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Category: Reports

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A new comprehensive guide to help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and procurement authorities effectively integrate social value into SME operations has been launched today. Developed in collaboration between Supply Chain Sustainability School and Cardiff Business School, and delivered by Action Sustainability, the guide aims to support SMEs in creating social value while navigating procurement processes in both the public and private sectors.

Why SMEs Struggle to Deliver Social Value

Despite representing 99.9% of all businesses in the UK and contributing significantly to employment, SMEs often struggle to embed social value in their operations. Challenges such as limited resources, complex procurement processes, and lack of clear guidance frequently prevent SMEs from fully realising their social, environmental, and community impact. The new guide, Embedding Social Value in Procurement: A Practical Guide for SMEs, is designed to address these issues, providing SMEs with actionable strategies, tools, and insights to help them understand and deliver social value effectively.

“As SMEs increasingly shape the future of our economy, it’s essential that their contributions to social value are recognised and embedded into procurement practices,” said Vaishali Baid, Social Value Lead & Senior Consultant, Sustainable Procurement at Action Sustainability. “This guide provides SMEs with the tools and strategies to incorporate social value into their operations, ultimately creating long-term benefits for their businesses and the communities they serve.”

Practical Tools and Resources to Empower SMEs

The guide equips SMEs with a variety of practical resources, including:

  • A checklist to integrate social value into operations.
  • Strategies for overcoming common challenges such as limited resources and lack of understanding.
  • Advice on aligning social value with local community needs and business goals.
  • Recommendations for procurement authorities on how to engage with SMEs to maximise social impact in procurement processes.

Dr Jane Lynch, Professor of Procurement for the Logistics and Operations Management Section at Cardiff Business School, added, “This guide translates the concept of social value into clear, actionable steps SMEs can apply immediately. Cardiff Business School is committed to equipping SMEs with research-based tools that empower them to make meaningful contributions, both to their success and to the communities they operate within.”

Based on Extensive Research and Industry Best Practices

The guide draws on extensive research, including surveys and focus group discussions with SMEs across diverse sectors such as Civil Engineering, Rail, Infrastructure, and Manufacturing. It also incorporates insights from industry best practices, highlighting methods SMEs can use to engage locally, create jobs, and adopt sustainable practices.

As procurement authorities increasingly align purchasing decisions with social value goals, SMEs are in a unique position to drive positive change within their communities. However, existing challenges like resource constraints and complex procurement processes can hinder SMEs’ efforts. This guide aims to support SMEs in overcoming these barriers and in making a meaningful impact.

To access the full guide and additional social value resources, register for free membership on the Supply Chain Sustainability School website, then visit this page.

An innovative new report, “Operational Toolkit: Combatting Slavery in the Built Environment,” has been released to support businesses with their modern slavery due diligence. Developed by Action Sustainability for the Supply Chain Sustainability School, this toolkit is a vital resource for organisations committed to combatting slavery and labour exploitation in the built environment.

The built environment is at a high risk of modern slavery and labour exploitation, due to ongoing challenges such as labour and skills shortages resulting in widespread use of temporary migrant labour, agency labour and sub-contracts. Additional pressures from low profit margins and tight deadlines can result in businesses being more likely to ignore the usual protocols and processes for bringing workers onto sites.

In response to these risks, Action Sustainability developed a practical and easy-to-navigate toolkit for businesses of all sizes, shaped by contributions from Partners from the School’s Built Environment Against Slavery Group. YORhub supported the development of the document.

Anna Slatcher, Senior Sustainability Manager at Barratt Redrow, said: “At Barratt Redrow we are committed to preventing, identifying, managing and mitigating modern slavery and labour exploitation risks in our operations and supply chain. This guidance will be a valuable resource for us and our industry partners to enable us to improve our understanding of, and mitigate and monitor, labour risk on our sites. It illustrates the practical steps that can be taken in recruitment, site set up and management to identify ‘red flags’ that may otherwise be missed and to empower our teams to ensure a working environment for everyone that is exploitation-free.”

Jo Potts, Sustainability Director at Balfour Beatty and Co-Chair for the Built Environment Against Slavery Group, said: “Operating responsibly and with integrity whilst upholding the highest ethical standards is critical to success – it must be at the heart of how the construction and infrastructure industry conducts business. It is therefore integral that we empower our people to tackle modern slavery. By equipping our teams with the necessary tools and knowledge, we can significantly reduce the risks of exploitation within our projects and across our supply chain.”

The operational toolkit brings together site-specific, actionable insights and recommendations from across the built environment to help address slavery and labour exploitation.

Key highlights of the toolkit include:

  • Examination of six key risks in the built environment sector.
  • Recommended actions for organisations to take to prevent, identify, manage and mitigate risks of exploitation.
  • Signposts to key resources from expert organisations.

The toolkit aims to empower everyone involved in site set up and management to effectively combat slavery and labour exploitation.

