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Month: January 2022

We are pleased to announce that Nationwide Platforms has become the latest Partner of the Supply Chain Sustainability School

Nationwide Platforms has taken the next step in their sustainability journey and has joined the School as a Partner and to collaborate with their colleagues and drive sustainability across the built environment supply chain.

The School is delighted to welcome Nationwide Platforms on board and look forward to working with them.

Our Partner organisations are committed to building sustainability skills and knowledge across the industry. This will help us to safeguard the future of the UK’s built environment and ensure that it is fairer, greener, and more robust.

The School is committed to working alongside our Partners to support us all in our objective to “build back better”.

Find out more:

Top stories

Scrap apprenticeship levy to get more people into green building jobs, Lords urge Government

The House of Lords’ Built Environment Committee is warning the UK Government that its approach to housebuilding is out of kilter with national commitments on levelling up and the environment, and that key ambitions won’t be realised without better support for training and education.

Find out more >>

Lords report calls for action on removing housing barriers

The government must “take action” to remove barriers to housebuilding if it wishes to meet its target of 300,000 new homes a year, according to the House of Lords Built Environment Committee.

Read more >>

Defra seeks views on biodiversity net gain requirements

The government is inviting comments on it plans to make developers deliver a ‘biodiversity net gain’ with anything they build.

Take a look >>

 

February’s featured topic: Fairness, Inclusion and Respect

The Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) programme is an industry-wide initiative that aims to make workplaces better for everyone.

As a sector, we need to embrace FIR in order to attract, recruit, train and retain the skills to address the industry-wide skills shortage. Homebuilder clients and developers are increasingly expecting their supply chain partners to work with them to achieve this. Take a look at some of the key resources available to support you on this:

Equality, Diversity And Inclusion Policy Template

Simple document for small businesses to use to get started writing their EDI policy.

Get started >>

CIPD Good Work Index

The CIPD Good Work Index provides an annual snapshot of job quality in the UK, giving insight to drive improvement to working lives. Measures of GDP and employment rates are important, but we also need to understand whether the jobs we have are good or poor and how they can be improved.

Take a look >>

Developing A Diversity Communication Strategy

Communication is absolutely vital. It’s not about communicating in singular ways or even one-way communication. It is about ensuring that it is inclusive, it’s diverse, that you’re thinking about people.

Find out more >>

 

Upcoming Virtual Training:

Eliminating Waste & Delivering Social Value – Case Study Lunch ‘n’ Learn

A 1 hour case study Lunch ‘n’ Learn with PPE and workwear supplier Mathias and Sons on how they have implemented various sustainability initiatives to reduce waste and deliver social value.

Register now >>

Supply Chain Risk, Resilience & Capacity – Lunch ‘n’ Learn

This 1 hour session will provide you with an overview of supplier resilience and capacity issues, and help you understand how to mitigate it.

Register now >>

Offsite and Net-Zero

This past month has seen progress in linking Offsite construction and decarbonisation, with new standards for social housing in Wales favouring MMC and use of local timber being announced, and a new net-zero housing development at Granton Waterfront in Edinburgh given the green light. Led by the City Council, the Edinburgh Home Demonstrator project will see the construction of 75 net zero homes and three retail units, constructed offsite using a fabric-first approach including CCG ‘s ‘iQ’ Timber System.

Carbon will be a key focus for the Offsite group this year along with Social Value. Earlier this week, we were joined by John Hanscombe for a webinar discussing Akerlof’s project investigating methods to reduce the carbon impact of precast concrete. He explained how carbon was mapped along the whole lifecycle, and how 40% carbon reduction gains were achieved using techniques that could be implemented immediately by manufacturers. If you missed it, you can rewatch at the link below.

The sustainability benefits of offsite vs traditional construction are often placed centrally in arguments for the approach, but there is currently a lack of solid, up-to-date information to back this up. We’ll be hosting more webinars on the subject and reaching out to key organisations this year in order to build an evidence base. If you would like to be part of these conversations, please get in touch to discuss joining the Offsite Leadership Group.

