CIC Cascade

5 August 2005

1. Strategic Research Agenda for the European Construction Sector (SRA)
2. UK Construction will rise to the Challenge of the London Olympic Games
3. DTI Consultation on improving payment practices in the construction industry
4. Goodbye and thank you BIAT, hello and welcome CIAT
5. CIOB supports construction code of world class standards for building Crossrail
6. Lifetime Achievement Award For ABE Honorary Fellow
7. ‘Programme Led Apprenticeships’ Launched By Constructionskills To Boost Completion Rates 400%
8. Events

1. Strategic Research Agenda for the European Construction Sector (SRA)

CIC is planning a collaborative response to the first draft version of the SRA and is holding a special meeting on 18 August to focus on the agenda.

The document is the first draft version of the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) established by the European Construction Technology Platform (ECTP) that addresses the research needs of Europe in the field of Construction over the next 25 years, and sets out the likely directions of technological and organisational changes that will need to be converted into specific research programmes over the coming years.

CIC will be holding a special meeting at 2.30pm on 18 August at its offices. Anyone interested in attending should contact Kate Dunne at kdunne@cic.org.uk

Download the draft document and questionnaire

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2. UK Construction will rise to the Challenge of the London Olympic Games

In a press release issued on 6 July the Construction Industry Council expressed delight at London ’s success in being awarded the hosting of the 2012 Olympic Games by the International Olympic Committee.

Speaking immediately after the announcement, the CIC Chairman, Stuart Henderson , said:

‘This news is our first Gold Medal for the 2012 Olympics. It will raise a challenge for the UK construction industry to deliver the infrastructure and buildings required for the Olympics, but the industry will rise to the challenge to win the second Gold Medal before the Games begin. It adds real impetus to the already urgent aims of attracting new entrants, training and qualifying the workforce and respecting their rights to work safely. It also gives an added edge to the need for sustainable communities – so that the new facilities will endure for many years after 2012.’

The CIC Deputy Chairman, the Rt. Hon. Nick Raynsford MP , added:

'All of us involved with Britain ’s construction industry recognise the huge challenge which we now face to deliver the best ever Olympic Games in London in 2012. At the CIC we are confident that the industry will rise to the challenge and we will be working closely with all our partners to ensure the success of London 2012.'

Finally, the CIC Chief Executive, Graham Watts , said:

‘ Can we deliver it? Yes, we can! The key will be a swift transition from the bid team to the Organising authority so that the momentum is not lost and we need to make full use of the seven years available to London to get the infrastructure and facilities in place. The construction industry must have a single, strategic focus on planning and delivery and we look to the Strategic Forum for Construction to take that lead. We should also remember that this is not just about London . There will be 140 National Olympic Associations looking to base themselves somewhere in the UK to prepare themselves for the Games, this will mean new facilities being built through partnerships between British towns and cities and other NOCs. There will be a few new 50-metre swimming pools built in the UK over the next few years. It is amazing to think what will be achieved in the UK due to the votes of just 2 people!’

For details of the London 2012 Olympics visit http://www.london2012.org/en

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3. DTI Consultation on improving payment practices in the construction industry

Read CIC s response to this consultation, on both the payment related issues and the adjudication related issues.

Improving payment practices in the construction industry – Consultations on proposals to amend part II of the Housing Grants and Regeneration Act 1996 and Scheme for Construction Contracts (England and Wales) Regulations 1998

These consultation proposals are drawn from Sir Michael Latham’s recent review of the operation of Part II of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 and the scheme for Construction Contracts (England and Wales) Regulations 1998. This consultation is a joint exercise between the DTI and Welsh Assembly Government covering the primary and secondary legislation in both jurisdictions. It is intended to build a general consensus on the way forward. Should clear support for changes to the legislation be identified, there will then be consultation on draft amendments.

Response from the Construction Industry Council Consultation on the payment related issues Response from the Construction Industry Council on the adjudication related issues

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4. Goodbye and thank you BIAT, hello and welcome CIAT

British Institute of Architectural Technologists (BIAT) has officially received its Royal Charter, and changed its name to the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT).

CIAT succeeds BIAT as the professional qualifying body for Architectural Technologists, who can now describe themselves as ‘Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists’ (MCIAT) and Architectural Technicians (TCIAT).