Emma-Jane Allen, Senior Consultant at Action Sustainability and author of the toolkit, stated: “It’s essential to embed modern slavery due diligence into ‘business as usual’ site set up and management. Due diligence is about taking proactive steps to prevent, identify, manage and mitigate the risks of modern slavery and labour exploitation.  This Operational Toolkit empowers those on the front lines of site management do just this.”

To access the toolkit and learn more about how to improve your organisation’s modern slavery due diligence, visit the School website here.

Today, the Supply Chain Sustainability School has released the findings of the ninth annual Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) Culture Impact Report, showcasing significant growth and a positive impact of the FIR Programme within the built environment sector.

The FIR Programme, delivered by the School and part-funded by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), offers comprehensive training, resources, and a network of FIR Ambassadors to help organisations embed fairness, inclusion, and respect in their workplace practices. Through workshops, webinars, e-learning modules, and a resource library, the programme equips individuals and businesses with essential knowledge and tools to enhance inclusivity and cultivate a positive working culture.

This year’s FIR Culture Impact Survey revealed an impressive milestone, with 1,689 respondents – a 32.7% increase in participation compared to the previous year. This rise underscores the growing importance of the FIR mission within the industry and reflects heightened awareness of inclusivity efforts.

Key findings from the 2024 FIR Culture Impact Survey indicate that 56% of respondents have engaged with the FIR Programme, with 39% joining within the last 12 months. This surge in engagement highlights the programme’s increasing relevance, particularly for newer entrants to the workforce discovering the benefits of FIR for the first time.

The demographic composition of survey respondents continues to challenge traditional industry norms, signalling meaningful progress towards greater inclusivity. Notably, 48% of respondents identified as women, 9% disclosed a disability, and 15% represented non-white backgrounds, exceeding standard diversity benchmarks within the sector.

The Role of FIR Ambassadors

The survey further underscored the invaluable contribution of FIR Ambassadors, with 519 Ambassadors (31% of respondents) sharing insights about their experiences.

Findings indicate that the Ambassador role correlates with higher engagement and job satisfaction:

  • 75% of FIR Ambassadors would recommend their workplace as a great place to work, compared to 65% of non-Ambassadors.
  • 84% of FIR Ambassadors feel respected by their manager or supervisor, in contrast to 73% of non-Ambassadors.
  • 85% of FIR Ambassadors feel part of a team at work, while only 74% of non-Ambassadors share the same sentiment.

Quality and Impact of FIR Training

Respondents praised the quality of FIR Training, with 90% providing positive feedback on workshops, webinars, and the FIR resource library. Furthermore, 92% of workshop attendees and 93% of webinar attendees reported an enhanced understanding of FIR principles. The FIR e-learning modules also demonstrated significant impact, with 93% reporting increased knowledge and 88% indicating that they applied knowledge from FIR resources in practical settings.

Positive Impact on Individuals and Businesses

The FIR Programme continues to have a strong impact on individuals, with an increasing number of respondents reporting positive experiences:

  • 92% agree that the FIR Programme helped them understand the business case for embedding FIR within their organisation.
  • 82% feel empowered to address FIR issues more effectively.
  • 78% feel confident in challenging poor behaviours.

At the business level, many organisations reported tangible improvements in key areas:

  • 63% noted positive changes in recruitment practices, resulting in more diverse teams.
  • 70% observed improved workforce behaviours, with 61% seeing enhanced collaboration within their teams.
  • 47% experienced increased productivity, and 43% reported that FIR helped them secure new business—demonstrating how organisations with inclusive practices achieve better performance and successful outcomes.

Anonymous feedback from participants further highlights the FIR Programme’s influence. One participant shared, “The FIR Programme has given me a deeper understanding and knowledge base of issues that can affect my colleagues and the workforce that we supply to our clients.”

For the full report, log in and access here.

Explore the FIR Programme here.

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) and the Supply Chain Sustainability School have today published a groundbreaking report aimed at addressing the housing crisis through Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). The report lays out key policy recommendations designed to accelerate the adoption of MMC and deliver high-quality, affordable homes at scale.

The report’s development was led by the CLC Housing Working Group’s Smart Construction Sub-Group, which includes representatives from:

  • Housing providers
  • Architects
  • Local authorities
  • MMC suppliers and manufacturers
  • Trade and professional bodies
  • Homes England
  • The Greater London Authority (GLA)
  • The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)

 

The report proposes a series of long-term policy goals for the Labour Government to consider, including the creation of a dedicated MMC Taskforce. This taskforce, once convened, would be responsible for developing a comprehensive MMC strategy within six months. The strategy would focus on:

  • Improving productivity in housing construction
  • Enhancing speed of delivery and reducing outturn costs
  • Lowering embodied carbon in construction materials and processes
  • Maximising societal benefits through local employment and skills development

 

Addressing the Housing and Skills Crisis

The report identifies MMC as a key solution to the UK’s housing shortage, proposing that the adoption of MMC could counter the current 225,000-person skills gap in construction. With the ability to rapidly scale up housing delivery to meet demand for 300,000 – 500,000 homes annually, MMC offers a pathway to reversing decades of stagnation in the sector, which has seen construction productivity lag behind most other UK industries.

