (see boxes), while the Structural Carbon Tool from Elliott Wood and the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) was launched a month ago and is already in the hands of more than 1,400 people. The Structural Carbon Tool is free to everyone: you don’t have to be an IStructE member to download it. It’s an Excel-based tool, aligned with BS EN 15978, BS EN 15804, and is based on Elliott Wood’s in-house carbon calculation tool, reconfigured to interpret IStructE’s How To Calculate Embodied Carbon document. Will Arnold, head of climate action at IStructE, says: “It’s designed to be universally applicable to any size of project, to any size consultancy anywhere in the world. The idea is that if you’ve never done a carbon

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The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change suggests that humanity Digital story for CM or BIMplus? must curb its carbon Email [email protected] 49% emissions by 49% by 2030 calculation in your life, within two minutes of using the tool you can work Balfour’s 14% savings out the carbon footprint of a beam or Balfour Beatty is set to roll registered documents that column. And within half an hour, you out a carbon calculator provide transparent and can measure a basic structure if you’ve after initial tests showed comparable data about got the quantities to hand.” potential embodied carbon the environmental impact The user keys in the material savings of up to 14% throughout the life cycle of achieved through better- a product or material. specifications and the quantities; informed design choices. Following a phased the tool then multiplies the quantities Currently in its beta rollout across Balfour by the relevant carbon factors and testing phase on four Beatty’s projects over outputs a raft of information designed Balfour sites, the AutoBIM the next four months, the Carbon Calculator AutoBIM Carbon Calculator for the user to understand where automatically links BIM will be available to the carbon hotspots are in a project and data to embodied carbon wider industry within the target those hotspots for alternative data from the Inventory next 12 months, with plans approaches either in design or material of Carbon and Energy to expand the remit of specification to help reduce the carbon. database, an online the calculator to measure source that provides the energy performance This includes the Structural Carbon energy and embodied of products and materials Rating Scheme (SCORS). carbon information for post completion. The tool’s output includes an construction materials. The calculator was ‘equivalence’ function that generates In addition, the developed by Balfour calculator also allows a simple real-world comparison for in collaboration with users to input information Innovate UK, Leeds Beckett how much carbon is embodied in a from environmental University, Hertfordshire project – for example, its carbon could product declarations University and White be equivalent to 1,400 one-way flights sheets, verified and Frog Publishing. from London to New York. The IStructE calculator estimates Arnold says: “It’s quite important embodied carbon for structural elements Costain and Winvic learn from the past that we try to retain an aspect to by material type and provides a real-world low-carbon materials to use this tool that enables the engineer comparison of the savings on a project can be time- to speak to the client in terms that consuming: the new software they understand. manufacturing, transport and will use machine learning to make that calculation and “It’s always worth bringing it home installation of structural materials save time, UWE Bristol claims. and highlighting to the client that if accounted for 10% of energy-related Dr Lukman Akanbi at UWE

they pick option A instead of option B, CO2 emissions in 2019. In a call to the Bristol, who is leading the it’s the equivalent emissions of 1,000 wider industry, he adds: “The industry project, which started late cars being driven around the UK for a lacks data on the carbon emissions last year, says: “We are going to collect embodied carbon year or whatever.” from site activities, such as the use Costain and Winvic are data from previous projects, Arnold notes that the UN-affiliated of plant and equipment. We would helping the University of and machine learning models Global Status Report For Buildings love to hear from contractors who are the West of England (UWE will be developed to learn And Construction reported the collecting such data on site.” Bristol) to develop artificial the patterns from this data. intelligence (AI) and machine The system will then be able learning technology to to come up with alternative combat embodied carbon. materials quicker. Defining embodied carbon in construction UWE Bristol’s Big Data “For a large-scale project Laboratory is leading the for example, instead of taking The UK Green Building Council defines “In some cases (depending on two-year, £800,000 project five to 10 hours to work out embodied carbon thus: the boundary of an assessment), it with funding from Innovate alternatives, it could initially “Embodied carbon is the total greenhouse may also include the maintenance, UK. The project team is take only one to two hours, gas emissions (often simplified to ‘carbon’) replacement, deconstruction, disposal completed by Edgetrix, which and further down the road, generated to produce a built asset. This and end-of-life aspects of the materials specialises in cloud and AI once more data is gathered, includes emissions caused by extraction, and systems that make up the asset. solutions. Determining which just a few minutes.” manufacture/processing, transportation and “It excludes operational emissions assembly of every product and element. of the asset.”

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30_31.ads.CMJune21.NEW Bimfiller.indd 31 17/05/2021 17:09 CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT constructionmanagermagazine.com

Construction Equipment PIPELINE PUSHES PLANT’S NET ZERO INNOVATIONS WITH RECORD-BREAKING ORDERS, THE CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT SECTOR IS PUMPING INVESTMENT INTO DIGITAL AND ECO TECHNOLOGY. PETER HADDOCK REPORTS

Yards are empty, JCB has just signed its biggest ever deal worth £65m with hirer Sunbelt Rentals UK and the scramble for new construction equipment has even seen the import of machines from Europe and beyond. With HS2 and housebuilding filling the pipelines, manufacturers are enjoying demand not seen since the motorway boom era of the 1960s. The recent market stats from the Construction Equipment Association (CEA) put this into perspective with a 30% jump in sales of new equipment in Q1. However, in the backdrop, regulatory changes are pushing the sector towards greener machinery and greener fuel, including the end of the subsidy on red diesel next year (see p34). This month also sees another low emissions zone introduced, in Birmingham. “Net zero is dominating everyone’s agenda,” says CEA CEO Rob Oliver. “One of our members applied for a loan recently and the bank wanted to see their sustainability policy before they’d approve it. So it has moved from the theoretical to the actual.”

Hydrogen and electric power New eco-friendly machines include a hydrogen-powered digger from JCB and an electric excavator and wheel loader from Volvo Construction Equipment. Skanska has promised that all plant on its sites will use hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO)

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The Construction Equipment Association (CEA) has reported a 30% jump in Below: JCB’s 20-tonne 220X the sales of new construction hydrogen-fuelled excavator 30% equipment in Q1 of 2021

situations, you can also create a sharing team culture that understands the importance of fuel. Yes, of course, productivity, quality and efficiencies are important, but everyone can input when you focus on the fuel. You can even reduce fleet numbers on site.” The push to reduce worker numbers on site accelerated during the pandemic and this is one aim of the Connected and Autonomous Plant (CAP) group, which includes major clients and contractors and seeks to encourage emerging technologies like 3D machine control. Mark Lawton is the head of engineering, surveying and GIS at Skanska, and plant and earthworks community representative to Highways England. He has long and Laing O’Rourke has even using software and hardware from been frustrated by the “trenchlike” bought an electric crawler crane. technology provider MachineMax technology gap between the Moving to a more sustainable to monitor equipment performance earthworks sector and the rest of industry is also about exploiting and fuel usage for its mixed fleet of construction. digital technology, such as data machines on site. “Bridging that gap and sharing from telematics systems. Chris Matthews, strategic ideas is what CAP is all about,” he Andy Wright, CEO of Sunbelt manager at Flannery, says: “The says. “The most positive change has Rentals UK, says: “The industry biggest single, yet variable, carbon been mandating 3D machine control is demanding more fuel-efficient, emitter on site is the fuel. on all Highways England sites. EU Stage V emissions compliant “If you take a fuel-based overview machines and electric plant. A key of the project, over its whole part of this strategy is using data “The industry life cycle, you can set targets for from machines to share information is demanding the project team of say 15% on fuel with our customers about idle times, more fuel- savings. From this total project fuel usage, emissions and health efficient viewpoint, it is then clearer how to and safety alerts. Stage V and achieve these by drilling down to “We have now designed our own electric plant” the people, plant and technology Andy Wright, cloud-based portal that takes data Sunbelt Rentals to be used on site. from the JCB LiveLink telemetry “A lot can be achieved from fleet system, displaying relevant matching, integrating with the information to our customers. It design team using 3D machine Far left: A Flannery also means we can provide a better dozer with GPS control and planning out the service by monitoring equipment machine control programme to remove bottlenecks. health, as uptime is more important technology on the Other simple things like the selection than ever.” Lincoln bypass of buckets and attachments can also Flannery Plant Hire, which Right: Leica make a difference. supplies heavy earthmoving kit machine control “By carrying through learnings on a Kobelco on major projects like HS2, is also excavator with from other projects like how different employing telemetry solutions. It is SMP tiltrotator equipment performs in different

