CIC Cascade

The Construction Industry Council has played a major role in supporting the Strategic Forum for Construction and its 2012 Task Group in achieving the 2012 Construction Commitments.

The document, developed by industry with the strong support of Government, aims to maximise the opportunity to showcase the very best of British construction practice, using the Olympics as a live example.

Developed in the past few months, the agreement covers key areas in the construction process, including health and safety, sustainability and design.

Prospective participants are now able view the list of signatories, download the Commitments from the website and also sign and return the forms.

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2. ICES disappointed that government drops mandating Home Condition Reports

On 18 July 2006 , the Government announced that it was abandoning mandating the Home Condition Report element of the Home Information Pack. The ICES considers that the announcement that the Home Condition Report will not be a mandatory part of the Home Information Pack is a regrettable back-tracking from what was proposed as a robust tackling of a real problem.

In the words of the CIC Chairman and MP Nick Raynsford, speaking at the debate on the subject held in Parliament on 19 July 06, the Report represented “ a long overdue reform that held out the prospect of radically transforming and simplifying the home buying and selling process, cutting out waste and abortive costs and reducing the scope for failed transactions, disappointment and heartache” and he went on to add that he perceived that “the Government’s decision to pull the plug on the mandatory home condition reports is precipitate and wrong” and “ misguided”.

The ICES holds the same views as those declared by the CIC Chairman, and is disappointed that what appeared to be a sound, helpful proposal to reform a difficult area of the British property purchasing process has been watered down. The ICES regards this Governmental decision with disappointment and as a lost opportunity, and will join with our like-minded colleagues in the CIC to continue to try to bring about the necessary reform.

Although the ICES is not an institution that is directly involved in the sale of property, it sits on the periphery. Problems such as uncertainties over boundaries, positioning, locational dimensions, structural integrity, drainage, mains water and power capacities, public sewers condition and capacity, all, on occasion, come into the remit of ICES members. These are all the type of issues that can and frequently do either halt the whole purchase process, or typically, prompt a round of price renegotiations, which inevitably means further delay and risk.

While all that is going on, the seller sometimes has second thoughts and either withdraws the property from the market or accepts an offer from another source—the infamous practice of gazumping. When that happens, all the costs that the prospective purchaser has incurred in surveyors and lawyers’ fees are wasted. It was reported in Parliament, that about £1 million is lost every day in that way, which is just senseless waste.

In that the establishment of the energy efficiency reports element of the Home Information Pack is a manifestation of the ICES former plea for an increased commitment to energy saving, then the ICES welcomes them; however, they constitute only one relatively small element in the total property purchasing equation. Few people, if any, will base their decision of whether to buy a property primarily, or even secondarily, on its energy rating. The Government’s announcement is therefore, as the Financial Times has observed, almost the worst possible outcome: retaining a significant cost attributable to the need for a visit to survey a property for its energy rating, without getting the benefit of the full home condition report and the economy of scale implicit in conducting both surveys at the same time.

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3. Scott Wilson’s Geoff French to chair ACE International Business Group

The Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) have announced that Scott Wilson chairman Geoff French is to chair their new International Business Group.

The group will set the agenda and act on some of the key issues facing the consultancy and engineering industry internationally and enable ACE to better coordinate its engagement with key international associations such as EFCA and FIDIC. It will also enable ACE to better connect with international clients, financial institutions and funding agencies, including the World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, EU, Asian Development Bank and African Development Bank.

Commenting on his new role French said: “Consultancy and engineering is becoming more international. This internationalisation is a fact of business life and what ACE has set up is reflecting that reality. It’s an exciting time for ACE and the rationale for this group work mirrors the globalisation of the world economy and the development of larger organisations in particular, many of which are developing partnerships overseas.”

ACE chief executive Nelson Ogunshakin said: “A growing number of ACE members operate in the global market and, with his wide experience of international work with a major consultancy firm, Geoff French will be an excellent and influential ambassador for ACE’s International Business Group. The group is a demonstration of ACE’s intention to raise its profile internationally and I look forward to it improving our contacts with those key UK and international government bodies which impact on international business.”