Upcoming training sessions

  • What does Offsite mean for Site Managers? – Lunch ‘n’ Learn, Tuesday, 15 February, 1:30-2:30 PM. Register now
  • Offsite for Site Managers – Workshop, Wednesday, 16 March, 1 – 4PM. Register now
  • Exploiting Digital in Sustainable FM – Business Byte, see below

Resources recommended for you this month

If you don’t measure, you can’t manage

Complete our free self assessment to get your bespoke action plan today. The list of resources will advise you where you should focus your learning with direct links to top-quality materials.

You can also benchmark your company’s offsite maturity here.

Exploiting Digital for sustainable FM

Active Plan, Hexagon, Sunbelt Rentals, UWS

Join us on the 22nd February from 10:00am -12:00pm on Zoom Webinars at our Exploiting Digital in FM Conference. This session will examine how digital data and technologies are helping Real Estate to become more safe, productive and sustainable.

Speakers Include: Active Plan,  Hexagon,  Sunbelt Rentals and University of West Scotland & Conexa

By attending this session you will:

  • Hear from experts about the importance of good quality data in the aftermath of Grenfell
  • Understand how to simulate maintenance and safety procedures in the buildings you manage or supply to
  • Recognise what tools and innovations are ‘just around the corner’
  • Learn how to quantify the benefits and risks of digital innovations

REGISTER NOW>

Top stories

SMEs struggling to keep sustainability top of the agenda, survey finds

A survey of hundreds of UK-based SMEs has revealed a drop in the proportion positioning environmental sustainability and a priority issue in the short-term, with Covid-19 and the energy price crisis taking precedence.

Find out more >>

BAM commences work on £10m low carbon primary school in Bristol

BAM has been appointed to deliver a £10m low carbon primary school under the Southern Construction Framework (SCF). It has been designed to achieve low carbon Passivhaus standards, featuring triple glazing, solar panels, highly insulated thermal fabric and heat recovery units.

Read more >>

Prisoners to get construction training for rehabilitation

Prisoners will be trained in construction skills to help with their rehabilitation on release, as part of a new government initiative.

Take a look >>

 

JUST LAUNCHED! Sustainability for Groundworks Learning Pathway

The transition to net zero, delivering biodiversity net gain, working towards a more circular economy, delivering social value and combatting modern slavery are just some of the challenges faced by our industry, and groundworkers have a pivotal role to play.

In collaboration with the School’s Construction Leadership Group, we’ve developed a new beginner level learning pathway, which is designed to help groundworks companies address those high priority issues.

FIND OUT MORE >

 

February’s featured topic: Fairness, Inclusion and Respect

The Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) programme is an industry-wide initiative that aims to make workplaces better for everyone.

As a sector, we need to embrace FIR in order to attract, recruit, train and retain the skills to address the industry-wide skills shortage. Construction clients and large contractors are increasingly expecting their supply chain partners to work with them to achieve this. Take a look at some of the key resources available to support you on this:

Equality, Diversity And Inclusion Policy Template

Simple document for small businesses to use to get started writing their EDI policy.

Get started >>

CIPD Good Work Index

The CIPD Good Work Index provides an annual snapshot of job quality in the UK, giving insight to drive improvement to working lives. Measures of GDP and employment rates are important, but we also need to understand whether the jobs we have are good or poor and how they can be improved.

Take a look >>

Developing A Diversity Communication Strategy

Communication is absolutely vital. It’s not about communicating in singular ways or even one-way communication. It is about ensuring that it is inclusive, it’s diverse, that you’re thinking about people.

Find out more >>

 

FIR: Our new home

You may have noticed that the Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) programme has a new home on our website! 

As a standalone ‘topic’ this means you can navigate between FIR pages more easily. You can now also choose to receive bespoke marketing communications on FIR.

To check if your company has selected to receive FIR communications (and gain access to the new FIR assessment):

  1. Visit your company dashboard and click “view company profile”
  2. Select “edit profile”
  3. Tick FIR under “please select 1 or more topics your organisation is interested in”

FIR Assessment 

The FIR Assessment offers your organisation a structured way to develop and embed Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) in the workplace.

This approach, which is available to School “Admin” users, allows employers to support their workers and grow their business whilst incorporating FIR principles. Benchmark your knowledge to understand your best practice and areas for improvement.