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The future of construction fuel Electric, hydrogen, vegetable oil – or will diesel still have a role to play? CM looks at how construction plant will be powered over the coming years

New electric skid steer from Koveco It has created momentum, which has led to the 2035 CAP roadmap, which includes 25 commitment statements. “These statements have support from clients like HS2, Highways England and the Environment Agency, so we are going to see them written

into future procurement documents. The government plan to cut technology allows, HVO is a major “It’s good that there are “For example, one focuses on the subsidy on red diesel for step in the right direction on our competing fuel technologies ‘investigating the possibilities for construction equipment is set journey to net zero carbon.” out there, but diesel has early installation of permanent to go ahead in April 2022, with Skanska is being supplied become cleaner and shouldn’t communications for connectivity serious cost implications for the with Green D+ HVO by Green be written off. plant sector: the industry will Biofuels, whose CEO William Tebbit “We definitely see diesel as of 4G and 5G to enable a connected go from paying 11.14p to 57.95p estimates that moving to HVO will part of the mix till 2050.”

worksite’. On completion of this per litre overnight. equate to a 90% saving in CO2e and Oliver recognises that work, we could then ensure that all While the sector continues to an 85% reduction in other emission continued use of diesel means plant can connect to the cloud and lobby against this change – CEA particulates for the contractor. looking at how to offset the CEO Rob Oliver describes it as “With Green D+, you would emissions elsewhere on site. back again. a “tax raid” – the government have to run 10 machines for every “Increased automation and clearly sees it as a ‘stick’ to one running red diesel to emit the more efficient machines are

accelerate adoption of green fuels. same amount of CO2,” Tebbit says. already reducing the carbon One is hydrogen. Already JCB has New electric machines footprint,” he points out. launched its first hydrogen-powered launched recently include Volvo “Generators on sites are excavator and Hyundai is partnering Construction Equipment’s increasingly using green with its sister car manufacturer to 2.7-tonne EC25 excavator and the electricity. And there are now develop the technology. 5-tonne L25 wheel loader, plus lighting towers with solar panels.” “The All Party Parliamentary Kovaco’s Elise 900 skid steer, Meanwhile, a consequence Committee on Hydrogen says that which comes with a removable of the red diesel subsidy ending hydrogen will play an important phone control unit that can act as could be a rise in fuel theft. part in achieving net zero and the a remote control. These machines “We’re hearing from utility Department of Transport has invited promise more digging power and contractors that thieves are more us to look at how hydrogen power ‘full shift’ battery capabilities. likely to raid fuel bowsers if they for vehicles and plant would work in However, Oliver is not convinced contain ‘white’ diesel,” he says. practice, in terms of the supporting green technology has all the “With our CESAR Datatag infrastructure,” reveals Oliver. answers.“Electric doesn’t provide scheme, we developed a Meanwhile, Skanska has enough power for the heavier chemical marker for red diesel – announced it will mandate the earthmoving kit our members effectively a DNA – which could use of hydrogenated vegetable oil supply to the industry,” he explains. trace who owned it. But the (HVO) fuels on all its sites. Adam “With hydrogen, there is Home Office wouldn’t allow it Crossley, director of environment, a question over its power because of their own red marker. says: “While our ambition is to capability currently – we’re Now the red marker is coming Leica’s ‘school with a sandpit’ trains move to hydrogen or electrification watching that space to see out, we may revisit that for operators and managers to use surveying for construction plant as fast as how the technology develops. ordinary diesel.” and machine control tools

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Digital to the fore in plant training Plant operator training is increasingly focusing on machine control and other digital systems

“One thing I am looking forward to in 2021 is taking the first and important next step to test remote piloting of construction machinery.” With a huge work pipeline, many in the plant sector feel the time is ripe for innovation. As Niall Fraser, director of earthworks contractor CA Blackwell, says: “We are entering a boom time for the sector and with it a key opportunity to invest for “Diesel has its future. Obviously, since the last become boom of the motorway construction cleaner and era, a lot has changed, but the shouldn’t be fundamentals are still the same. We written off” need to manage the movement and Rob Oliver, CEA placement of the earth in the most efficient way possible.”● Tenstar training simulators at the Operator Skills Hub

With the adoption of digital technology in the plant sector, there has been an explosion in demand for training and upskilling. Leica Geosystems recently introduced its ‘school with a sandpit’ to train operators, managers, and engineers to use surveying and machine control tools. It even has hidden utilities in a mock-up of a road, grass area and footpath for Plantforce apprentice Ted Powell training in the use of ground penetrating using Leica machine control on a radar. There is a dig area for an excavator Kobelco excavator equipped with the latest semi-automatic MC1 machine control system and a specialist tiltrotator attachment. equipment on site. Ted Powell is Meanwhile, hirer Plantforce currently on a major warehouse project has developed the industry’s first operating a Leica Geosystems internationally recognised plant semi-automatic Kobelco SK210 operator BTEC level 2 diploma in GPS excavator with SMP tiltrotator. machine control, which is now being Another training facility is the rolled out across the industry. Operator Skills Hub in Birmingham, a Plantforce digital plant manager joint venture between Balfour Beatty Dale Hawkins has been responsible for and Flannery, which has a bank of three its creation: “GPS machine control is Tenstar simulators. These are helping not something you can train in a day: to train new operators like Jessica it’s a vast subject. You are not just Holmes. She swapped a career in asking operators to follow a satnav in the police to become one of its first a car; you are asking them to embrace ‘trailblazer’ apprentices. high-tech engineering tools. The hub will help train operators for “We have been working on the vast HS2 earthworks operation. this vocational qualification with Mark Thurston, CEO of HS2 Ltd, says: Weston College for two years, “The Operator Skills Hub will play a making it available to other training vital role in ensuring local people have organisations since March.” the opportunity to upskill in readiness Plantforce is also letting its for employment opportunities on Flannery apprentice Jessica Holmes at the new apprentices use top of the range Britain’s new railway.” Operator Skills Hub in Birmingham

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Partnership HOW SUDS ARE SET TO IMPACT THE BUILDING INDUSTRY WITH THE RISK OF FLOODING MOUNTING ACROSS THE UK, SUSTAINABLE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS LOOK SET TO BE A KEY COMPONENT IN TACKLING THE NATION’S EXCESS WATER PROBLEM