Members of the group will include high-level individuals from major or specialist consultancy and engineering firms with a significant track record of working internationally. Going forward, ACE aims to appoint a dedicated executive director to work with the chief executive to drive forward its widening international business initiatives.”

ACE, which represents over 800 member firms employing 45,000 UK staff, is an influential player with the international bodies representing consultancy and engineering. It is the largest contributor to the European federation EFCA and the second largest to the international federation FIDIC.

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4. Distinguished academic awarded top IStructE accolade

IStructE’s prestigious Gold Medal for 2006 has been awarded to Professor Roger Johnson, FREng MA FIStructE FICE, Emeritus Professor of Civil Engineering at Warwick University.

The Gold Medal is the Institution’s highest award, presented to an individual for exceptional and outstanding contributions to the advancement of structural engineering.

Professor Johnson has received the Gold Medal in recognition of his truly outstanding international reputation for structural engineering research, gained during an academic career of some 45 years. He is regarded across the world as the leading researcher in composite steel-concrete construction.

Following National Service with the Royal Engineers, 1949-50, Professor Johnson gained a first class honours degree in Mechanical Sciences at Jesus College , Cambridge in 1950-53, where he won the Archibald Denny Prize in Theory of Structures.

In 1959, following a stint at Ove Arup & Partners as a Senior Engineer, he moved into academia as a Lecturer in Engineering back at Cambridge University, where he stayed for 12 years. In 1971 he was made Professor of Civil Engineering at Warwick University , where he is currently Emeritus Professor. He has also held appointments as a Visiting Professor in the USA , Europe and Australia .

Professor Johnson has contributed to around 100 papers on composite construction, others on the properties of concrete and the structural use of adhesives, as well as text books.

His consultancy work has focused on composite construction for a wide range of organisations, including government departments and consultants. He has also been heavily involved in the drafting of codes of practice.

A Member of IStructE since 1957 and a Fellow since 1972, Professor Johnson has won the following Institution awards: Oscar Faber, Guthrie Brown, Henry Adams and Murray Buxton. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 1986, and is also a Fellow of ICE and an IABSE member.

IStructE Chief Executive Keith Eaton said of the award: “I’m delighted that the Institution has been able to recognise Roger Johnson’s expertise and achievements in this important area. He is recognised internationally in the field of composite construction; for many years he was the Chairman of the Eurocode 4 drafting committee; altogether a very worthy recipient for the 2006 Gold Medal.”

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5. Simpler, faster, hassle-free – SkillsDirect!

Becoming qualified and carded is now quicker and easier than ever, thanks to the announcement from CITB-ConstructionSkills that the SkillsDirect service is being launched to the whole construction industry.

SkillsDirect is a one-stop-service, delivering the three key elements of the CSCS card; the CITB-ConstructionSkills Health & Safety Test, S/NVQ assessment (where it is required) and the application process. Workers make one call to the hotline on 0870 850 5262 and CITB-ConstructionSkills automatically selects the simplest route for them to qualify, and manages them through the process from start to finish.

What’s more, the service also links with the Experienced Worker Practical Assessment, which enables workers in the main trades to complete their NVQ with a day’s assessment – meaning many workers will be able to get their card in as little as a fortnight and all workers requiring an S/NVQ will be expected to qualify within a year.

With MCG, MHBG and CECA now all committed to a fully carded workforce, and less than three months to go until the first MCG full compliance crackdown, construction companies and workers are being urged to call now to ensure they don’t get caught out by a last minute rush.

Mark Bodger, Acting Head of Certification and Registration at CITB-ConstructionSkills said of the service roll-out:

“SkillsDirect was developed in close liaison with the industry to serve the industry’s needs. Just one call to one number will help businesses and employees through the process of becoming qualified and carded, improve health and safety on site, and raise the standards of the industry as a whole. New developments such as this mean there’s no excuse not to qualify your workforce, and with the MCG, MHBG and CECA clamping down on unqualified workers, the future of your business could depend upon it.”

The SkillsDirect system currently has the capacity to serve up to 750,000 applicants per year and expects to process up to 140,000 applicants before the end of 2006 as a result of the MCG moving towards full compliance.