This accolade will afford CIAT and its members the privileges and protection enjoyed by Chartered bodies and secures CIAT and the discipline it represents firmly within the construction industry and process.

The descriptor ‘Chartered Architectural Technologies’ which only full Members are permitted to use will further protect the consumer, clients and employers by providing them with the confidence that they are employing or commissioning a recognised competent professional.

President Paul Burton PBIAT said “This achievement has been the result of the 40 years of growth and development since the Institute’s inception in 1965. I would like to thank all those associated with the Institute who have worked towards this recognition, as well as those individuals and organisations which supported us such as the RIBA, CIOB, LI, ARB, CIC, the Government Departments and our accredited universities.”

The Institute’s website can now be found at www.ciat.org.uk, and staff email addresses will undergo a similar change, although the old addresses will continue to function for some time.

For press information please contact Hugh Morrison , Communications and Promotions Officer, CIAT, 020 7837 3194 email info@ciat.org.uk website www.ciat.org.uk

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5. CIOB supports construction code of world class standards for building Crossrail

Contractors employed in building Crossrail will be required to employ ‘an appropriately qualified workforce’. 

This will be a requirement of the Crossrail Construction Code, a draft of which was made public after the Second Reading of the Bill in the House of Commons.  It is clear from the large number of topics covered in the code that the Government wants to establish world class standards for building on what may prove to be one of the most significant railway projects to be undertaken in the United Kingdom.

The qualification for people to be employed on site may include holding a card from a recognised scheme such as the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) or the Personal Track Safety scheme for railways.  The ‘nominated undertaker’ – the organisation appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport to manage construction of the new railway – will require contractors to run induction schemes for all personnel to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities in complying with the construction code.  This will include provision for on-site training on health, safety and environmental topics, and for keeping employees informed of changing circumstances as the work progresses.

Michael Brown CIOB deputy chief executive commented, “There is a clear link between using a fully qualified workforce, quality site conditions and the standard of health and safety on site. Raising the bar and employing a totally qualified workforce on what is considered an ‘exemplar project’ is exactly what the government should be aiming for.

"We would urge all exemplar projects, especially the London Olympics 2012, to commit to this same ethos and apply the same importance on the process of building these large projects as they do on the final presentation."

As to site management, the Crossrail construction code expects that contractual arrangements will require all Crossrail contractors ‘to provide suitably qualified staff to manage and execute the works in which they are involved.’

The nominated undertaker will be operating under a requirement to ensure the health, safety and welfare of everyone employed in building Crossrail, as well as others who may be affected by the work. The construction manager will therefore be obliged to establish ‘appropriate industry standards’ for health and safety, and to seek continuous improvement in safety performance.  There will also be a demand for ‘community consultation’.

To read more on the Crossrail Construction Code please go to: -http://www.ciobinternational.org

Further information on the Crossrail Construction Code please go to: - http://www.crossrail.co.uk/pages/publishesdraftconstructioncode.html

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6. Lifetime Achievement Award For ABE Honorary Fellow

Douglas Smith Hon FBEng, Chairman of Westminster Advisers, has been presented with the first Lifetime Achievement Award from the Public Affairs News. The Public Affairs News Awards recognises achievements in the industry from in-house practitioners, consultants, journalists and politicians.

At an award ceremony held in Westminster, The Lifetime Achievement Award was announced following a private ballot. The award, which included details of his outstanding contribution to public affairs, came as a complete surprise to Douglas .

Douglas has been a member of the Association of Building Engineers (ABE) since 2000 when he was elected as an Honorary Fellow. Since then he has continued to work with the ABE providing support in both public and technical areas, especially in the area of fire safety.

David Gibson , Chief Executive of the ABE, is delighted that Douglas Smith has received the Award, and commented “the Lifetime Achievement Award recognises all the hard work that Douglas has put in both now and during his 40 years in the industry”.

Further details on the ABE can be found at http://www.abe.org.uk

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7. ‘Programme Led Apprenticeships’ Launched By Constructionskills To Boost Completion Rates 400%

In one of the first initiatives under the new Sector Skills Agreement, ConstructionSkills today announced the pilot of ‘Programme Led Apprenticeships’ - an innovative way of bringing employers and training providers together to boost apprenticeship opportunities.