Global Lessons and High-Level Targets

Drawing on international case studies from countries including Australia, China and Japan, the report emphasises the need for high-level, published MMC targets that link both quantity and quality outcomes. It calls on the UK Government to implement clear, achievable goals that provide the construction industry with the certainty it needs to invest in MMC innovation and growth.

The report also supports the National Housing Federation’s call for new towns and settlements to include a mix of housing tenures, with MMC prioritised for its ability to rapidly deliver high-quality, sustainable homes.

A Clear Call to Action

The CLC is urging the Government to adopt their recommendations, particularly the creation of the MMC Taskforce, as a matter of urgency. By doing so, the UK can tackle its housing shortage, address the construction skills crisis, and deliver environmentally sustainable housing at scale.

Rory Bergin, Partner at Sustainable Futures said: “To meet the Government’s target of delivering 1.5 million new homes by 2029, we need to double housing output and remove barriers that limit productivity. MMC is a key part of this strategy, and the sector has invested heavily in it. Now is the time to build on that progress, modernise housing delivery, and release the benefits of increased productivity, sustainability, and quality.”

Access the full report here.

A groundbreaking report, “Responsible Sourcing of HVO – A Comprehensive Guide,” has been released, aiming to accelerate the global transition towards sustainable energy. Developed by Action Sustainability for the Supply Chain Sustainability School, this report is a vital resource for organisations committed to environmentally responsible practices in the procurement of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).

As many organisations pursue net zero targets, the role of fuels and power is crucial. HVO has emerged as a viable alternative to fossil diesel, a shift endorsed by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) in its zero diesel sites route map. However, the sustainability benefits of HVO are complex and not always straightforward.

In response to these complexities, twelve Supply Chain Sustainability School Partners have co-funded this guidance to elucidate the sustainability challenges associated with HVO.

Ben Stone, Head of Environmental Sustainability at Kier Group, said: “The construction industry has a key role in supporting the UK’s transition to a lower carbon economy. This report and its recommendations shine a light on the role HVO can play, and where it can be utilised to provide a low-carbon solution. Working collaboratively with the Supply Chain Sustainability School and its Partners, we were pleased to advise on the research and development of the Responsible Sourcing of HVO report to provide clear and much-needed guidance to support the industry with procuring this fuel responsibly.”

Jo Potts, Sustainability Director, Responsible Sourcing & Social Impact at Balfour Beatty said: “At Balfour Beatty, we take pride in acting responsibly, considering the full environmental, social and economic implications of our actions to ensure that we’re not solving one challenge whilst creating another. It’s refreshing to see this guide, which we are pleased to have contributed to, takes a holistic approach and moves away from carbon tunnel-vision, clearly setting out the pros, the cons and most critically, the unknowns of HVO fuels.”

The guidance covers the entire lifecycle of HVO – from raw material sourcing, processing, and shipping to final use. It provides strategies for managing and mitigating potential sustainability risks and impacts within the HVO supply chain.

Key highlights of the report include:

  • Examination of the sustainability benefits and impacts of biofuels, with a focus on HVO.
  • Overview of HVO availability and market size.
  • Analysis of potential market distortions affecting HVO.
  • Recommendations for risk mitigation mechanisms.

The guide provides actionable recommendations to help organisations make informed decisions, manage risks, and confidently mitigate the sustainability impacts of using and procuring HVO.

Dr. James Cadman, Head of Consultancy and Climate at Action Sustainability, stated: “When procuring HVO, it is essential to conduct due diligence to source sustainably from reputable suppliers, using assurance schemes like the UK’s Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme (RFAS). This approach is crucial for transitioning away from fossil fuels, protecting the planet, and achieving net zero targets responsibly.”

By promoting sustainable procurement practices, this report marks a new era of conscientious decision-making in the energy sector. It empowers organisations to uphold environmental stewardship without compromising operational efficiency or profitability.

Access the full report here.

If you’re interested in carbon and energy consultancy support, book a complimentary discovery call with report author, Dr James Cadman.

Today, the Sustainability Tool, in collaboration with the Supply Chain Sustainability School’s Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) Programme, has unveiled the outcomes of the largest-ever employee diversity survey in the United Kingdom. This comprehensive survey, encompassing more than 526,000 individuals, has been a crucial annual fixture in the built environment sector’s progress tracking since 2016, offering a detailed record of diversity data and pinpointing areas for improvement.

The 2023 survey results, covering 526,415 employees across 537 supply chains of eight major companies and two membership organisations, highlight a substantial increase in participation, with a 55% surge in employees covered and a remarkable 99% rise in participating companies compared to 2022. The inclusion of contributions from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) played a significant role in this expansion.

This year’s findings reveal a noteworthy surge of women in the industry, rising from 23% in 2022 to 29.1% in 2023. This significant increase, marking the survey’s most significant rise in seven years, is primarily attributed to first-time reporting by several Tier 1 organisations. Sectors leading this positive shift include central government, rail, and facilities management, all surpassing the industry benchmark value of 29.1%.