Stephen Ratcliffe, Chief Executive of the Construction Confederation, welcomed SkillsDirect as a key development in meeting the CC’s target of a fully carded workforce:

“CITB-ConstructionSkills has responded to our request for a simplified carding service, and SkillsDirect is fundamental to our aim of building a qualified workforce that can operate professionally and safely on our sites. From January on MCG sites, it's no card, no entry, which is why the speed of the new qualification process is so important. From piloting the project, we also know that people benefited from the simplification of the service, which now involves dialling a single number for help and support. The SkillsDirect initiative has our full support, and we have already been promoting it to our subcontractors and affiliates.”

Stewart Baseley, Executive Chairman of the Home Builders Federation added:

“SkillsDirect is clearly an essential tool in encouraging more workers to get carded now. The service is built around the needs of the users themselves – it’s quick, it’s simple and most importantly, it’s hassle-free. By addressing all of the barriers to potential take-up, we hope to see a big increase in qualified workers on site, and our members will be promoting the service to all their sub-contractors and employees. Thanks to SkillsDirect, there's now no excuse not to be carded and qualified.”

Rosemary Beales, Director of CECA also added her support:

“SkillsDirect aims to provide a simple, streamlined process for all those seeking to gain the relevant CSCS card. From 1st August 2006 there will be just one number to call. Here employees will be put in contact with an advisor who will manage their CSCS application and arrange any assessment or training required. CECA fully supports the concept of SkillsDirect and consider it will make a significant contribution to our stated aim of having a fully carded workforce by the end of 2007.”

Stephen Kelsall, a self-employed bricklayer from Stoke-on-Trent and an early user of the service, echoed their call:

“It’s a weight off my shoulders, to be honest. Not only am I up-to-speed with the latest regulations, but I’ve got a bit of training under my belt too. And the great thing is, we all work in a safer environment – you can’t say no to that.”

Workers should call 0870 850 5262 to book themselves into the SkillsDirect service. They will need to provide their name, address and date of birth and will need to be able to talk through their role and any previous qualifications they have gained.

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6. Woman at top in IHIE

Susan Broadaway became the first woman President of one of the leading highway engineering institutions - the Institute of Highway Incorporated Engineers (IHIE).

Susan, Section Manager for Traffic and Transportation with Denbighshire County Council, said “I am proud to be driving forward highways and transportation engineering to address occupational segregation and, career balance and, not only showing young women what fulfilling careers beckon them, but also to engage more with our fellow professionals in assisting with the skills shortage”.

Susan has been with Denbighshire for ten years following thirteen years at Clwyd. She gained her professional qualification as in Incorporated Engineer and Fellow of IHIE in 1992 and is a past chairman of the IHT North Wales Branch,

Denbighshire’s Director of Environment, Iwan Prys-Jones, and Head of Transport & Infrastructure, David Farquhar, greeted Susan’s election with enthusiasm “ We wish Susan well and give her our full support during her Presidency”.

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7. ConstructionSkills seeks professionals for new school coaching scheme

The CIC-ConstructionSkills team (in conjunction with ELBA, the East London Business Alliance) is looking for London-based construction companies to take part in a new coaching scheme which is being developed to demonstrate the wide range of careers opportunities available to young people as a construction professional and ensure there are sufficient numbers of appropriately qualified individuals to meet future recruitment needs.

This voluntary scheme is being piloted at Eastlea Community School in the London Borough of Newham from October 2006-April 2007. It aims to match construction professionals with pupils in Year 9 so that they can find out about careers in our industry directly and make an informed decision about their future education prior to choosing GCSE options.

After an initial introduction, professionals registering for the scheme will be matched with a pupil in Year 9 for regular monthly coaching sessions after school during which time professionals will be able to explain to pupils what their role involves, talk about projects they are currently working and discuss both the exciting and the challenging aspects of the role.

So why should your company take part in this new initiative? This exciting new scheme will:

Affect your company’s Corporate and Social Responsibility record (CSR)
Help to address current skills shortages
Provide accurate careers guidance to school leavers about industry
Promote diversity

If you are interested in joining this scheme as a construction professional please contact Janette Welton at the CIC-ConstructionSkills Team (Email jwelton@cic.org.uk or telephone 020 7399 7404).