Complete the assessment here >> 

How to get started? Admin users should follow these simple steps:

  1. Login to your school account 
  2. Ensure you are an admin on your corporate account by selecting “view all colleagues” and reviewing your assigned role, which should say “admin”. Only admins will be able to complete the assessment. If you need admin rights, please contact an admin/owner on your account or contact the school.
  3. Check your company has selected FIR as a topic of interest – To do this, go to the dashboard, click “view company profile” > “edit profile” > tick FIR under “Please select 1 or more topics your organisation is interested in”
  4. Take the FIR Assessment and click “submit your answers”
  5. Work through the assigned action plan

Don’t forget that once you’ve completed all the relevant learning, you can reassess and watch your score improve! 

February’s Featured Topic: Fairness, Inclusion and Respect

The Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) programme is an industry-wide initiative that aims to make workplaces better for everyone. Promoting a culture of Fairness, Inclusion and Respect brings many business benefits to the companies that work to achieve it.

Start your learning on the topic of Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) with the handpicked resources below:

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy Template

A document to assist small businesses in writing their EDI policy.

Access the document >>

CIPD Good Work Index

The CIPD Good Work Index provides an annual snapshot of job quality in the UK, giving insight to drive improvement to working lives. Measures of GDP and employment rates are important, but we also need to understand whether the jobs we have are good or poor and how they can be improved.

Learn more >>

Developing A Diversity Communication Strategy

Communication is Vital. This weblink looks at communication, ensuring that it is inclusive, it’s diverse and that you’re thinking about people.

Find out more >>

Annual FIR Survey

We’ve launched our seventh annual survey! The findings will allow us to track the impact of the Fairness, Inclusion & Respect (FIR) programme, and help to identify future activities and resources.

The survey will take no more than 10-15 minutes to complete. This is an opportunity for your views to be heard. In doing so, you will contribute to our objective of making our workplaces better for everyone. Complete the the survey here >>

Top stories

Welsh social housing to embrace passive house, timber & life cycle assessment

The Welsh government has issued a new standard for social housing that requires an embodied carbon assessment, favours timber-based offsite construction, and bans fossil fuel boilers.

Find out more >>

SME Builders face huge costs to prove Biodiversity gain

Artificial intelligence should be harnessed to work out biodiversity net gain for sites of 50 homes or less, urges the National Federation of Builders, NFB.The call follows the government’s consultation released today on restoring ecological loss during housing construction and delivering a ten per cent boost on biodiversity post-development.

Learn more >>

Global Centre of rail excellence (GCRE)

GCRE is a special purpose vehicle being established by the Welsh Government in partnership with Celtic Energy, Powys County Council and Neath and Port Talbot County Borough Council. 

Read more >>

Sector Lead for Wales – David Emery reflects on the progress of the standards for social housing in Wales and  embodied carbon. Click here to view the blog post.

February’s Featured Topic: Fairness, Inclusion and Respect

The Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) programme is an industry-wide initiative that aims to make workplaces better for everyone. Promoting a culture of Fairness, Inclusion and Respect brings many business benefits to the companies that work to achieve it.

Start your learning on the topic of Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) with the handpicked resources below:

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy Template

A document to assist small businesses in writing their EDI policy.

Access the document>>

CIPD Good Work Index

The CIPD Good Work Index provides an annual snapshot of job quality in the UK, giving insight to drive improvement to working lives. Measures of GDP and employment rates are important, but we also need to understand whether the jobs we have are good or poor and how they can be improved.

Learn more>>

Developing A Diversity Communication Strategy

Communication is Vital. This weblink looks at communication, ensuring that it is inclusive, it’s diverse and that you’re thinking about people.

Find out more>>

Due Diligence in Combatting Modern Slavery in Wales

Join us on the 22nd March from 12:00am -13:00pm on Zoom Webinars at our Due Diligence in Combatting Modern Slavery in Wales Lunch ‘n’ Learn.  This session will provide an  understanding of what modern slavery is, the risks of slavery within the supply chain and will look at what due diligence processes should look like for your organisation in order to combat labour exploitation.

By attending this session you will:

  • Identify and create a policy and strategy that outlines your organisations approach to combatting exploitation
  • Understand the principles of risk assessments focusing on labour exploitation and the role supply chain mapping plays in addressing the risks
  • Adapt procurement strategies that will allow you to address exploitation concerns or respond to client requirements

REGISTER NOW>

Top stories

Work to safefguard HS2’s eastern branch route to continue, minster confirms

Work to protect land that would be required to build the HS2 branch to Leeds is ongoing despite the government confirming it would not be continuing with the route in full.