Floods are now occurring four times clear that sustainable drainage Above: Landscaping watercourses. They are specialist more frequently than they did in the solutions (SuDS) will be key in tackling manages water flow drainage systems designed to mimic in a residential area 1980s, according to the European the UK’s urgent drainage problem. nature, collecting and managing Academies’ Science Advisory Council. Top right: Modular stormwater at source, allowing drainage solution Meanwhile the Environment Agency What are SuDS? components are fitted it to be released back into the states that 2.8 million UK properties are SuDS work by providing an environment at a reduced rate. now at risk of surface water flooding alternative to the direct channelling There are many different kinds alone. With weather expected to worsen of surface water through networks of SuDS available. ‘Soft’ SuDS, for in the coming years, it’s becoming of pipes and sewers to nearby example, use green landscaping, such

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Sustainable drainage in action: Hatfield station Measures were put in place to protect against In partnership with Wavin storm flooding disruption to rail travel

creating community amenity. They Hatfield railway station is a but would also be installed achieve this by lowering flow rates, busy commuter hub, with in an efficient and reliable two regular services into the manner. increasing water storage capacity and capital each day and direct Wavin’s StormForce reducing the transport of pollution to links as far as Cambridge. service brings the entire the water environment. Over the last few years, process of implementing the station has undergone stormwater management a huge refurbishment systems under one roof, with Prevention vs cure costing over £9m. Part of Wavin handling the design, When it comes to flooding, the this included improvements supply and installation of ‘prevention vs cure’ conversation to infrastructure and the SuDS from start to finish, can be traced back to the Pitt Review construction of a large multi- including a five-year “SuDS can help significantly published in 2008, which examined storey car park. When such warranty post-completion. reduce the risk of flooding. big structural changes are The StormForce design the widespread flooding in England made to a site, one of the team quickly identified that Not only that, but elements in June and July 2007. biggest and often overlooked Hatfield station needed a such as air quality, biodiversity A total of 55,000 properties were issues is possible surface solution with a below-ground and water quality can also flooded. Some 7,000 people had water flooding caused by attenuation tank. These be improved” ineffective drainage systems. systems are able to store to be rescued and 13 people died, large amounts of water and with the flood causing over £3bn Keeping people moving release it at a controlled worth of damage. The report into With so many people relying rate, helping to prevent flash the catastrophe led to the Flood and on the smooth operation flooding and keep everything as swales and soakaways to manage Water Management Act 2010, which of Hatfield station every moving above the surface. day, it was important that water within a site. Soft SuDS are mandated that flooding shouldn’t just improvements didn’t pose Quick and easy installation ideal for holding back water for later be something to accept and react to, any long-term risks to train By using StormForce release, but can take up considerable but something for which measures services, and this included merchant partner Keyline, space, often limiting their viability. should be put in place to prevent. possible disruption from the StormForce installation unexpected flooding due to team was able to complete On projects with restricted space excess rainwater. the entire installation in just and urban developments, like towns Waves of change Flooding, especially in two days, keeping disruption and cities, ‘hard’ or ‘engineered’ SuDS One major concern for contractors urban areas, is a growing to a minimum. components can work in tandem with and developers has always been problem amid the impact of Stewart McKechnie, the surface-based solutions. around: who is responsible for climate change. The UK is site agent for Nationwide experiencing more rainfall Engineering, said: “Our These components often consist the maintenance of SuDS after than ever before, with winters source supply and surface of tanks that are buried underground construction is complete. However, becoming 12% wetter in the water management are totally and are capable of supplementing the Design and Construction last decade alone. sorted, so we can get on the water storage potential offered Guidance, which came into force in Nationwide Engineering, with the rest of the build. The the engineering consultant service was fast, compliant, by the surface systems, without April 2020, categorised some SuDS managing the project, sustainable and top quality.” taking up valuable (and often simply as adoptable by water companies, needed a holistic, bespoke For more information about unavailable) room on the surface. meaning they will be accountable and effective surface water Stormwater solutions from Collected stormwater is directed for them along with traditional foul drainage system that was not Wavin visit www.wavin. through the landscaped components drainage, alleviating this concern. only intelligently designed, co.uk/stormwater. and into the tanks and then released Hatfield station’s installation was completed in two days back into the surrounding soils Ensuring a sustainable future through infiltration, collected for In recent years, there has been real reuse or released at a controlled rate progress in helping drive sustainable into the drainage network or local drainage by government bodies, watercourse. manufacturers and suppliers. With the SuDS can help significantly reduce help of the Design and Construction the risk of flooding. Not only that, Guidance, SuDS are no longer be seen but elements such as air quality, as a special consideration but instead biodiversity and water quality can also as an integral and standardised be improved, as well as the systems component of building projects. ●

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Global

He is responsible for Gleeds’ new International Dispute Advisory Group, drawing in experts from around the world to advise parties facing disputes, although he insists the group was not set up to profit from conflict, but to help bring about fair and equitable solutions. “Covid-19 really was a once-in-a- generation occurrence, and I think the industry overall has responded very well, being grown up and dealing with it because, as we’ve discovered, many contracts don’t address pandemics very well in terms of resolutions, risk allocation and available remedies,” Soffe says. “Contracts will be looked at hard over the coming years and this will have to be factored in because this probably isn’t going to be the last pandemic.”

Inconsistency among contracts He thinks big questions remain over compensability and excusability (for extended delivery) in pandemic situations. “Untested still is whether, if you’re going to be late, you can get more time and be let off the hook for liquidated and ascertained damages,” Soffe says. ‘CONTRACTS SHOULD “And, if you’re going to be late, can you also get the full suite of overheads ADDRESS PANDEMICS FAIRLY’ to cover you as well? “Those are the key issues that CHRIS SOFFE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR GLEEDS’ NEW INTERNATIONAL DISPUTE seem to arise, and different contracts ADVISORY GROUP. AS HE TELLS ROD SWEET, THERE ARE PLENTY OF BIG QUESTIONS address them differently, so there’s ABOUT CONTRACTS IN THE AGE OF PANDEMICS AND CLIMATE CHANGE inconsistency among FIDIC, the AIA and the JCT. Often the word With some 50 years in construction industry has been “grown up” Contracts need to ‘pandemic’ isn’t even mentioned. management and dispute resolution, in adapting to the pandemic. take into account “At the start of the pandemic you complex project Chris Soffe has seen a lot, but But with disputes likely to issues caused by saw a lot of analysis saying it fell into nothing like covid-19. increase in number amid the pandemics a force majeure situation, but then as Past president of the Chartered fallout, he worries that existing things went on, you had clients just Institute of Building (CIOB), forms of contract do not adequately shutting sites down because they supervisory board member at account for the complex situations thought they should, but if they were Gleeds and vice chairman of the that pandemics present to in an area where it wasn’t mandated US operation, he believes the US construction projects. by local authorities, they could be

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40_41.CMJune21.international_scW.indd 40 18/05/2021 15:09 constructionmanagermagazine.com GLOBAL