Key takeaways from the 2023 survey:

  • Ethnicity: Despite constituting 52.5% of industry applicants, the representation of ethnic minority groups in the workforce decreased year-on-year slightly to 13.6%, trailing 5% below the ONS UK population average.
  • Attraction and Recruitment: The application-to-hiring ratio was notably higher for ethnic minority groups (90:1) compared to white applicants (28.4:1), on average making it three times as challenging to secure a job this year. Depending on background, ethnic minority groups found it between 1.2 to 6.4 times harder to be hired than their white counterparts.
  • Disability: Persistent data gaps exist around disability, with 35.2% of respondents’ data not being collected. The ‘prefer not to say’ option increased from 3.2% to 6.5% this year.
  • Sexual orientation: While disclosure is increasing, only 2.04% of employees identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, below the ONS UK population average of 3.14%. The survey now includes pansexual, asexual and queer categories to align with census data.

The survey plays a pivotal role in supporting the built environment sector’s commitment to promoting diversity, equality and inclusion, establishing benchmarks, and highlighting areas requiring action for industry-wide progress.

Belinda Blake, Senior Policy Advisor – Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at National Highways, said: “National Highways recognises the indispensable role of comprehensive sector data to help drive meaningful change. This annual data capture exercise is instrumental in reinforcing the built environment sector’s dedication to diversity, equality, and inclusion. The report offers essential data, serving as a foundation for setting benchmarks and driving progress across the industry. The success stories within the supply chain stand as a testament to the transformative power of a comprehensive, data-driven approach to ED&I, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive and diverse industry.”

Findings from the survey were initially shared at the Supply Chain Sustainability School’s ‘Diversity Data Benchmarking Conference’ in Birmingham last month. The conference emphasised the importance of organisations contributing to the survey to enhance the transparency of the sector and improve diversity and inclusion in key areas such as gender and ethnic diversity. Along with plugging gaps in data capture around disability, pay gaps were also highlighted as areas for attention to achieve a more transparent industry view.

Cathryn Greville, Head of Fairness, Inclusion and Respect at Supply Chain Sustainability School, said: “The survey demonstrates the critical importance of quality data in addressing equity, diversity and inclusion issues across the built environment sector. Without relevant data, organisations simply cannot identify, understand and address the real issues they face in their businesses and supply chains, and they cannot track the success of any initiatives put in place to make the workplace more inclusive and successful.”

The Diversity Survey is set to reopen in March 2024, allowing anyone in the built environment to participate anonymously for free.

Organisations also have the unique opportunity to enhance their understanding of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and identify pathways for improvement. Valuable insights can be collected by assessing employee and/or supplier bases against sector benchmarks and ONS UK population statistics. This tailored analysis not only empowers organisations to assess their EDI status but also provides a roadmap for targeted improvements, fostering a more inclusive and diverse workplace. For details on participation, please contact Max Lajtha.

Access the complete Diversity Survey 2023 results here.

 

Today, we released our 2023 Impact Report, which surveyed over one thousand of our members across the country to get their thoughts on what is important to their organisation and supply chain, plus find out how the School has continued to positively impact their organisation and supply chain, through the School’s free practical learning and support.

The past few years have been challenging for the built environment industry; the pandemic made for a very unsure time, closely followed by the global economic downturn putting pressures on the industry with material shortages and steep rises in costs. However, sustainability remains firmly at the top of the agenda worldwide, meaning more opportunities for the School to continue to grow and widen its impact.

Reflecting this, the Supply Chain Sustainability School’s engagement figures are up significantly, with 24,160 (+44%) individuals from 5,503 companies (+30%) actively learning through the School. This has driven a 35% increase in resource views compared to the previous year. At the same time, quality ratings for the training received by the members remain very high, with 95% rating the training by Action Sustainability consultants as good or excellent.

Shaun McCarthy OBE, Chair of the Supply Chain Sustainability School, commented: “It’s been another brilliant year for the School and we are thrilled to have over 24,000 individuals training through our learning platform. However, we recognise that there is still a way to go to achieve our vision of an industry where everyone will have the skills and knowledge to deliver a sustainable future. To achieve mass impact, technology will be a key focus moving forward. It is our hope that this additional technological investment and expertise will not only support the School’s growth, but ensure it is armed for arising opportunities so we can continue to provide membership with accessible and credible learning.”

Organisations are becoming increasingly interested in understanding sustainability and embedding more sustainable practices. Many members have identified the School as a powerful tool to help them do this. Almost three-quarters of members (73%) reported that the School has helped them to better understand their organisation’s sustainability impacts. The School has also helped 65% of members improve their understanding of modern slavery, and 54% to increase their understanding of Fairness, Inclusion and Respect.

Members also shared how the School has helped them to improve their sustainability impacts. This includes reductions in carbon emissions (52% of members) and total waste (50%), as well as increased community engagement (57%) and apprentice numbers (50%). Read the full report here.