Find out more >>

Firms gear up to bid for Scape’s £4bn civils frameworks

Scape has unveiled plans for two civil engineering frameworks worth a combined £4bn – almost twice the value of its current deals.

Learn more >>

Sizewell C decision could be delayed after minister agrees extension

The government’s decision over whether a new nuclear reactor on the Suffolk coast will be built, could be delayed.The announcement on Sizewell C should be made in April, but an expert team has asked for a six-week extension to prepare a report.

Read more >>

February’s Featured Topic: Fairness, Inclusion and Respect

The Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) programme is an industry-wide initiative that aims to make workplaces better for everyone. Promoting a culture of Fairness, Inclusion and Respect brings many business benefits to the companies that work to achieve it.

Start your learning on the topic of Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) with the handpicked resources below:

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy Template

A document to assist small businesses in writing their EDI policy.

Access the document>>

CIPD Good Work Index

The CIPD Good Work Index provides an annual snapshot of job quality in the UK, giving insight to drive improvement to working lives. Measures of GDP and employment rates are important, but we also need to understand whether the jobs we have are good or poor and how they can be improved.

Learn more>>

Developing A Diversity Communication Strategy

Communication is Vital. This weblink looks at communication, ensuring that it is inclusive, it’s diverse and that you’re thinking about people.

Find out more>>

Exploiting Digital in FM Conference

Active Plan, Hexagon, Sunbelt Rentals, UWS

Join us on the 22nd February from 10:00am -12:00pm on Zoom Webinars at our Exploiting Digital in FM Conference. This session will examine how digital data and technologies are helping Real Estate to become more safe, productive and sustainable.

Speakers Include: Active Plan,  Hexagon,  Sunbelt Rentals andUniversity of West Scotland & Conexa

By attending this session you will:

  • Hear from experts about the importance of good quality data in the aftermath of Grenfell
  • Understand how to simulate maintenance and safety procedures in the buildings you manage or supply to
  • Recognise what tools and innovations are ‘just around the corner’
  • Learn how to quantify the benefits and risks of digital innovations

REGISTER NOW>

Top stories

Broadening the scope

Anthony Ainsworth, COO at npower Business Solutions explains why Scope 3 needs to be on your sustainability agenda.

Find out more >>

Why I lobbied for the sachet ban by Sian Sutherland, co-founder of A Plastic Planet

Last week Whitehall announced it is to ban plastic food sachets. The move can’t come a moment too soon and is something A Plastic Planet has campaigned on for years.

Learn more >>

The Human Touch

FMJ’s Sara Bean talks with Environmental Psychologist and Workplace Strategist Dr Nigel Oseland about the decades of research behind his new book and why an understanding of the psychology of the workplace is essential as we embrace new ways of working.

Read more >>

February’s Featured Topic: Fairness, Inclusion and Respect

The Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) programme is an industry-wide initiative that aims to make workplaces better for everyone. Promoting a culture of Fairness, Inclusion and Respect brings many business benefits to the companies that work to achieve it.

Start your learning on the topic of Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) with the handpicked resources below:

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy Template

A document to assist small businesses in writing their EDI policy.

Access the document>>

CIPD Good Work Index

The CIPD Good Work Index provides an annual snapshot of job quality in the UK, giving insight to drive improvement to working lives. Measures of GDP and employment rates are important, but we also need to understand whether the jobs we have are good or poor and how they can be improved.

Learn more>>

Developing A Diversity Communication Strategy

Communication is Vital. This weblink looks at communication, ensuring that it is inclusive, it’s diverse and that you’re thinking about people.

Find out more>>

Exploiting Digital in FM Conference

Active Plan, Hexagon, Sunbelt Rentals, UWS

Join us on the 22nd February from 10:00am -12:00pm on Zoom Webinars at our Exploiting Digital in FM Conference. This session will examine how digital data and technologies are helping Real Estate to become more safe, productive and sustainable.