Time was the dominant issue in contractual disputes, according to 80% of the professionals surveyed by Gleeds in April 80% hit with an interference claim, which culture. In South America, especially but in silos,” he says. “The whole involves time and money. in Peru where we have a significant Zoom/Teams phenomenon helped “I’d like to see contracts address assignment, it seems they always us unite and exchange ideas and declarations of pandemics explicitly want to have a skirmish at the end share resources.” and allocate risk fairly, keeping of a project!” Soffe believes the pandemic compensability and excusability Meanwhile, the industry is bracing showed the industry to be in mind. for more claims, post pandemic. considerably more resilient than “Some big claims are still playing Gleeds surveyed UK professionals in many projected at the outset. out in courts, so we’ll have to wait April and responses showed that 54% “We knuckled down, figured out and see how particular contracts are of respondents expected a greater how to work the sites, how to get tested in relation to the pandemic, “Parties number of contractual disputes materials in, social distancing and assuming parties elect to fight it out should try and coming up, with some 80% stating testing,” he says. through the courts.” be fair and that time was the dominant issue. But looking ahead, it’s far too early reasonable “That’s why we set up the to tell what the future holds for covid Regulatory conflicts and not use International Dispute Advisory Group, and construction, Soffe says. From a contractual point of view, the covid as a not to chase claims but to try and “India and Brazil tell us the situation was made more complex in pretext to resolve them, to help sort the situation pandemic is far from over,” he reports. the USA by the country’s enormous further their out and allow the industry to move “Here in the USA, the first good patchwork of regulatory regimes. interests” on,” he says. “We very much believe vaccination push is slowing down “You had various, vague shutdowns Chris Soffe, Gleeds that both parties should try and be fair because we’re coming to the end of the called by city, county and state and reasonable and not use covid as a people who want to be vaccinated governments, sometimes clashing pretext to further their interests.” and we’re getting to the sizeable with each other, with a not particularly Soffe says Gleeds had been thinking chunk of the population who don’t. clear regulatory regime,” Soffe says, about setting up the International “So covid will continue affecting adding that the federal government Dispute Advisory Group before how we organise sites and offices. also stepped back and played the pandemic, but that covid-19 We’re following the Center for hands-off, which failed to give clarity. accelerated its establishment. Disease Control’s guidelines on how “Maybe because of that, somewhat “For years we’ve had Gleeds to organise events and offices for surprisingly, the response of the people working on significant both vaccinated and unvaccinated sector here in the US has not been disputes all over the world, groups, and it’s quite complex.” very litigious,” he reasons. “On many projects, teams sat down, rolled up their sleeves and hammered out ‘The polluter pays’: contracts and climate change agreements. Most people over here Chris Soffe and Gleeds’ new disasters be seen as acts of god, know disputes cost so much money International Dispute Advisory Group or acts of people? when they get going. also have an eye on how climate change “Think of the fires that ripped “In one project we worked on, will affect construction litigation. through California and Australia. where there were delays and material “One thing that interests me is Plenty of active construction projects the potential for climate change to will have been halted and severely shortages, the team got round the be a leading cause of disputes, based impacted because of them. Then there table and agreed the contractor could on the principle of ‘polluter pays’,” are hurricanes, tsunamis and more have several more weeks, but not he says. “Will climate-related tornadoes to consider.” more money. A lot of people adopted that solution, which made sense because nobody had been subjected to this situation before. “There are different cultures around the world when it comes to disputes. In the Middle East, covid exacerbated an already quite litigious

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Legal

to traffic emissions in excess of World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines Construction projects and air quality – five key questions Helen Mitcheson and “air pollution was a significant Trowers & Hamlins contributory factor to both the induction 1 Is the proposed 4 In terms of the and exacerbation of her asthma”. She development in an Air scheme design, became the first person in the UK to have air Quality Management where will the Clearing the air pollution listed as a direct cause of death. Area or a Clean Air sources of air In April 2021, the coroner’s ‘Report to Prevent Zone? If so, the pollution be located? Increasing air quality risks and developer must show If the development Future Deaths’ said the government should set a wave of impending legislation it is consistent with introduces new could change how the built legally binding targets for particulate matter the local Air Quality sources, such as environment sector operates, in line with WHO recommendations. Action Plan, as set incinerators or out in the National heating and cooling writes Helen Mitcheson In March 2021, the Court of Justice of the European Union (the ECJ) held that the UK Planning Policy systems, where Framework. could they be had not complied with the ambient air quality 2 What will be located to mitigate limits of the EU Air Quality Directive, had the likely impact impact? “systematically and persistently” exceeded of the proposed 5 Given the the annual limits for nitrogen dioxide in development, given likelihood of air any recent air quality quality impacts from major urban areas since 2010, and had failed monitoring data? all new development, to take action to ensure limit values were For example, is the how might these be Recent judgements and policies have exceeded for the shortest period possible. development likely offset, or even used brought air quality to the fore and are The UK government is therefore under to lead to changes as an opportunity likely to have a significant impact on the pressure to improve air quality. The in vehicle-related to improve air emissions in its quality, whether construction industry. Environment Bill sets out new legal frameworks, immediate vicinity through construction In late 2020, London Inner South Coroner’s including for air pollution. It also establishes or further afield? management and Court concluded that poor air quality near a watchdog – the Office for Environmental 3 Throughout the logistics plans, Ella Kissi-Debrah’s home made a “material Protection – to hold public bodies to account. construction phase, traffic and travel what will be the management contribution” to her death, aged nine, in 2013. The bill, currently deferred until autumn impact of heavy strategies or Kissi-Debrah lived close to the South 2021, will require the government to set air goods vehicles and provision of greener Circular Road in Lewisham and the coroner’s quality targets for fine particulate matter machinery? infrastructure? inquest recorded that she had been exposed by October 2022. This has prompted much

criticism, as there is no legally binding target set in the bill itself, only a target to set a target. Future development schemes and infrastructure projects will have to be considered against these targets, plus the backdrop of the inquest into Kissi-Debrah’s death, and a growing body of human rights law that remains unaffected by Brexit. Construction projects will need to navigate an increasingly complex web of air quality legislation and policies, which will have to take place at an early stage (see box). The current momentum around air quality is not likely to dissipate, particularly when the eyes of the world focus on the UK and COP26 in November. Helen Mitcheson is a solicitor at Trowers & Hamlins.

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Careers

second year running, and have recently “The industry can’t be What’s it like working at… been placed in the Times’ Top 50 Employers sustained for the future Willmott Dixon for Women, for the third consecutive year. if it doesn’t represent Other important benchmarks include being all of society. Our people awarded a Platinum Investors in People want to work for a Topping the polls standard and having a Best Companies company that takes a Willmott Dixon consistently three-star accreditation for extraordinary leadership position on the key issues” places in the top five of the levels of people engagement. Rick Lee, Willmott Dixon Sunday Times Top 100 companies to work for. Chief people officer How do you develop staff? Rick Lee, who was made an OBE We hold one-to-one meetings regularly to company over the next five to 15 years. The this year for services to business discuss development. Our learning team good thing about the programme is that it’s and equality, tells CM why has converted courses online and added open to our supply chain too. new courses on technical issues and We have rolled out flexible working leadership topics which can be accessed across the company and we have introduced anywhere, at any time. a home working allowance this year. We also have a personal learning We aim to create an inclusive culture. fund. People who have reached five Our conscious inclusion campaign is years’ service receive £750 to spend on called ‘If in doubt call it out’. We empower vocational or non-vocational learning. people on site and the office to call out any Past examples include people learning to inappropriate or insensitive behaviour. sky dive, to play the piano, to learn ballet We have demonstrated how best to do that or calligraphy. sensitively in different circumstances. We are getting our men to act as agents How important are professional of change too. qualifications, such as CIOB membership, The Financial Times diversity leadership for your staff? list scored by its readers voted us the Membership of the CIOB is not only highest performing construction company beneficial for networking and keeping in the UK for two years running. skills fresh but it demonstrates a high We are also working with the CIOB level of confidence in the competence on a diversity and inclusion (D&I) report. of our people. And that assurance is We want to be proactive, to push the agenda independently assessed: in our research, across the whole industry. The industry 80% of our customers rate our people can’t be sustained for the future if it doesn’t nine out of 10 or higher, and they highly represent all of society. Our people want to value the professionalism of our people. work for a company that takes a leadership position on the key issues. How are you trying to boost diversity? Apprentice India Cormack on site in Barking In the construction industry as a whole How do you look after staff wellbeing? only 13% are women but at Willmott Dixon We have a number of benefits. We What are your USPs as an employer? that figure is 27%. We have an ambitious launched Thrive, an NHS -approved app to We care about our people. We want them diversity target to have a 50:50 male/ support people’s wellbeing. We offer free to start and end their careers with us. Our female workforce by 2030. health checks and employees have access purpose as a business is for our people to We have launched a Women’s to a ‘virtual GP’ 24/7. live well and work well. We like to have that Leadership Development programme, We have 300 mental health first aiders independently verified: Rick Willmott was developed by Cambridge University, as and we also introduced wellbeing time: voted people-focused CEO of the Year by HR part of our aspiration to achieve gender one hour in the middle of the day which is magazine; we came top among UK contractors parity. It’s aimed at nurturing a new blocked-out time, when no meetings are in the 2020 FT Diversity Leaders list, for the generation of women leaders for our allowed to be booked. ●