Julia Barrett, Chief Sustainability Officer at Willmott Dixon, commented: “The School continues to drive massive change for the industry by providing free virtual learning across a huge range of subjects. This year once again, it’s proven that through collaboration the industry can thrive. To increase our sustainability impacts further, we would love more members to register and learn through School, and more Partners to work with us to identify key issues and share new ideas.”

The School is delivered by Action Sustainability and part-funded by CITB and industry Partners, with over 190 Partners leading the direction of the School. Working in collaboration, Partners share knowledge and free resources to inspire the UK built environment to drive positive change.

Last year, the School and our team were awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development in recognition of the significant environmental, social and economic benefits we have delivered.

If you are working or aspire to work within the built environment industry, sign up to the Supply Chain Sustainability School for FREE this spring. You will benefit from over 400 free training sessions, tailored assessments with action plans and a library of over 3,300 online resources.

If you are already a member or Partner, spread the word! https://www.supplychainschool.co.uk/about/membership/

A new report, published by the Supply Chain Sustainability School, reveals that 9 significant opportunities exist for offsite manufacturers to help their clients in their drive for low carbon construction projects, both new build and in the retrofitting of existing buildings.

The built environment industry needs to rapidly decarbonise existing and new buildings, as well as reduce embodied carbon produced in production of building materials and elements, construction, and maintenance of assets. The ability of offsite construction processes to reduce whole life carbon is often expressed, but evidence of this has been patchy. 

Drawing on the experience of more than 40 organisations working across homes, commercial, public and infrastructure, the new report, ‘Whole Life Carbon Guidance for Offsite Construction’ highlights opportunities and challenges for carbon management and reduction for the offsite sector. 

This includes common benefits around the material and resource efficiency of premanufacture, reduced fuel and energy use in logistics and on site, as well as greater confidence in operational energy performance with standardised designs.  

Some of the strongest evidence for carbon reductions exist in energy and fuel use for transport and construction processes, with studies finding savings of 30-40%, even when factory energy use is included. However, most of the embodied carbon within construction projects comes from materials and manufacturing: the product stage.  

The report proposes that there is a big opportunity for Design for Manufacture and Assembly to drive emissions savings in this stage, sharing evidence for this across homes, schools, and commercial projects. It recommends early collaboration between manufacturers and design teams in order to fully realise low carbon design options. This collaboration will also aid robust whole life carbon estimates, which are likely to become mandatory in the coming years. The report also encourages manufacturers and contractors to embed processes for the collection and communication of activity data.

Andrew Shepherd, Managing Director at TopHat Communities, said “We all know carbon is a problem, but without knowing how much of a problem, it is very difficult for us to start addressing some of the key problem areas. This report provides guidance on how to start assessing whole life carbon and understanding the impact each stage of the development cycle has on the environment about us.” 

Naomi Pratt, lead author of the report and Consultant at Action Sustainability, said: “It’s been really encouraging to see projects cutting embodied carbon through offsite techniques. What these have in common is design approach driven by material and carbon efficiency. What we need to see now is more organisations adopting this focus and sharing data.” 

Ian Heptonstall, Director of Supply Chain Sustainability School, said: “The good news from this report is that yes, offsite and MMC (Modern Methods of Construction) can help us tackle the climate emergency. However, as the evidence suggests, we are currently missing many opportunities and it’s clear as an industry we need to think and act differently.  My challenge to those not at the forefront of tackling carbon is: will you act now and make a difference, or be left behind whilst your customers transition to a low carbon economy?” 

The examples of best practice highlighted in the report are crucial for whole life carbon reduction and the journey to net zero. The authors encourage organisations working within the sector to show leadership, take advantage of the opportunities, and share data and experiences.  

Access the report here. 

Offsite carbon report marketing logos

A new report, published by the Supply Chain Sustainability School, Akerlof and the University of Salford, has been launched to support clients and supply chain organisations on how to enhance the benefits of the social value created through the use of offsite manufacture.

In the face of urgent challenges – including the need to rapidly decarbonise, combat growing poverty and inequality, and address the cost-of-living crisis – what and how the industry build is crucial. Offsite construction and the social value agenda are two responses, driven by both government and industry. This report aims to bring these two agendas together, addressing a gap in guidance for clients and the supply chain.

The report illustrates the benefits that can be felt at both development and manufacturing sites, focusing on five core themes: employment, skills, economy, social and environmental. Perspectives brought by participants indicate that social value is considered important by the sector, with compelling arguments put forward on the ability of the model to provide secure, long-term employment opportunities. The report also highlights recent case studies around embodied carbon which indicate saving of between 30-45% can result from adoption of offsite techniques.

It offers guidance to the offsite manufacturers by sharing clear examples of ‘good work’ including; measuring reductions in embodied carbon; inclusion of local stakeholders in the design process using digital tools; creating training opportunities and routes to progression through direct employment.

The findings indicate potential for offsite to deliver the same, if not more, value to society than traditional construction, providing early communication takes place among stakeholders to understand the possibilities and agree clear boundaries and methodologies.