Speakers Include: Active Plan,  Hexagon,  Sunbelt Rentals andUniversity of West Scotland & Conexa

By attending this session you will:

  • Hear from experts about the importance of good quality data in the aftermath of Grenfell
  • Understand how to simulate maintenance and safety procedures in the buildings you manage or supply to
  • Recognise what tools and innovations are ‘just around the corner’
  • Learn how to quantify the benefits and risks of digital innovations

REGISTER NOW>

The transition to net zero, delivering biodiversity net gain, working towards a more circular economy, delivering social value and combatting modern slavery are just some of the challenges faced by our industry, and groundworkers have a pivotal role to play.

In collaboration with the School’s Construction Leadership Group, we’ve developed a new beginner level learning pathway, alongside other industry clients, main contractors and trade contractors, which is designed to help groundworks companies address those high priority issues.

The pathway is being endorsed by over 20 main contractors and clients, all encouraging their groundworks supply chain to complete the pathway to ensure we reach a consistent level of understanding on these issues across the trade, and are equipped to tackle them. As a beginner level pathway, it explains what the issues are, why they’re important, and gives hints and practical tips on how to address them.

Want to find out more? Take a look at the pathway and start learning here: ENROL NOW

This pathway is endorsed by:

 

 

 

We are pleased to announce that SIG plc has become the latest Partner of the Supply Chain Sustainability School

SIG plc has taken the next step in their sustainability journey and has joined the School as a Partner and to collaborate with their colleagues and drive sustainability across the built environment supply chain.

The School is delighted to welcome SIG plc on board and look forward to working with them.

Our Partner organisations are committed to building sustainability skills and knowledge across the industry. This will help us to safeguard the future of the UK’s built environment and ensure that it is fairer, greener, and more robust.

The School is committed to working alongside our Partners to support us all in our objective to “build back better”.

Find out more:

We are pleased to announce that GGR Group has become the latest Partner of the Supply Chain Sustainability School

GGR Group has taken the next step in their sustainability journey and has joined the School as a Partner and to collaborate with their colleagues and drive sustainability across the built environment supply chain.

The School is delighted to welcome GGR Group on board and look forward to working with them.

Our Partner organisations are committed to building sustainability skills and knowledge across the industry. This will help us to safeguard the future of the UK’s built environment and ensure that it is fairer, greener, and more robust.

The School is committed to working alongside our Partners to support us all in our objective to “build back better”.

Find out more:

We are pleased to announce that Amco Giffen has become the latest Partner of the Supply Chain Sustainability School

Amco Giffen has taken the next step in their sustainability journey and has joined the School as a Partner and to collaborate with their colleagues and drive sustainability across the built environment supply chain.

The School is delighted to welcome Amco Giffen on board and look forward to working with them.

Our Partner organisations are committed to building sustainability skills and knowledge across the industry. This will help us to safeguard the future of the UK’s built environment and ensure that it is fairer, greener, and more robust.

The School is committed to working alongside our Partners to support us all in our objective to “build back better”.

Find out more:

We are pleased to announce that ACO Technologies has become the latest Partner of the Supply Chain Sustainability School

ACO Technologies has taken the next step in their sustainability journey and has joined the School as a Partner and to collaborate with their colleagues and drive sustainability across the built environment supply chain.

The School is delighted to welcome ACO Technologies on board and look forward to working with them.

Our Partner organisations are committed to building sustainability skills and knowledge across the industry. This will help us to safeguard the future of the UK’s built environment and ensure that it is fairer, greener, and more robust.

The School is committed to working alongside our Partners to support us all in our objective to “build back better”.

Find out more:

We are pleased to announce that Unipart Rail has become the latest Partner of the Supply Chain Sustainability School

Unipart Rail has taken the next step in their sustainability journey and has joined the School as a Partner and to collaborate with their colleagues and drive sustainability across the built environment supply chain.

The School is delighted to welcome Unipart Rail on board and look forward to working with them.

Our Partner organisations are committed to building sustainability skills and knowledge across the industry. This will help us to safeguard the future of the UK’s built environment and ensure that it is fairer, greener, and more robust.

The School is committed to working alongside our Partners to support us all in our objective to “build back better”.