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The new era of statutory control Construction professionals will soon face a tougher regulatory backdrop, writes Christine Gausden

What prompted you to strike out on your Fundamental changes to Job spotlight legislation are pending by own? It’s risky but rewarding? Sajedah Maka-Ismail virtue of the draft Building Managing director, Miles Consult & Construct Absolutely! After the death of my father in Safety Bill. Together with the 2019, I met my husband. Soon after getting existing Fire Safety Bill and married, I decided to give up my work to fire safety consultation, this bill will improve building and fire safety, leading to safer focus on the care of my disabled mother occupancy. These changes are important to and married life. be aware of as they will have an impact on I have always wanted to start up on my our industry and affect how we build and own, but I never had the confidence. I still maintain our buildings. wanted to excel in my career, so I built a Those responsible for the safety of residents will be accountable for errors and team of 10 support workers to help with the will need to adapt quickly or face serious round-the-clock care for my mother. consequences. My husband was the inspiration to set up The building safety regulator will be Miles Consult & Construct. He has been a overseeing safety and standards of all buildings, especially those deemed higher great support in the drive to make my dream risk, and they will seek to improve the into a reality. competence of responsible parties managing It has its ups and downs, but you learn and overseeing works. High-rise residential from your mistakes and, as the business is so buildings will be subject to a more stringent young, there is still a lot of work to put into set of rules with more clarity as to who is responsible for managing risk and enabling it. It is a case of getting the word out and the ‘golden thread’ of information, gathered promoting the business. over the life of a building. Going solo Amendments to the existing Fire Safety In 2013 you told CM you wanted to see Order will include unlimited fines for anyone Sajedah Maka-Ismail graduated in obstructing or impersonating a fire inspector building surveying in 2001. She joined the industry work harder to become more and the requirement for fire risk assessments Lancashire County Council, rising to diverse. Do you feel it has made progress? to be recorded for all buildings and district surveyor and then moving into What more would you like to see happen? undertaken by a ‘competent’ professional. It’s worth noting that another change project management. In February this There have been some amazing changes made but progress has been slower than coming – albeit quite slowly – is in the form year she started her own business, of two standards: the Future Homes Standard Miles Consult & Construct anticipated. The industry is trying extremely and the Future Buildings Standard. Both hard to bring diversity to the forefront of outline plans to address and find solutions employment and skills though and I have for reducing carbon emissions within the Describe a typical day in your job noticed a dramatic improvement in the Middle built environment by almost a third. They will enable the provision of more efficient I start my day checking emails. Some East, especially in Dubai at the Expo this year. domestic and non-domestic buildings, days can be spent only responding to I would love to see more events being held in futureproof our buildings and seek to emails, which can feel unproductive but the UK like the Expo, with ambassadors from enhance the wider environment. it determines my focus and how I plan. diverse areas and backgrounds. It is critical to understand the implications I will have at least three to four meetings I would love to see the government of these changes, to be aware of these requirements and to be prepared for any planned for the day – either on site or on provide funds and support smaller firms to changes required before they come into force. Teams, with contractors or clients – to promote diversity. This would allow them As someone who teaches the next generation discuss schemes or briefs. to raise awareness and set up training and of construction professionals, I welcome these I will aim to spend at least an hour or coaching programmes. ● changes and I am supportive of any action which will make our buildings safer and two producing marketing material and better managed. I would urge anyone reading posting on social media, which plays a this, who works within the built environment, big part in any new business. to educate yourself as to these changes. Having my own business means Christine Gausden is the new MSc I have the flexibility to check on my mum, Construction Management programme leader at University College of Estate Management who is disabled. Hundreds of the best jobs in construction. (UCEM). To find out more about her I will wind my day down by updating my Recruitment news and insight. programme visit www.ucem.ac.uk. diary and completing my ‘to do list’. www.constructionmanagerjobs.co.uk

46 | CONSTRUCTION MANAGER JUNE 2021

44_46.CMJune21.careers_scW.indd 46 18/05/2021 15:18 Get a global view of the built environment

Global Construction Review tracks the complex flows of money, ideas and talent to provide a world view of the built environment business.

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CIOB Community

Awards in progress during the period from January 2020 to date, providing CMYA introduces examples of the latest best practice in construction project two new categories implementation or planned implementation. Clients and teams will be recognised Team of the Year is open for the first time in the 2021 awards to teams comprising a minimum of three persons and must operate within the built environment. The “The CIOB team is to be working for a single Awards have organisational entity. been an The award is open to all UK-based important teams. The nominated team can have part of the worked for a CMYA entrant company construction (this year or previous years) and leadership and the judges will look at achievements management deserving of recognition that have landscape for been made during the period from more than January 2020 to date. 40 years” Caroline Gumble, CEO of the Caroline Gumble, CIOB, said: “The CIOB Awards CEO, CIOB have been an important part of the construction leadership and management landscape for more than 40 years now. I’m therefore delighted that we are opening up the awards to highlight and celebrate STEPHEN L SCRASE L STEPHEN the achievements of more of the The CIOB has introduced two new The Client of the Year award is talent in our sector and now able to categories for the 2021 Construction for organisations that have led the acknowledge more of the innovation Manager of the Year Awards (CMYA), commissioning of construction and best practice taking place following the new Rising Star Award projects. It is open to all UK-based across the UK.” category in 2020. organisations. The nominated The deadline for these categories ‘Client of the Year’ and ‘Team of organisation can be a client is Friday 18 June 2021. They are free the Year’ will make their debut at of a CMYA entrant company (this to enter and open to members and the CMYA ceremony at London’s year or previous years), and non-members. ● JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel submitted evidence will be for To nominate, please see here: on 29 September 2021. project(s) procured or project(s) www.cmya.co.uk/ciob-awards.

Election The CIOB Board of Trustees’ CANDIDATE VOTES highest votes are deemed election results for 2021 have been Craig Battye FCIOB 1,940 elected from the close of the AGM. Three new CIOB announced. All votes have now Jamie Strathearn MCIOB 1,585 Craig Battye, Jamie Strathearn and been verified and counted. Ian Brant FCIOB 1,561 Ian Brant accepted the positions Trustees elected A total of 3,350 voters took Jean Stevens-Duprez FCIOB 1,334 and will be duly elected to the Board part (15.2% of the electorate), with Phillip Beaumont FCIOB 1,258 of Trustees for tenure of three years no spoilt papers. Each voter was from the close of the AGM. Battye, Strathearn and Brant able to cast a maximum of three In accordance with the Bye-Laws, The AGM takes place on 23 June to take up roles on 23 June votes. The results are as follows: the three candidates with the 2021, at a time to be confirmed.