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8. Clerk of Works and Site Inspector Handbook

The ‘Clerk of Works and Site Inspectors Handbook’ is an in depth guide to the role of the Clerk of Works / Site Inspector. Fully updated and expanded, this new edition of the popular handbook is a practical companion for Clerks of Works, Site Inspectors and anyone with the responsibility of managing construction works on site.

One of the most common misconceptions is the belief that, somewhere along the line, a Clerk of Works is an office-bound paper pusher, whose background and experience is of a purely secretarial or administrative nature. Many cannot see beyond the word ‘Clerk’ and draw their assumptions from that very limited perspective, not even formulating a link to the construction industry. But how wrong many people are. As Jack Pringle, President of the Royal Institute of British Architects, states in his Foreword to the new edition of this handbook:

‘In our 170 years of existence we have worked in partnership with all our fellow construction professionals and have long recognised the essential contribution made by the Clerk of Works to the building process’.

Jack goes on to state:

‘On a more personal note, I have worked with some superb Clerks of Works who have made very significant contributions both to the projects we were working on and to my own understanding of the construction process.’

The ‘Clerk of Works and Site Inspectors Handbook’ outlines the traditional Clerk of Works or Site Inspector role and consequent liabilities under a standard building contract and explains the additional duties and responsibilities which have been brought to the role by the contemporary construction setting.

The relationship with the architect, client and other construction professionals is clarified and is supported by comprehensive guidance on reporting, particularly of health and safety issues. The contractual and statutory requirements of every trade, as well as the quality and technical standards expected of them, are explained, interspersed with valuable insights into what to look for, check and test at every step of the way.

Not only will this guide prove an invaluable reference for Clerks of Works and Site Inspectors, but it also contains important lessons for newly qualified architects, those who carry out site inspections or act as resident site architects, and Part 3 students.

As Peter Lennon, Chairman of the Working Group that has compiled this new handbook, states:

"The skills of the Clerk of Works are honed from years of practical, hands-on experience. They know, or will have seen, almost every trick in the book and will know equally well how to counter it. Through rigorous and detailed reporting and record keeping, and thorough inspection of specifications and drawings, their work will, without question, add value to any project. The question that should always be asked is a very simple one: ‘Without the intervention of the Clerk of Works, how much would rectification and/or remedial action have cost?"

For further information or to obtain your copy visit www.icwgb.org

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9. Winners of CIOB and RICS scholarships join Manchester Business School ’s MBA for Construction Executives

Manchester Business School Worldwide (MBSW) has announced the winners of two scholarships from CIOB and RICS to join the second intake of their popular MBA for Construction Executives this month.

CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building) and RICS (the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), in partnership with Manchester Business School Worldwide, were each offering a 50% scholarship to a chartered member for the business school's new MBA for Construction Executives.

Richard Barrell of Cyril Sweet is the winner of the CIOB MBA for Construction Executives Scholarship, with Bradley Miller of Faithful & Gould winning the RICS MBA for Construction Executives Scholarship.

Barrell, 39, Senior Project Manager with Cyril Sweet, is based in Birmingham and works on the building of the Leigh sports village. “I was planning to do this MBA as it’s really tailored to my needs, but winning the scholarship means that I can start it now rather than wait a couple of years,” says Barrell.

Bradley Miller, 31, Senior Project Manager with Faithful & Gould works on the £30,000 development of Manchester airport. "I intend to introduce what I learn straight into my work to promote best practice," says Miller, "I think that the MBA will help to improve my strategic thinking."

Announcing the winners, Professor Graham Winch, Programme Director, Manchester Business School said: “The standard of entries was very high but it was a unanimous decision that the awards should go to Barrell and Miller. Their papers clearly distinguish themselves by their excellent analytical approach.”

The scholarships, both worth over £6,000, are awarded by MBSW after a competition in which applicants were required to submit an electronic presentation based on a case study provided to them. This case study was concerned with the Scottish Parliament and entitled: ‘A decision has been taken to spend a lot of money well instead of an inadequate amount badly’, a subject that required the use of managerial, budgetary and strong analytical expertise.