Find out more:

Top stories

Zero Carbon Hospital being planned by NHS Lanarkshire 

NHS Lanarkshire is planning a £500m new hospital in Wester Moffat on the outskirts of Airdrie in Scotland. This will be the first in Scotland to be designed as fully net zero for both the build and operation phases.

Find out more >>

New Office Development For Carrick Square, Glasgow

Initial plans have been brought forward for a major office building on a site in Glasgow’s Broomielaw office district. Mosaic Architecture & Design has submitted an application for planning in principle to erect the second phase of planned office development at Carrick Street.

If approved, the 17-storey office block will be situated behind the 14-storey phase one building, with construction due to start on that in the first half of 2022.

Learn more >>

£1.3bn Edinburgh Waterfront Scheme Seeks MMC Expert as Development Partner 

The City of Edinburgh Council is looking for a development partner to start a major new regeneration of part of its waterfront. The £170-£190m first phase of the overall Granton Waterfront project requires expertise in sustainability and modern methods of construction.

440 private homes, 200 council homes, 2,000 square metres of private commercial space and 1,000 square metres of public-sector space are being planned, connected by sustainable transport infrastructure and served by low-carbon energy projects.

Read more >>

January’s Featured Topic: Biodiversity & Ecology 

All of the Earth’s plants, animals, insects and microbes contribute to biodiversity with each individual species playing its own unique part. Without biodiversity, we would not have clean air, water or soil. Our food sources, raw materials and even our climate can be dramatically affected by changes in species diversity.

Start your learning on the topic of Biodiversity with the handpicked resources below:

Reducing Biodiversity Loss

A weblink providing an engaging introduction to biodiversity, what it means and why we need to preserve and enhance it. 

Learn more >>

Human Impacts on Biodiversity

This short video introduces some of the key the key impacts human have to biodiversity.

Watch now>>

Guidance for Pollution Prevention

A guide from  from Natural Resources Wales (NRW), the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), giving advice on how to prevent pollution and protect the environment.

Find out more>>

New Sustainability Supply Chain & Stakeholder Workshops announced by Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN)

As a principal partner of COP26, one of SSEN’s key goals is to build a legacy through their involvement with this crucial summit to create a cleaner, greener future for all of us.

Part of that commitment is to bring industry together who are already powering change through the work they are doing to make net zero a reality.

As such SSEN are supporting industry on the transition to net zero by offering the Climate Academy, a series of six online learning sessions available to charities and businesses across their licence areas.  In partnership with the Supply Chain Sustainability School, the Climate Academy will provide a rich knowledge and understanding of climate change issues and what we can do to address them.

Starting on 26 January 2022, the sessions will share insight on safeguarding and enhancing the environment, with an emphasis on education and awareness of climate change. There will also be a strong focus on social inclusion, and creating a more fair, just and inclusive society at local, national and international levels.

The sessions will be “Lunch and Learn” hour long sessions, taking place 12:00pm -13:00pm on the following dates:

Register using the links above to secure your place!

Top stories

Zero Carbon Hospital being planned by NHS Lanarkshire 

NHS Lanarkshire is planning a £500m new hospital in Wester Moffat on the outskirts of Airdrie in Scotland. This will be the first in Scotland to be designed as fully net zero for both the build and operation phases.

Find out more >>

New Office Development For Carrick Square, Glasgow

Initial plans have been brought forward for a major office building on a site in Glasgow’s Broomielaw office district. Mosaic Architecture & Design has submitted an application for planning in principle to erect the second phase of planned office development at Carrick Street.

If approved, the 17-storey office block will be situated behind the 14-storey phase one building, with construction due to start on that in the first half of 2022.

Learn more >>

£1.3bn Edinburgh Waterfront Scheme Seeks MMC Expert as Development Partner 

The City of Edinburgh Council is looking for a development partner to start a major new regeneration of part of its waterfront. The £170-£190m first phase of the overall Granton Waterfront project requires expertise in sustainability and modern methods of construction.

440 private homes, 200 council homes, 2,000 square metres of private commercial space and 1,000 square metres of public-sector space are being planned, connected by sustainable transport infrastructure and served by low-carbon energy projects.

Read more >>

January’s Featured Topic: Biodiversity & Ecology 

All of the Earth’s plants, animals, insects and microbes contribute to biodiversity with each individual species playing its own unique part. Without biodiversity, we would not have clean air, water or soil. Our food sources, raw materials and even our climate can be dramatically affected by changes in species diversity.