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Ireland Sector may fail to meet demand

Story for Community? Email Nicky Roger Report explores problems [email protected] facing the Irish industry

Heritage practice, retrofit standards, science When covid restrictions end and building is finally allowed to Conservation conference and the latest research. recommence, Irish construction may Sarah Staniforth CBE, president not be ready to meet the pent-up highlights climate challenge emeritus at the International Institute demand. This is one of the themes for Conservation of Historic and Artistic explored in a new report entitled April’s CIOB virtual event showcased the Job Quality in the Irish Construction Works and an English Heritage Trustee, best in thinking around heritage issues Sector, produced by TASC, the Think- showed how the impact of climate tank for Action on Social Change, in change can be hard to anticipate. partnership with the CIOB. She discussed how heritage The report points to the sector’s organisations have shifted from a boom and bust cycle as a root cause of many of the problems it faces in focus on protection from fires to a areas including productivity, labour focus on flood events, and reflected shortages and job stability. This, that recent experiences are, however, it suggests, could have serious seen as learning opportunities, rather implications for Ireland’s house and infrastructural building strategies – than losses or disasters. leading to increases in house prices Rob Woodside, conservation and and delays in provision in other areas. estates director at English Heritage, Earnings in the Irish construction said that it feels like English Heritage is industry are, on average, good and in the eye of the storm with the recent construction is good for social mobility, according to the report. Pay April’s CIOB Conservation Conference Above from left: collapse of part of the wall of Hurst is close to, but still below, the national was a success, with more than 300 Charlotte Morley, Castle near Lymington, Hampshire, average – putting Ireland slightly people joining the virtual event. Rob Woodside and built in Tudor times by Henry VIII. above most other EU countries. Sarah Staniforth The conference, on the theme of Charlotte Morley, sustainability However, there are significant Below: The wall variations between occupational Balancing Heritage and Sustainability, collapse at Hurst manager at Sir Robert McAlpine, the groups. Professionals like engineers, explored achievements in sustainable Castle, Lymington event’s sponsor, gave an overview of architects and directors are, as a construction in the heritage sector some of the challenges and positives group, very well paid in Ireland while and the future of environmental of working on historic buildings and less-skilled manual workers are paid performance of heritage and heritage refurbishments, while also below EU norms. The report also finds that traditional building stock. Speakers picking up on how it can be part of a solo self-employment remains a from different fields showcased best package of best practice. significant issue, accounting for one in five construction workers, double the rate of the rest of the economy. “The reputation for cyclicality in the construction industry in Ireland is holding back the sector and its output,” said Joseph Kilroy, Ireland policy and public affairs manager with the CIOB. “Historically career guidance counsellors have been reluctant to send students into the sector due to its unpredictability, leading to a shortage in professional and craft skills and a lack of diversity in the sector,” he explained. “Compare this with countries like Germany, for example, where there is positive emphasis on the value of trades and practical work. We have to tackle job quality and stability if we want the sector to be able to deliver on future demands.”

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Networking Karting fun in Kent Maidstone Novus calls for entries for the return of its annual friendly competition event in September

Maidstone Novus will be hosting its popular Kent Construction Karting Cup on 23 September. This annual competition will take place at the Bayford Meadows Karting Circuit in Sittingbourne, considered to be one of the leading competition kart circuits in the country. The evening networking event involves friendly competition with colleagues on one of the UK’s premier outdoor floodlit kart circuits. Australia The competition is an endurance race, with entries from individuals or Members down under teams of three very welcome. A meal will be served between races. Thanks get on board Sydney Metro are given to event sponsor Teampol. To book, contact Beverley Lawrence Laing O’Rourke demonstrates its work on new metro at [email protected] or online platforms beneath Sydney’s busiest rail station at events.ciob.org.

CIOB members were treated to an aspects of an infrastructure build, Above: CIOB exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of sustainability, design for manufacture members visit Laing O’Rourke’s Sydney Central Metro Station with and assembly (DfMA) and heritage work in progress Laing O’Rourke in the spring. restoration. Safety must also remain As part of the Sydney Metro, paramount for customers using the Australia’s biggest public transport Sydney Central rail station. ● project with 31 stations, the build has Find out more about the project many complex facets, encompassing at www.sydneymetro.info.

Election Stacey Clasper, a trainee Women in Construction. Novus is technician with Henry Boot, has also working with G4C on a two- New Novus chair been elected as the new chair of part webinar series with Sheffield the Sheffield Novus group. City Council. for Sheffield Clasper (left) has already begun “I am really pleased to have her work as chair by organising an been voted in,” said Clasper. “I’m event in collaboration with G4C, looking forward to the committee interviewing BBC’s The Apprentice working together arranging Stacey Clasper finalist Michaela Wain about her webinars and CPD events. We takes up the reins career path and her work for have a really exciting year ahead!”

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Abdul-Majeed Mahamadu Meet a member Abdul-Majeed Mahamadu, senior lecturer, University of the West of England

Contract installation of the replacement Why did you choose cladding system. ASD’s design CBC secures construction complements the existing material EVENT as a career? high-rise while achieving full compliance. SHINES Simply because Mark Hennessey, managing LIGHT ON of my immense cladding contract interest in building director with ASD Build, said: “This DIGITAL TWIN ‘things’. I found that it offered ASD Build will supply cladding for is the first social HRRB building in me the opportunity to contribute residential towers in Cardiff Bay Wales to receive support as part of Do you know to the building of facilities and what digital twin the UK Building Safety Bill and we infrastructure which make a difference modelling is? Do Chartered Building Company are extremely pleased to have been to society and environment by you know how a supporting the way we live. ASD Build has been awarded a £2m entrusted to deliver this contract. digital twin can be used within an contract for remediation cladding “The backbone of ASD Build’s DNA You have made BIM your area organisation? works across two high-rise social is professionalism; it’s what we strive of expertise. Why? Mark Arnold, My interest developed while housing buildings in Cardiff Bay. for every day. High specification head of technical undertaking a PhD study into BIM ASD Build has been appointed products are perfect for us to strategic assets at implementation within the supply Thirteen Group, will by Cardiff Community Housing implement our high technical ability chains of some major construction deliver an overview Association (CCHA) to replace in design and build. firms in the UK. This revealed to me of the concept of a the great potential of BIM from case existing timber cladding on Aquila “It’s what we are renowned for and digital twin, and the studies of early adopters including House and Galleon House – both justifies our role in the construction different methods BAM Nuttall and Laing O’Rourke. ● that can be used over 18m in height. industry as a reputable contractor.” Furthermore, my personal desire to develop it, on RSL organisation CCHA was is to be part of the construction 23 June from 1-2pm. transformation agenda which hinges awarded £2.6m in a capital grant Arnold will on digitisation and automation, both of from the Welsh government’s High “The backbone of explain the benefits which are facilitated by BIM. Rise Residential Building (HRRB) ASD Build’s DNA is and restrictions of professionalism; it’s what each format and the Safety Fund, which enabled it to What changes would you like to see potential uses within engage with ASD Build to deliver the we strive for every day” in the industry? an organisation. He Mark Hennessey, ASD Build contract over 12 months. will be joined by Dan I would love to see a more inclusive Delivery will include an Riley, founder and and diverse construction workforce especially in terms of gender. Some insured contractor’s design to full CEO of Spearhead Interactive to of my recent research and innovation give a practical projects have also highlighted demonstration of continued reliance on traditional and the T2 model they inefficient approaches to production have developed in in construction when compared to partnership. other industries. Register for the My belief is that construction event online at should evolve through the adoption CIOB Events. of more automation and digitisation underpinned by effective and real-time data mining for performance monitoring. Central to this will be adoption of BIM and robotics as well as personalised and wearable computing towards a more smart and safe construction site.