Forming a core part of the drive under the Agreement to increase apprenticeship completions 400% by 2010, Programme Led Apprenticeships will aim to address the current lack of on-site work experience opportunities, which is preventing young people from completing their NVQ.

The new Apprenticeships will begin with a young person completing a year full time at FE College, gaining their Key Skills Level 1, Employment Rights and Responsibilities (ERR) and beginning their Technical Certificate (ICA). They will then be selected for the Programme Led Apprenticeships scheme in their second year. After the period of intensive coaching and practice at college, and completion of their ICA , they will transfer to employment to gain the site experience necessary to gain their NVQ and complete their Apprenticeship Framework.

Peter Lobban, Chief Executive, CITB-ConstructionSkills:

“The industry as a whole needs to recruit 88,000 people every year for the next five years, yet at the moment we know many potential entrants are slipping through the net due to lack of work experience opportunities.

“Programme Led Apprenticeships have been developed to enable employers who may not be able to support someone through a whole apprenticeship framework, or need a certain level of skills before taking trainees on site, to still be able to offer training opportunities. By increasing the opportunity for young people to practice their skills on site, we will not only address the drop out rate generated by trainees being unable to complete their NVQ, but also ensure that the future of the industry is in safe hands.”

Following on from a high-level industry apprenticeship completions workshop hosted by ConstructionSkills and the Apprenticeships Task Force, almost 20 employers have already expressed an interest in the Programme Led Apprenticeships scheme, including big names such as Clancy Docwra, George Wimpey and Shepherd Construction Ltd. In addition, training providers in Leeds , Newcastle and Kent have shown interest in placing students on this scheme.

Vaughan Burnand, Chief Executive of Shepherd Construction said:

“In order to address the future skills needs of construction, it will be vital that young people are given the opportunity to practise their skills on-site, throughout the supply chain. Programme Led Apprenticeships have the potential to make the process of taking on a trainee simpler for employers, which will be of benefit to them individually and to the industry as a whole. We’re keen to be a part of this scheme, and look forward to working with CITB-ConstructionSkills on the pilot.”

Funding has already been agreed with the LSC to support Programme Led Apprenticeships, which are expected to be implemented at a local level through a partnership between FE colleges and an employer-led Local Apprenticeship Network. The scheme has the full support of the Major Contractors Group.

Stephen Ratcliffe, Director of the Major Contractors Group, commented:

“This is an exciting development. For many years now the industry has complained it has not been getting the calibre of new recruits it needed. That trend has now been reversed and we have plenty of young people knocking at our door. Hence, we need to find ways of providing them with work experience that are safe and meet their needs and expectations. Equally, we have to ensure that contractors have people on their sites who can work safely with their colleagues and make a real contribution to the job in hand. The new ConstructionSkills Scheme aims to meet these challenges and the Major Contractors Group will be providing support to get it under way.”

The next stages of the scheme will involve matching employers to training providers, and identifying pilot sites, in order to run six pilots in 2005/6, each taking on 20 students. The students will be selected from the current cohort of FE students, and will start on site in April next year.

Peter Lobban, Chief Executive, CITB-ConstructionSkills added:

“The pilot of the Programme Led Apprenticeship scheme is a prime example of how the ConstructionSkills Sector Skills Agreement can really deliver for the industry. By bringing together employers, training providers and education funders, we have been able to develop a solution to an industry-wide problem that also addresses the needs of individual employers and new entrants to construction. We hope this will be the first of many successful Sector Skills Agreement announcements.”

In addition to Programme Led Apprenticeships, ConstructionSkills is also supporting a number of other apprenticeship routes, such as the Supply Chain Apprenticeship model. Roger Robinson, Executive Director of Carillion Plc and member of the Apprenticeships Task Force, said of the scheme:

"In order to achieve the number of new entrants we need throughout the industry, it will be key to look at flexible solutions to the industry's needs. For Carillion, working with our supply chain to take on and train apprentices has been extremely successful, and we would encourage other major contractors to take responsibility for this as a potential route. However, new initiatives such as Programme Led Apprenticeships can only benefit construction in terms of enabling even more companies to train."

For more information on the Sector Skills Agreement for construction, visit http://www.constructionskills.net

8. Events
The events page of the CIC website is frequently updated visit the events page for details.

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