Start your learning on the topic of Biodiversity with the handpicked resources below:

Reducing Biodiversity Loss

A weblink providing an engaging introduction to biodiversity, what it means and why we need to preserve and enhance it. 

Learn more >>

Human Impacts on Biodiversity

This short video introduces some of the key the key impacts human have to biodiversity.

Watch now>>

Guidance for Pollution Prevention

A guide from  from Natural Resources Wales (NRW), the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), giving advice on how to prevent pollution and protect the environment.

Find out more>>

New Sustainability Supply Chain & Stakeholder Workshops announced by Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN)

As a principal partner of COP26, one of SSEN’s key goals is to build a legacy through their involvement with this crucial summit to create a cleaner, greener future for all of us.

Part of that commitment is to bring industry together who are already powering change through the work they are doing to make net zero a reality.

As such SSEN are supporting industry on the transition to net zero by offering the Climate Academy, a series of six online learning sessions available to charities and businesses across their licence areas.  In partnership with the Supply Chain Sustainability School, the Climate Academy will provide a rich knowledge and understanding of climate change issues and what we can do to address them.

Starting on 26 January 2022, the sessions will share insight on safeguarding and enhancing the environment, with an emphasis on education and awareness of climate change. There will also be a strong focus on social inclusion, and creating a more fair, just and inclusive society at local, national and international levels.

The sessions will be “Lunch and Learn” hour long sessions, taking place 12:00pm -13:00pm on the following dates:

Register using the links above to secure your place!

Happy new year! Read on for a quick breakdown of our recent work in the world of Offsite.

Offsite Leadership Group

The Offsite Leadership group convened last month to discuss plans for the year ahead as well as the social value implications of offsite construction, a topic we will be looking into more over the coming months. To find out more, please view the minutes here. We also welcome new partner organisations to the leadership group – so if you think it’s for you, please get in touch.

DfMA Overlay Shorts

All of the DfMA Overlay short videos we produced in association with RIBA have now been released! These provide short introductions to key themes and case studies in the Overlay including procurement, digital, and the implications for architectural practices, and can be viewed on our DfMA webpage. We hope you find them useful and share widely with colleagues.

UKGBC Circular Economy Surveys

As part of UKGBC’s Circular Economy programme, two surveys have been launched: an industry survey gathering data on the carbon impact of circular economy principles, and another targeted at product manufacturers assessing the status quo of circularity and to identify the barriers to circularity they are facing. We encourage any members to complete these, especially those who have implemented circular economy principles and measured/estimated whole life carbon impacts in recent projects. Both surveys close on the 17th January.

Circular Economy Survey

Manufacturer Survey

Upcoming training sessions

  • DfMA for Architects Workshop, Wednesday, 12 January, 1 – 4PM. Register now
  • Decarbonising Precast Concrete – Lunch ‘n’ Learn, Monday, 24 January, 12 – 1PM. Register now

Resources recommended for you this month

If you don’t measure, you can’t manage

Complete our free self assessment to get your bespoke action plan today. The list of resources will advise you where you should focus your learning with direct links to top-quality materials.

You can also benchmark your company’s offsite maturity here.

Top stories

Government publishes changes to Building Regulations

The government has published the new regulations for Part L and F as well as its response to the Future Buildings Standard consultation.

Find out more >>

London’s Grosvenor Square to be transformed into ‘urban garden’

Grosvenor Britain & Ireland has submitted proposals to transform Grosvenor Square into an urban garden that, if approved, will be the second-largest in London, and deliver a 15.5% biodiversity net-gain benefit.

Read more >>

School Partner Vistry signs up to sustainability-linked financing

Housebuilder Vistry has completed a £500m sustainability-linked revolving credit facility as part of their plans to reach net zero targets.

Take a look >>

 

January’s featured topic: Biodiversity 

Development and the increased modernisation of our lives have caused an alarming decrease in biodiversity worldwide. Halting biodiversity loss is a huge challenge, particularly in the light of climate change, which will accelerate much of the decline.