What do you do in your spare time? I love to travel and watch documentaries from a wide range of topics from science to nature. I am also a keen follower of international ASD Build will install football and also enjoy playing the cladding for basketball and cycling in nature. Aquila House

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Education Course CIOB coaching Penrith garden is course delivers still growing strong management skills Pupils worked on A CIOB school project set up in 2001 keeps on Brunswick Road Dave Stitt’s techniques teaching pupils about the environment Primary’s Jungle promote staff engagement Theme Garden A sustainability project funded and The CIOB has launched a organised by the CIOB 20 years ago unique new has passed its test of time by still management going strong today. course for young Ian Johnstone, then vice-chair of construction the Cumbria and Lancashire Branch professionals. Coach for was involved with the creation of a Results, created by CIOB Fellow sustainable ‘Jungle Theme’ garden Dave Stitt, is delivered via the for Brunswick Road Primary School in CIOB Academy. Penrith in 2001. The initiative set out The flexible 10-week course teaches how to incorporate to connect industry and community, coaching techniques into raise the profile of the CIOB and environmentalist Dr David Bellamy management style – enabling support the schoolchildren’s learning. and a few weeks later CIOB’s then people in a leadership role (or With pupils forming project president, Professor John Bale, MASTER’S heading for one) to become more management teams, the space enabled visited to hear from children, DEGREES effective managers and to guide GET CIOB teams to better results. them to understand the environment teachers and volunteers about the ACCREDITED “I believe the command-and- and its delicate balances though a stimulus the project had created and STATUS control model, in which I was range of learning objectives. how the garden was being used. Two courses at steeped as a young project manager, It also allowed the CIOB to show Some 20 years later, the garden increases stress, stifles initiative Queen’s University and erodes engagement, with students, parents, teachers and others continues to look great and is part of Belfast have negative consequences for people something about how the construction the long-term curriculum. achieved CIOB and productivity,” says Stitt. industry improves and sustains the “The school staff have confirmed accredited status. “A coaching approach fosters Construction and environment, as well as the knowledge the project an educational success, Project Management engagement, excitement and and skills the industry requires, the and it was a real joy for all of us initiative as people take control HLA and BIM Project of their performance and grow in job opportunities it presents, the who helped to realise it,” says Management HLA confidence.” challenges it faces and how those are Johnstone. “It has proved to be a truly master’s programmes can now be used by See Dave Stitt’s blog at met through teamwork. sustainable project, and along the http://orlo.uk/nqnmW for more detail. graduates as part of The Jungle Theme Garden project way it has helped to raise the profile of their route to was officially opened by television the CIOB in Cumbria.” ● become MCIOB.

Learning CIOB Leeds, Sheffield and York Education Team and the Inspiring learned from the pandemic,” said joined together in April to host their Tomorrow’s Leaders project. They Kat Seymour from the CIOB. CIOB Yorkshire first Education Forum. also offered their opinions on how “Attendees had a chance to holds first Nine education institutes, the CIOB locally is working with network in smaller groups and including CIOB-accredited them and areas where the industry discuss how blended learning is education forum universities and local colleges, joined and the institute can improve. working. Following this session, we together for a virtual meeting with “The conversations were lively will be looking at a more joined-up committee members and local staff. and inspiring and provided a clear approach to our guest lecturing and University and college The forum provided a chance for vision of construction education employer/education links.” representatives meet up to colleges and universities to hear across the county, including where The next forum is planned for discuss new approaches about developments from the CIOB we are going next and lessons the autumn term.

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The research project is based at the Thomas Ashton Institute, University of Manchester

team is working with the CIOB and welcomes members’ participation. The work is conducted by Dr Richard CIOB GETS Kirkham, past chair of the Liverpool ACTIVE ON CIOB Hub, Dr William Collinge MCIOB, STRAVA lecturer in project management, CIOB members and and Professor Neil Bourne. staff keen on keeping fit and active and The research focused on five key want to make new workstreams identified through connections can engagement with HSE and industry join the CIOB virtual stakeholders: transmission of fitness club on the popular Strava covid-19; the use of technology as a platform. shield; data and simulation to model By joining you transmission on sites; leadership; and can log your cycling, construction project delivery. running swimming (or other) activity and Evidence was collected in the form help support other of survey and interview data gathered members along the from four principal contractor way. It is free to join organisations. the club: http://orlo. uk/ojQWh. The study revealed six global Coronavirus themes and 18 sub-themes that highlight practical challenges facing Manchester covid research the sector as it prepares for the reopening of the UK economy. welcomes member views The six areas are: the context of the construction sector; organisational Tier 2 and 3 contracting organisations and clients culture; communication; best safety will be focus of second phase of research practice and technology use; contractual partnerships; and multilevel challenges CIOB members from the University union and HSE inspectors to inform in responding to covid-19. ● of Manchester have investigated the the covid-19 National Core Studies Keeping the UK Building Safely was impact of the covid-19 pandemic on programme led by the government about to be published as Construction the UK construction sector. chief scientist, Sir Patrick Vallance. Manager went to press. If you would Their research report – Keeping the The research focused on tier 1 like to receive a copy, contact ashton@ UK Building Safely – brings together contracting organisations but the manchester.ac.uk. If you are interested evidence of the pandemic’s impact, next phase will involve detailed in contributing to the second phase experiences of contractor and client studies on tier 2 and 3 contracting of the research contact the team at responses and views from a trade organisations and their clients. The [email protected].

Research Work from two CIOB student ‘interesting questions’, according members has been singled out by to Bill Rowland, programme leader Members raise their course leader from the CIOB HNC and BSc Construction. accredited University Centre at The research covers consistency interesting building Blackburn College. with planning and rural barns, and Brandon Allison and Andrew inconsistencies in the application control questions Beardsworth, both building control of the approved documents when officers completing their BSc in dealing with fire safety in loft Blackburn dissertations Building Surveying part time, have conversions. It is available to view singled out for praise produced dissertations that raise online from the end of May.

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Below: The school is Scotland’s largest to be built with a CLT frame Below right: Sustainable materials in the school interior

a four-court games hall and an “For me, the success of any external multi-use games area. construction project rests not All construction works were only with quality, cost and carried out while the school on-time delivery, but how well remained operational – with modular the building performs and the accommodation, situated on the impact on its occupants” former playing fields, providing Finlay Black, Robertson additional classrooms. The school’s design was changed from a steel frame with precast the excellent relationships formed concrete/lightweight steel infill panels carrying over into phase two. to a hybrid glulam and CLT frame after “Phase two is due to complete in the consultation with the council. coming months, with the pupils already Black says: “We reduced the enjoying their new modern school, ” project’s whole-life carbon by says Black. “For me, the success of any 60% – compared with the original construction project rests not only design. This resulted in lighter with quality, cost and on-time delivery, foundations (supporting reduced but how well the building performs

