Month: October 2022

How is Wales trying to create a brighter future for generations to come?

Wales’ Well-being of Future Generations Act is the first piece of legislation in the world which aims to ensure the long-term social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of the country. It strives, through this sustainable development, to tackle the big issues both now and in the future, such as climate change, poverty, health and wellbeing, coronavirus, jobs and economic activity.

This forward-thinking policy will require bodies within the public sector to set objectives in maximising well-being across these areas, and to take action in meeting these objectives. A big part of this will involve fostering collaboration with the private sector and supply chains in order to put these well-being goals into practice.

Sectors within the built environment have an immense potential to make these objectives a reality in Wales. Infrastructure, transport and energy networks, to name a few, all have an enormous impact on not only the environment and climate, but also public health, well-being and the economy. By creating sustainable projects and driving innovation in these areas which keep the goal of a healthy society at the forefront, the needs of the future generations will be met.

Additionally, the construction sector will be a key focus of the Act. With overall carbon emissions from construction amounting to 40% in the UK, this sector will play a major role in helping deliver the environmental ambitions of the act. The construction sector has more to offer, however, than just ensuring environmental sustainability. Opportunities for these industries to deliver on social and economic aspects are plentiful, particularly regarding the well-being and equality within its workforce, and the development of high-quality jobs to rejuvenate communities and take people out of poverty.

We talked to Sophie Howe, Future Generations Commissioner of Wales, about the Well-being of Future Generations Act and in particular, what the role of the construction sector will be in delivering the objectives of the legislation. Also hear from Gavin Hawkey, Foundation Director at CCFC Community Foundation, about how the football club has adopted the objectives of the Well-being of Future Generations Act and the benefits it has brought.

Make sure to check out the videos of the conversations below:

1. The Well-being of Future Generations Act & Construction Sector Collaboration
2. The Well-being of Future Generations Act: Challenges in the Construction Sector
3. The Well-being of Future Generations Act & The Construction Supply Chain
4. The Well-being of Future Generations Act & Construction Sector Collaboration
5. Construction as a force for good in Wales
6. The Well-being of Future Generations Act & Opportunities for Construction
7. The Well-being of Future Generations Act; Cardiff City Football Club

For any queries please contact [email protected] 

Retrofit is a growing area of focus in our industry and an opportunity not to be missed. The scale of work required in the built environment across the UK is on a scale not seen since the end of the Second World War. The Supply Chain Sustainability School is now working on its contribution in retrofit and would like your involvement.

Why?

80% of all the buildings in use by 2050 have already been built. Research now suggests that 29 million homes need to be retrofitted to enable the UK to hit its 2050 carbon emission targets.

For this to happen, the retrofitting industry needs to grow by ten times its current size. Retrofit isn’t only required in domestic settings; commercial, public and historical buildings also need improving.

This means they need to be more efficient. They need to use less energy, lose less energy and enable the efficient dispersion and generation of energy.

Retrofitting existing buildings will allow individuals and businesses to save money and as heating costs rise, the demand for retrofit will only increase. It’s not just the economic savings, retrofit will let people across the UK live and work in warmer and healthier buildings. Looking at the bigger picture, it is a route for a more sustainable future for the built environment. It will help our industry, and the country as a whole, decarbonise.

This is not just something construction industry should do, but it will have to do. Increasing legislation around building efficiency, including the mandating of EPC C, means that buildings must change.

The opportunity for retrofit is here and increasing. You just need to decide how your organisation will be involved.

How can you get involved?

Retrofit Leadership Group for Partners

We have launched a Retrofit Leadership Group in the School to look at how we can collaborate and upskill supply chains on this. The School will be developing learning based on partner input. The group needs to involve representatives from across the sector.

The next meeting is in Nov 2nd, 10-12.

If you are not already involved in the group and would like to be, please contact [email protected].

Training Sessions

There are two upcoming training sessions planned, please join and share with your colleagues/supply chains:

1. Retrofit: The Scale of Opportunity, Nov 24th, 10-12am
2. Learnings from Retrofit Innovation: EnergieSprong UK – Lunch n Learn, Jan 26th, 1-2pm

Share

If you have any case studies and work you’d like to share on retrofit, please contact [email protected].