Sustainable development should take an approach that contributes to and promotes biodiversity. Find out what to look out for on site and how to protect biodiversity with these selected resources:

Reducing Biodiversity Loss

An engaging introduction to biodiversity, what it means and why we need to preserve and enhance it.

Get started >>

Human Impacts on Biodiversity

A short video which introduces some of the key impacts humans have on biodiversity.

Watch now >>

Guidance For Pollution Prevention

Guidance from Natural Resources Wales (NRW), the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) on how to prevent pollution and protect the environment.

Find out more >>

 

Updates on the Future Homes Hub:

The Future Homes Hub has recently been established to support the implementation of the Future Homes Delivery Plan which aims to meet climate and environmental targets while building high quality homes for future generations. Take a look at the latest updates and ways to get involved below:

  1. Call for evidence on Building Performance Evaluation: The Hub is starting work on Building Performance Evaluation from February, [given Government signalling that it is looking for solutions] so are seeking input and expertise to help. Please see the call for evidence here: https://www.futurehomes.org.uk/have-your-say.
  2. Call for evidence on Embodied Carbon: Government is likely to develop its thinking in 2022 on the pathway for reducing embodied carbon in construction. The Hub is therefore prioritising work to develop an industry led approach to tackling embodied carbon that is coherent and consistent with the Future Homes Standard and operational context of building new homes. Please see the call for evidence here: https://www.futurehomes.org.uk/have-your-say.
  3. Consultation on ESG sustainability metrics for the new homes sector. The Future Homes Hub is leading work in partnership with NextGeneration and the Green Finance Institute, Loan Market Association and Homes England to establish a common set of ESG metrics. This is to help simplify metrics and benchmarks so that the financial community use common metrics aligned to the Future Homes Delivery Plan and the longer-term regulatory direction. Please see the consultation which asks for views on the suggested approach and initial ideas for common metrics here: https://www.futurehomes.org.uk/have-your-say.
  4. Recruiting ‘head of’ positions in the Hub. The Hub is recruiting for four ‘head of’ positions to work with leading experts across the sector to develop effective and efficient solutions. The positions are: head of technical and innovation, head of place and nature, head of sustainability and performance, head of communications, customers and engagement. Find out more here: https://www.futurehomes.org.uk/join-our-team.

Top stories

Major contractors call for mandatory carbon-based procurement

Morgan Sindall, Willmott Dixon and Mace have signed a letter sent to the construction minister, urging him to make carbon assessments mandatory for public sector jobs.

Find out more >>

New framework to help local authorities meet net zero targets launched 

UKGBC, alongside WGBC, several European Green Building Councils, Climate Alliance, and the Buildings Performance Institute Europe have published a framework that aims to support cities and local authorities to measure the impacts and wider benefits of building retrofit.

Read more >>

School Partner Laing O‘Rourke joins new modular trade body

Five leading modular construction firms, including Laing O’Rourke, have formed a new trade body, Make Modular, to further the ambitions of the modular sector.

Take a look >>

 

January’s featured topic: Biodiversity 

Development and the increased modernisation of our lives have caused an alarming decrease in biodiversity worldwide. Halting biodiversity loss is a huge challenge, particularly in the light of climate change, which will accelerate much of the decline.

Sustainable development should take an approach that contributes to and promotes biodiversity. Find out what to look out for on site and how to protect biodiversity with these selected resources:

Reducing Biodiversity Loss

An engaging introduction to biodiversity, what it means and why we need to preserve and enhance it.

Get started >>

Human Impacts on Biodiversity

A short video which introduces some of the key impacts humans have on biodiversity.

Watch now >>

Guidance For Pollution Prevention

Guidance from Natural Resources Wales (NRW), the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) on how to prevent pollution and protect the environment.

Find out more >>

 

What do you think of the School’s resources?

As a member, we’d like to understand what’s important to you! Take 12 minutes to share your feedback in our Impact Survey, to help us shape the future of the School.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS >

 

Upcoming construction virtual training:

Setting Science Based Targets – Lunch ‘n’ Learn

Offering you practical guidance on how to set a Science Based Target in your organisation.

Join us >>

Supply Chain Risk, Resilience & Capacity – Lunch ‘n’ Learn

To provide you with an overview of supplier resilience and capacity issues, and help you understand how to mitigate it.

Join us >>