SCHOOL PHOTOS: JOHN PAUL PHOTOGRAPHY JOHN PAUL PHOTOS: SCHOOL embodied carbon), an improved and the impact on its occupants. project programme, better thermal He adds: “A school environment Me and my project performance, and a superior should always improve the quality internal environment.” of life for its occupants and by taking Making the grade The project generated just pride in our individual and collective 437kgCO e/m2 of embodied carbon inputs along with delivering high Robertson’s Finlay Black led the build of Merkinch 2 over its life cycle, exceeding the quality work, we have produced a Primary School and Family Centre – Scotland’s target metrics for non-domestic successful delivery. largest sustainable school build buildings set by the RIBA Sustainable “This project hasn’t been without its Outcomes Guide for 2030. challenges, working in a live education “The site also achieved an environment and throughout Robertson – one of the largest outstanding target of zero waste the pandemic with covid-19 Safe family-owned construction, to landfill through donating excess Operating Procedures in place, but infrastructure and support services materials to local startup companies seeing the delight on pupils’ faces businesses in the UK – has delivered and partnering with Northern when they entered the new facility the new £16.7m Merkinch Primary Recycling Solutions so waste and when we gifted each pupil a new School in Inverness. materials that could not be recycled school t-shirt to mark completion It is the first school in the Highlands, were converted into energy through makes it all worthwhile.” ● and largest school in Scotland, to thermal and biological means, or Finlay Black is operations manager be built using a cross-laminated Black: Pupils’ delight used in landscaping,” he explains. at Robertson. makes it worthwhile timber frame (CLT), which is Now in phase two, the former more sustainable than traditional school building, a Category B listed construction methods. Project team Victorian building built in 1876, Procured through Scape Scotland Location: is currently being refurbished to Inverness, Scotland for The Highland Council, the project provide a new dining hall and family Project manager: is being delivered in two phases. In Finlay Black, centre for the wider Merkinch phase one, the new-build school has Robertson community. A covered walkway links been created adjacent to the existing Client: The the two buildings. Highland Council primary school and includes 14 new “There has been a culture of Value: £16.7m classrooms, ancillary teaching area, Programme: collaboration and transparency from three-room nursery, nurture rooms, 86-week the beginning of this project with

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CM Community June21_scW.indd 56 17/05/2021 18:22 Hundreds of the best jobs in construction. Recruitment news and insight. Employers seeking CIOB members.

www.constructionmanagerjobs.co.uk

59.ads.CMSept20.cmjobs.indd 27 17/08/2020 18:00 CIOB COMMUNITY constructionmanagermagazine.com

of mental health, spotting the routes to Chartered Membership Hub chair Adam Crichton, who will be Diary dates early warning signs and the role of and the support available to help you joined by speakers James Laughlin, mental health first aiders – as well get there, plus the further tools and regional director at SDS; Katherine Highlights of the CIOB as how to get involved. resources available to you. Archer, business support manager, Calendar for the coming Contact: [email protected] South regional manager Julie SDS; Rob Faro, director, TClarke; Putman will be joined by committee and James Hannaford, commercial month. All events are Modern Approach to members of the CIOB South hubs to manager, Ward Williams Associates. online webinars unless Construction Design answer any questions. The speakers will take you on a otherwise stated 15 June, 12.30-1.30pm Contact: [email protected] journey through how this amazing We are now familiar with the project was completed and there knowledge that the built environment Routes to Chartered will also be a Q&A session. Promoting Mental Health and is a 40% contributor to the climate Membership, Leeds Contact: [email protected] Wellbeing on Site, Sussex and ecological crisis we witness 22 June, 1-2pm 8 June, 6-7pm unfolding around us. Have you recently graduated or are Specifying Sustainable Join a live webinar to learn about Against this backdrop, Martin you graduating soon? Are you a Concrete, Leeds the Sussex Wellness Action Group Brown, founder of sustainability young professional or an experienced 29 June, 1-2pm (SWAG) and what you can do to consultancy Fairsnape, will explore professional looking to become Join us for a one-hour webinar support the mental health and how design and construction chartered with a professional body? with Elaine Toogood, the head of wellbeing of the workers on your sites. can contribute in the climate and Join us for a one-hour webinar architecture at the Concrete Centre. Supported by many main ecological emergency and become where we discuss the benefits of This seminar will provide guidance contractors, subcontractors and 40% of the solution rather than becoming a Chartered Member for specifying sustainable concrete consultants, SWAG is a charity in remaining 40% of the problem. of the CIOB and the pathways including design and construction the community set up in order to This session will explore the shift available to help you achieve this. considerations for buildings with low support a consistent approach to in approach that will be necessary as Through this webinar you will gain whole-life carbon. mental health and wellbeing on well as the frameworks that allow us an understanding of the Professional This will include responsible local construction sites. to move to a built environment that is Review process and the Professional sourcing, use of low-carbon cements, Although SWAG was originally set not only sustainable but socially just, Development Programme and will recycled aggregates, and tips for up for companies in the Sussex area, ecologically robust and culturally rich. be able to decide which pathway is achieving material efficiency. it has generated interest from other Contact: [email protected] most suited to your needs. The webinar will also include a areas and any construction company Contact: [email protected] summary of how these strategies, is welcome to get involved. South Region: Welcome combined with use of thermal mass, During the webinar, founders Introduction to the CIOB The Nightingale Hospital can assist with scoring credits in Jason Wickenden, operations 21 June, 6-7pm Exeter – Design and Build, Exeter BREEAM New Construction. director for Chartered Building Are you a new member of the CIOB? 23 June, 4-5.30pm Contact: [email protected] Company Cheesmur, and Ian Pickard, Come along and join our welcome to This CPD looks into the recent build managing director of IDP Safety the South Region and find out about of the Nightingale Hospital, Exeter. For a full list of events and to Services, will cover the importance the benefits of joining as well as the The event will be hosted by Exeter register visit events.ciob.org.

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JUNE 2021 JUNE 2021 For members of the CIOB [email protected] Subscription team: The contents of this magazine are constructionmanagermagazine.com | WWW.CONSTRUCTIONMANAGERMAGAZINE.COM Associate editor: Tel: 01293 312160 Or go online at: copyright. Reproduction in part or in Neil Gerrard http://construction manager. full is forbidden without permission of [email protected] imbmsubscriptions.com the editor. The opinions expressed by Production editor: Sarah Cutforth Or write to us at the address below: writers of signed articles (even with Art editor: Heather Rugeley Construction Manager pseudonyms) and letters appearing NET ZERO SKILLS Community editor: Nicky Roger Published for the Chartered Institute in the magazine are those of their [email protected] of Building by Atom Media Partners, respective authors, and neither Advertising manager: 3 Waterhouse Square, 138 Holborn, the CIOB, Atom Media Partners nor Dave Smith London EC1N 2SW Construction Manager is responsible [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)20 7490 5595 for these opinions or statements. Key account manager: The editor will give careful Tom Peardon construction-manager@ consideration to material submitted NET ZERO SKILLS [email protected] atompublishing.co.uk – articles, photographs, drawings TRAINING PROVISION NOT ADEQUATE, SAY CM READERS Credit control: Eva Rugeley and so on – but does not undertake

WATES’S ZERO CARBON HOMES | BAM TACKLES FEMALE SAFETY | THE FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION FUEL [email protected] Editorial advisory board responsibility for damage or their safe 01.CMJune21.CoveroptionsV2.indd 1 18/05/2021 15:26 Managing director: Mark Beard FCIOB, Ann Bentley, return. Printed by Precision Colour Stephen Quirke Peter Caplehorn, Ian Eggers, Printing. All rights in the magazine, [email protected] Harvey Francis, Professor Jacqui Glass including copyright, content and Circulation: Net average 30,887 FCIOB, Shelagh Grant, Paul Morrell, design, are owned by CIOB and/or Audit period: July 2019 to June 2020 James Pellatt, Richard Saxon, Phil Wade Atom Media Partners. ISSN 1360 3566

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