CIC Cascade

24 May 2006

1. London property professionals to provide free consultancy to charities
2. Sign up for the Skills Update from ConstructionSkills
3. CIC Response to Energy Consultation
4. The North West Plan: Regional Spatial Strategy for the North West of England
5. CIAT invites entries for two prestigious awards
6. Construction Industry to Receive Help in Dealing with Hazardous Waste
7. New Affiliate member for the Institute of Clerks of Works
8. National First for Birmingham City Council
9. Events

1. London property professionals to provide free consultancy to charities

Registered charities will be able to get free property and construction consultancy with the launch of a new scheme aimed at encouraging and facilitating corporate social responsibility (CSR) amongst surveyors, architects, engineers and other property related consultants.

Property Advice for London will provide a match-making service for London-based charities to access specialist property expertise from established providers on everything from refurbishments and leasing to relocation and service charges.

The scheme will be run by CIC London (Construction Industry Council) and RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) who will ensure that charity clients are matched with companies with the right experience, expertise and resources to provide answers to often complex property questions.

Mark van den Berg, chairman of CIC London and director of Northcroft Construction Consultants, said:

“It is interesting to chart the journey of CSR as a business issue. What may once have been perceived as an inconvenient luxury is rapidly becoming an essential business activity and demand for this scheme has been driven by property consultants as much as the potential beneficiaries.

Charities increasingly recognise how the right property strategy is central to business success and Property Advice for London will provide them with professional property advice and guidance that would otherwise be expensive and difficult to access.”

The scheme is being sponsored by Barclays Bank. A launch event was held at the bank’s headquarters in Canary Wharf , London , on 22 May. To find out more about how to become involved please contact Janette Welton , CIC London Regional Coordinator on 020 7399 7404 or email jwelton@cic.org.uk

2. Sign up for the Skills Update from ConstructionSkills

Keep up to date with news and developments from ConstructionSkills by registering for the Skills Update regular newsletter.

Visit http://www.constructionskills.net/news/skillsupdate/ to read previous issues and sign up to receiving these up-dates.

ConstructionSkills is the Sector Skills Council for construction and a partnership between CIC, CITB-ConstructionSkills, and CITB (NI)

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3. CIC Response to Energy Consultation

In its response to the recent Government energy consultation, “Our Energy Challenge: Securing Clean, Affordable Energy for the Long Term” CIC has proposed that an ‘Energy Hierarchy’ should be adopted.

CIC is committed to the efficient use of energy and resources to counter the threat of climate change and to help sustainable living. However, the organisation believes that progress on the Government’s energy goals needs to be made more urgent. In order to achieve this, Government will need to commit explicitly to an “Energy Hierarchy” which places greater emphasis on energy efficiency and conservation, while aiming to phase out the more unsustainable technologies and energy sources.

CIC is of the firm opinion that enormous technological potential exists to improve energy management and reduce emissions on both the supply and the demand side, but that policy intervention will be required to create a sustainable market for it.

A clear vision from Government, expressed as stable and consistent policies are key to establishing more responsive market mechanisms. To underpin that vision, there needs to be improved support for innovation, to ensure that national research efforts lead to commercially viable industries and that older technologies do not distract investment from innovation and new technologies.

CIC considers that a sustainable energy policy requires a clear set of priorities which awards due importance to the management of energy transformation and use. The adoption of an “Energy Hierarchy” is proposed which offers a consistent approach to the management of energy demand and supply and recognises the need for effective use of energy as a valuable resource to combat climate change.

The Energy Hierarchy:

SUSTAINABLE

• Energy Conservation (reducing total energy demand) – good design can reduce demand, via better fabric performance, use of natural energy, etc and through compact urban form, supporting lower transport fuel use. • Energy Efficiency – minimising the carbon footprint of the energy used within a property - this includes the utilisation of combined heat and power which vastly increases the efficiency of generation from fossil fuels and similarly reduces CO2 emissions e.g. Woking project 60% reduction in CO2. • Exploitation of Renewable, Sustainable Resources - clean energy from wind, wave and sun etc. • Exploitation of Non-Sustainable Resources using Low/No-Carbon Technologies – including nuclear generation and the sequestration of CO2 from fossil fuel, as they both do vast collateral environmental damage. • Exploitation of Non Sustainable Resources using Traditional Technologies – as we do now.