Ian Heptonstall, Director of the Supply Chain Sustainability School, said: “I am delighted to share this guide providing practical recommendations within the offsite sector. I hope organisations will find it useful as a jumping off point to get to grips with their social value offering, measuring, and communicating impact for the benefit of all in the sector.”

Ellie Jenkins, Partner at Akerlof and co-author of the report, said: “Offsite construction can create significant social value. We hope this guide will shape understanding and encourage the offsite sector to embed social value, growing a community of great practice.”

Membership to the Supply Chain Sustainability School is free – simply register for an account to gain access to practical learning and support in the form of sustainability training, events and networking, e-learning modules, tailored assessment, and a library of over 3,000 online resources.

Download the report here.

The full report can be found here.

 

27th September, London, UK – The Supply Chain Sustainability School, a multi-award-winning initiative which represents a common approach to addressing sustainability within supply chains, has today released its Fairness, Inclusion & Respect (FIR) Annual Culture Report 2022.

The School surveyed over 1,000 of its members across the country, to get their feedback on the School’s Fairness, Inclusion & Respect Programme and how the FIR agenda is progressing within the built environment.

David O’Neil, Supply Chain Director, Commercial and Procurement at National Highways, said: “At National Highways we recognise that developing a diverse and inclusive supply chain (and workforce) is critical in meeting the needs and expectations of road users and communities. We see the FIR Programme, and our growing partnership with the Supply Chain Sustainability School, as an essential part of developing diverse capability across our sector.”

The report also offered insights on how the School has continued to positively impact organisations and supply chains, reinforcing the School’s mission to be the world-class collaboration enabling a sustainable and fair built environment.

With over fifty thousand registered users, the School provides free practical learning and support for the UK built environment, through training, networking, e-learning modules and online resources. Specifically, the FIR resources and the FIR Growth Assessment are becoming increasingly popular as FIR sits higher on the agenda for many organisations in the industry.

Members of the School anonymously stated that the FIR Programme offered “the confidence to tackle issues head on” , “increased efficiency and productivity” and created a “positive breeding ground for strong culture resulting in a much healthier and beneficial workplace for [our] colleagues.” One School member also highlighted the FIR Programme continues to “increase the level of diversity within the workplace and assist in recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce.”

Organisations are becoming more conscious of FIR and its benefits to people, profit and enabling a sustainable business model. The School has been identified as a powerful tool to help organisations embed sustainability into their business practices, with 83% of survey respondents confirming that their company leaders are now better equip to understand Fairness, Inclusion and Respect and can better articulate the benefits. Furthermore, 79% of respondents confirmed their behaviours and attitudes towards teammates have improved due to FIR training. The FIR programme has also been identified as key to supporting businesses with retaining talent (68%) and recruiting a more diverse team (72%).

Lucie Wright, Head of Strategy (Careers and Pipeline) at CITB, said: “CITB’s evaluation team have produced a thorough report and it is great to see the evidence that FIR training is having a positive impact across construction. Nearly 80% of companies have reported improved behaviours as a result of the knowledge gained from the training, and that, in turn creates a happier working environment which will mean improved staff retention and greater opportunity to attract new talent into the industry. This is particularly important at a time when construction faces a large skills gap. The survey also helps us understand where support is needed and helps CITB improve our offer to industry and to support FIR to become embedded throughout.”

The quality of training remains extremely high this year, with an average of 90% of respondents rated the workshops and materials as “excellent” or “good”. There was also a strong impact on individuals, as demonstrated by the 87% of respondents who felt they were empowered to deal with FIR issues more effectively due to engaging with the FIR Programme. 82% of members also felt they had the confidence to challenge poor behaviours in the workplace.

Paul Aldridge, Sustainability Director at WJ Group, said: “This report with greater participation than ever, brings hope, demonstrating that we are breaking down the barriers to an inclusive industry but yet, sets us challenges. Listening and measuring the thoughts, concerns, hopes and ambitions of our colleagues helps us understand better where we can and must improve to become truly inclusive. We know the benefits of fairness, inclusion and respect, increased: employee and customer satisfaction; creativity and innovation; attraction of the broadest talent; profitability and business development; community value. FIR helps us nurture our people and achieve great results.”

The School is part-funded by CITB and industry Partners, with the direction of the School being led by over 182 Partners – working in collaboration, they share knowledge and free resources to inspire the UK built environment to drive positive change.

 

Today, the Sustainability Tool, a software application designed to help organisations and their supply chains measure and monitor their sustainability performance, launched the 2022 employee diversity benchmarking survey.

The annual employee diversity benchmarking exercise is a collaborative effort to better understand and improve the diversity of the built environment industry. 

 

Between July and September 2022, organisations are invited to anonymously report their diversity data within the Tool, with categories including Gender, Age, Religion & Belief, Ethnicity, Sexual Orientation, Disability, Voluntary Leavers, Part-Time Status, and Attraction & Recruitment. Each category informs subsequent indicators that align with the ONS’ standard of diversity data collection. 