The scholarship is for entry to the course in July 2006. MBSW academics and representatives of the CIOB and RICS Practice Department assessed the competition entries.

The MBA for Construction Executives was launched in January this year. Its programme was developed in partnership with CITB-ConstructionSkills and through consultation with the leading industry bodies, and is designed to appeal to managers within all construction disciplines, from surveying and engineering through to managing the process. Further info about the programme can be found on www.mbs-worldwide.ac.uk/construction.

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10. Construction to be among first to benefit as education reform takes shape

The introduction of a new ‘Diploma’, for young people interested in construction moved a step closer to reality when, after months of consultation with Industry, Government and Education providers, the Diploma content was finalised and published.

The new Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment is one of five diplomas scheduled to come on line in 2008. It will offer 14-19 year olds a greater choice in the courses, subjects and qualifications they can take combining the best of available qualifications with greater flexibility enabling students to focus on specific areas of interest.

The qualifications are being developed in consultation with industry to make sure they reflect the needs of employers. The Diploma will combine the essential skills knowledge and work based learning experiences needed to prepare young people for progression into the world of work or further and higher education.

The published content mandate outlines what young people will study and the kind of knowledge, skills and understanding they will be expected to demonstrate at each of the three levels at which the Diplomas will be available. Considerable emphasis in the mandate is on the role employers will play in delivering the qualification.

The criteria outlined in the mandate include, that the Construction and Built Environment Diploma must:

Provide comprehensive guidance on career pathways and job roles.
Promote innovative work based learning.
Achieve at least half of its learning opportunities through real or realistic sector situations.
Promote sustainability, economic, social and environmental factors as well as health and safety.
Teach students about design solutions and the processes involved in creating buildings and structures.
Provide the flexibility to allow students to explore particular aspects of the built environment such as architecture, heritage, civil engineering, managing the built environment and the building engineering services.

For full details of information contained in the Diploma content mandate document visit: www.cbediploma.co.uk.

Norah Moss, Learning and Development Manager, AMEC, said: "The construction industry is booming, with numerous high profile construction projects planned across the UK , the 2012 Olympic build programme among them. The new Diplomas are a timely addition to the drive to ensure the UK has the best people joining the industry at the right time to fulfil the demand.

“Construction is by its nature often very hands-on work so it makes sense to introduce a qualification which will help ensure young people interested in the sector can get the type of real experience not available through the traditional routes. AMEC is delighted to be involved in making this happen."

Sheila Hoile, Skills Strategy Director for ConstructionSkills explains: "This is an exciting stage to have reached in the development of the diplomas. Since September 2005 we have been running a consultation with industry, and to have the content agreed with a range of partners from industry, Government and education is a fantastic achievement. We’re looking forward to the next stage, which is to build the detailed qualification architecture with Awarding Bodies and to support the planning of their delivery in 2008."

Jim Knight, The Learning outcomes School Minister said: “This is an exciting time for education. The first Diplomas are really taking shape and they provide a vision of the future of learning for 14-19 year olds.

“A growing sense of momentum is building within schools and colleges who are keen to get on with delivering reforms. The Diplomas will offer all students a real alternative to the traditional route and it is extremely encouraging that every single area of the country has already expressed an interest in offering the Diplomas when they are ready for teaching in 2008.”

Diplomas will be introduced alongside GCSEs and A-levels. This means rather than all young people doing a set of standard subjects and specialising once their school education finishes, students will be offered the opportunity of an education that meets their learning style, and subject and career interests.

Every Diploma will include generic learning including English, Maths, IT user skills, a project, personal learning and thinking skills and work experience. This will be supplemented by specific learning relevant to the course subject – e.g. in graphic design or maintenance engineering. Finally, additional and specialist learning will enable young people to tailor the course to meet their particular aspirations and interests with complementary learning or with specialist learning giving them a more in-depth knowledge about the subject area e.g. in structural mechanics, nutrition or nuclear physics.

The development of Diploma qualifications will continue until May 2007 when awarding bodies will submit qualifications to the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority for accreditation.

11. Events

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

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Construction Industry Council is a company no. 2388396 limited by guarantee, registered in England. CIC registered office: 26 Store Street London WC1E 7BT