For further details contact Kate Dunne at kdunne@cic.org.uk

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4. The North West Plan: Regional Spatial Strategy for the North West of England

The North West Plan sets out the framework for the future development of the North West of England. It has been prepared by the North West Regional Assembly, in partnership with a wide range of authorities, agencies, voluntary groups and individuals, as the Regional Spatial Strategy for the region. Government legislation requires a Regional Spatial Strategy to be prepared for each region of England.

The Plan, currently in draft form, sets out the scale, priorities and broad locations for future development across the region – providing a framework for where and how much development should take place. It covers a broad range of issues including housing, retail and the environment, and includes the Regional Transport Strategy. Ultimately the document seeks to ensure the sustainable growth and development of the North West.

Full details of the consultation, together with supporting documents can be found at:The North West Plan: Regional Spatial Strategy for the North West of England.

CIC is producing a regional industry response to this consultation, in the interests of the industry as a whole and on behalf of our members. If you are a member and would like to provide your views please contact Fiona McGregor at fmcgregor@cic.org.uk, 0161 295 5076.

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5. CIAT invites entries for two prestigious awards

The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) is inviting entries for its two prestigious annual awards: the Open Award for Technical Excellence in Architectural Technology and the Alan King Prize. These awards are specifically designed to recognise technical excellence in the built environment.

Open Award for Technical Excellence in Architectural Technology

This award is open to all professionals working in the built environment, ANY individual, practice, group of people or corporate body can enter.

Entrants must demonstrate their achievement of technical excellence in construction by illustrating the composition of ideas put into practice and presented in a working format. The 2005 award was won by Hong Kong Government Architectural Services department for its Electrical and Mechanical Services Department Headquarters, Hong Kong. Highly Commended was awarded to Hall Black Douglas for the Iron Hall Church, Belfast and Commended was awarded to Nicholas Grimshaw and Partners for the Rolls Royce plant and headquarters at Goodwood.

The winners of the award are publicised through Architectural Technology magazine. The Award (First Prize) takes the form of £1200 and a cast plaque for permanent attachment to the project. Second Prize is £750 and Third Prize is £550.

The Alan King Prize

This award, named after the Institute’s first chairman, is aimed at projects which demonstrate technical excellence on a budget of less than £500,000

Launched in 2005 to celebrate the Institutes Grant of Royal Charter and its fortieth anniversary, the inaugural prize went to Longstaff Associates of Westcliff, Essex, for the Environmental House in Danbury, Essex. The practice received a certificate, £1200, and a cast plaque for permanent attachment to the project.

How to apply and closing dates

The closing date for the Open Award for Technical Excellence in Architectural Technology is 2 June 2006, and for the Alan King Prize it is 18 August 2006.

The awards will be announced and presented at the Institute’s Dinner Dance in Newcastle on 18 November 2006. For further information visit www.ciat.org.uk/awards or contact Diane Dale, Practice Officer, CIAT. Tel: 020 7278 2206 or email diane@ciat.org.uk

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Small businesses in the construction sector are being invited to take part in a new EU-funded project, established to help companies reduce the amount of hazardous waste they produce - and save money.

The three-year HAZRED project aims to demonstrate the benefits of setting waste reduction targets and developing waste reduction plans in partnership with industry sectors that have a large proportion of small businesses. The construction industry, which generates approximately 72,000 t/a of hazardous waste, is one of six priority sectors selected for the HAZRED project. HAZRED is looking to work with 20 small businesses in the sector to monitor and evaluate reduction in hazardous waste produced and cost savings achieved.