 

Suppliers with over 250 employees will be automatically directed to complete a more detailed submission. Those with less than 250 employees can complete a ‘Lite’ version – encouraging smaller SME and Tier 2 business engagement. 

 

Respondents will gain free access to in-depth and interactive dashboards that they can use to benchmark their diversity data against their sector, industry and the ONS data set.  

 

Client and contractor organisations can also use the exercise to collect and benchmark diversity data from their supply chains. Partner organisations already doing this include Cadent, the Environment Agency, Morgan Sindall, National Highways, Network Rail, Transport for London and VolkerWessels. 

 

While the exercise is live, the Supply Chain Sustainability School will be running free online webinars to support organisations with completing the survey. 

 

At the end of the exercise, the results will be used to set aspirational targets for recruitment, retention and progression of under-represented groups that reflect the demographic of the UK population.  

 

Last year’s survey collected data from over 250,000 employees across 88 supply chains, making it the largest-ever UK data survey on employee diversity. 

 

Ian Heptonstall, Director of Supply Chain Sustainability School (and owner of the Sustainability Tool), said: “Last year’s survey was the largest and most comprehensive to date with over 250,000 people included. It provided us with important insights into ‘what good looks like’ and where we can take action to make improvements. I’m delighted therefore that this year we’ll be expanding to other sectors and organisations, after all the more information we have, the better our decision-making can be!” 

 

Organisations wishing to participate in the 2022 employee diversity benchmarking exercise can do so for free by registering on the diversity tool website.

On Tuesday 21st June, the Supply Chain Sustainability School held its 10 Year Anniversary Summit in Coventry Building Society Arena. Attended by hundreds of sustainability experts from across the built environment industry, the Summit provided a chance to celebrate the past decade of collaboration as well as look forward to future challenges and opportunities.

Summit attendees watch the Supply Chain Sustainability School 10th Anniversary film

The Summit kicked off with the premiere of the School’s 10th Anniversary film, featuring interviews with School board members as well as thought leaders from the built environment industry. This was then followed by a welcome message from Shaun McCarthy OBE, the School Chair

Throughout the day, attendees heard from the School’s Board Members as well as various industry thought leaders. This included Ruth Todd CBE (HS2), Mark Farmer (Cast Consultancy), Liz Holford (Network Rail) and Jonathon Porritt (sustainability campaigner and writer).

Liz Holford (Network Rail) addresses the audience on delivering our social value challenge.

Subject matter experts from Action Sustainability held interactive breakout sessions focused on three core themes: net zero carbon, social value and future challenges. The slide decks for these sessions can be found below. Attendees also had plenty of opportunities to network and socialise throughout the day.

James Cadman (Action Sustainability) delivers a breakout session on designing and procuring for low carbon.

In the evening, the event concluded with an awards ceremony (sponsored by Bouygues Energies & Services) followed by a drinks and networking session. These awards recognised individuals and organisations that have been highly engaged with the School over the past decade. See below for the full list of winners:

  1. Members Award: Janice Johnson (Briggs Amasco)
  2. Members Award: Paul Aldridge (WJ Group)
  3. Members Award: Nigel Ostime (Hawkins Brown)
  4. Supply Chain Collaboration Award: National Highways Regional Delivery Partnership
  5. Outstanding Personal Contribution: Graham Edgell (Morgan Sindall)
  6. Outstanding Personal Contribution: Wendy Carwardine (Action Sustainability)

Thank you to everyone who attended the Summit for helping to make it such an engaging and inspiring event. Stay tuned for additional photos, videos and insights from the event.

Anniversary Summit Feedback

Did you attend the Summit? Your feedback is important to us. Please take 2 minutes to fill out our anonymous online Summit Feedback form – this helps us to improve any future Supply Chain Sustainability School events.

Breakout Session Presentations

Click on the links below to view and save the presentation slide decks used during the different breakout room sessions from the Summit (view the programme to see which breakout rooms correspond with which breakout sessions):

21st June marks the 10th anniversary of Supply Chain Sustainability School, an industry-wide collaboration of major companies to enable a sustainable built environment through knowledge and collaboration.

The milestone marks a decade that has seen significant growth and acknowledges collaboration and innovation across the UK Built Environment Industry. The Supply Chain Sustainability School, which launched in June 2012 with only 7 founding Partners and 2000 members, today has near 180 Partners and engages with over 50,000 members from 17,000 businesses.

In April 2022, the School was awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development in recognition of the significant environmental, social, and economic benefits it has delivered to its Members and Partners. In addition, the recently published 2022 Impact Report reflects how the School continues to positively impact organisations and supply chains, with 73% of School members reporting that the School has helped them to better understand their organisation’s sustainability impacts.

Reflecting on 10 years of progress, Shaun McCarthy OBE, Chair of Supply Chain Sustainability School said, “I take great pride in what we have accomplished over the last decade, and I want to thank all those who have accompanied us on our journey thus far – our longstanding Members and Partners, and our dedicated and talented employees. As we celebrate this important milestone, I am even more certain that we will reach our vision of an industry where everyone will have the skills and knowledge to deliver a sustainable future.”

Join the celebration! Sign up to become a FREE member of the School here, and follow Supply Chain Sustainability School on social media.

A series of videos, including milestones and interviews with thought leaders amongst the built environment industry, will be released throughout 2022 to recognise achievements, and anticipate the exciting road ahead.

The Supply Chain Sustainability School, a multi-award-winning initiative which represents a common approach to addressing sustainability within supply chains, has today released its Impact Report, which surveyed over one thousand of its members across the country to get their thoughts on what is important to their organisation and supply chain. The full report can be found here.

With the highest number of responses recorded since the survey began, this report also offers insights on how the School has continued to positively impact organisations and supply chains. This reinforces the School’s mission to be the world-class collaboration enabling a sustainable built environment.

Shaun McCarthy OBE, Chair of the Supply Chain Sustainability School, said: “We regularly receive over 1,000 responses to our impact survey. This provides us with real insight into the things we are doing well, but more importantly, the things we can improve or topics we need to focus more effort on. This helps us to keep the School relevant and engaging for our rapidly growing membership.”

With over fifty thousand registered users, the School provides free practical learning and support for the UK built environment through sustainability training, networking, e-learning modules, tailored assessments, and online resources.

Last week, the School was awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development in recognition of the significant environmental, social and economic benefits it has delivered to its Members and Partners.

The past two years have been hugely challenging for the built environment industry due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, material and labour shortages, and steep rises in costs. At the same time, sustainability, and in particular Net Zero and Social Value, have risen to the top of the agenda, as illustrated by COP26 and changes in public procurement requirements.

Reflecting this, the Supply Chain Sustainability School’s engagement figures are up significantly, with 16,802 (+51%) individuals from 4,220 companies (+33%) actively learning through the School. This has driven a 55% increase in resource views compared to the previous year. At the same time, quality ratings for the training received by the members remain very high, with 95% rating the training as good or excellent.

Organisations are becoming increasingly interested in understanding sustainability and embedding more sustainable practices. Many members have identified the School as a powerful tool to help them do this. Almost three-quarters of members (73%) reported that the School has helped them to better understand their organisation’s sustainability impacts. The School has also helped 64% of members to improve their understanding of modern slavery, and 64% to increase their understanding of Fairness, Inclusion and Respect.

Furthermore, the extent to which our members say the School has helped them to reduce their sustainability impacts has increased by an average of 5% year on year. This includes reductions in carbon emissions (57% of members) and total waste (53%), as well as improvements in air quality (40%) and community impacts (44%).

Keith Chanter, CEO of EMCOR UK and Board Member of the Supply Chain Sustainability School, said: “Responsible businesses face ever more challenging issues, not least of which is how they show the impact that they are having on the environmental and social issues that they face. These challenges are fueled by the forces for change, that are stronger than ever, and are increasingly embedded in legislation, procurement contracting and in the social agendas that have been accelerated during the pandemic.  It is inspiring to see the significant impact the Supply Chain Sustainability School has had, and the recent Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development is further evidence of the significant contribution the School has made in driving forward sustainability in the built environment.”

The School is part-funded by CITB and industry Partners, with over 178 Partners leading the direction of the School. Working in collaboration, Partners share knowledge and free resources to inspire the UK built environment to drive positive change.

Read the full impact report here.

An update from the School in regards to CITB Funding

 

The Covid 19 crisis is having a profound impact on economies around the world and the School is not immune from this. Some of our partners are facing hard times and on 13th May 2020 we were advised that all our CITB funded projects are to be suspended for an indefinite period. This combination of events has resulted in a 37% reduction in our revenue for 2020/21.

On 14th May 2020 the School Board has approved a plan to deal with this in a way that delivers all the School’s core services virtually and puts a hold on some of our projects until we can find alternative sources of funding or until the CITB funding returns.

We remain 100% committed to delivering our vision to be “the world class collaboration to enable a sustainable built environment”.

Please click here to see our formal update for our members.

Slavery, Inclusion and Community Are Top 3 Supply Chain Issues 2019

Supply Chain Sustainability School Survey Shows Areas of Improvement for Built Environment

 

Click on the infographics to see the full-sized images

Modern Slavery, as well as Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR), plus Community Engagement have emerged as standout areas of achievement and improvement for construction and infrastructure over the last year — according to the annual industry-wide survey of built-environment contracting organisations and supply-chain companies, undertaken by the Supply Chain Sustainability School.

The findings of the second Impact Survey reveal that the leadership, learning and support provided by the School is clearly and consistently credited with having a significant positive influence.

In the survey, nearly 9 out of every 10 companies achieving improved understanding of both Modern Slavery (86%) and Fairness, Inclusion & Respect (FIR) (87%) state that the School has helped them achieve these results. In addition, the proportion that attributed their increased levels of Community Engagement to assistance received from the School also rose year-on-year some 15% to 72%, in total.

Impact Survey 2019 Full Report

SCSS – Impact Survey Press Release 2019