Participating businesses will receive access to the hazardous waste reduction plan, developed by a team of experts including regulators and industry trade associations, which includes reduction targets. They will also benefit from on-site training with a specialist adviser, including help with implementation, monitoring and evaluating waste outputs and cost savings. Ongoing support and advice will also be available through the HAZRED hotline, website and a dedicated email address.

Tom Dibaja, External Affairs Manager at the Federation of Master Builders, has been involved in developing the hazardous waste reduction plan for the sector. He commented: “The vast majority of our industry is made up of small businesses with less than 10 employees. Many of these businesses simply do not have the time and resources to dedicate to environmental issues. The introduction of the new Hazardous Waste Regulations and changes in the legislation governing landfill sites means that construction businesses are facing new waste management challenges and higher waste disposal costs.

We are pleased to support the HAZRED project which should help our industry save money by reducing their waste and improving process efficiency.”

Jon Foreman from the HAZRED project said: “The HAZRED project will work closely with businesses in this sector to demonstrate how a focused, industry specific approach could help to reduce hazardous waste arisings. By introducing a systematic waste prevention programme, businesses can not only ensure they comply with environmental regulations but cut costs as well.”

Businesses and stakeholders in the construction sector who are interested in taking part in the project can find out more by contacting Naomi Davidson at the Environment Agency on 0117 914 2721 or by emailing naomi.davidson@environment-agency.gov.uk. To find out more about HAZRED, businesses can visit www.hazred.org.uk, which has a section dedicated to the industry.

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7. New Affiliate member for the Institute of Clerks of Works

Hambleside Danelaw Ltd, one of the best known and longest established manufacturers of products for the Roofing Industry, has become the Institute’s second “Affiliate Member” following the signing of an agreement at the Hilton Southampton Hotel on 22 April 2006.

Affiliate Membership is only offered to those companies or individuals that demonstrate, through their own commercial and quality assurance activity, that they support the aims and ideals of the Institute; and in so doing are able to support and develop the quality issues that we exist to promote throughout the industry.

Hambleside Danelaw has provided some exceptional CPD seminars to the Chapters and has supported the Institute’s Annual Conference for the last two years. Hambleside Danelaw recently won the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation.

Charles Lowrie M ICW, the Institute’s “Affiliate Member Coordinator” made a very strong and positive recommendation to the Council at their meeting earlier this year. “This type of membership is ideal for organisations that wish to promote their quality standards through association with the Institute – ‘The Professional Body for the Construction Inspectorate’. However, it is not easy – Affiliate Status will never be awarded lightly - each and every application will be considered on its merits, and all organisations will be fully and rigorously scrutinised to ensure that they meet our exceptionally high standards. We feel that Hambleside Danelaw meet our criteria and are very pleased to welcome them into the Institute”, said Charles.

Vince Cranmer, Commercial Director of Hambleside Danelaw said “We are delighted at becoming an Affiliate Member of the Institute and we look forward to working together with the Institute at a time when Construction faces many challenges such as sustainability, environmental issues and legislative change”.

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8. National First for Birmingham City Council

Birmingham City Council’s Local Authority Building Control (LABC) office, the largest of its kind in Europe, has become the very first LABC bureau to be awarded Chartered Building Consultancy status in the UK.

Local Authority Building Control is acknowledged as the UK 's leading national building control service, maintaining the highest standards in building design and construction. LABC is a publicly accountable, independent building control provider.

Trevor Haynes, Head of Building Consultancy, Birmingham City Council, said “My colleagues and I are proud to become the very first Local Authority Building Control office in the UK to win this status. And we intend to promote ourselves in this capacity at every opportunity”

Chartered Building Companies and Consultancies (CBCs) are an integral part of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and take chartered membership into a business perspective. An organisation of any size either a construction company or consultancy can become a CBC.  These organisations must demonstrate that they manage their operations efficiently, employing and managing competent, trained staff and sub-contractors. All CBCs comply with industry and safety regulations and 'Best Practice' and above all, deliver a first class service to their customers. Rigorous qualification requirements are in place for their executive directors or partners, who are expected to see to the continuous development of their staff at all levels. There are over 500 CBCs in the UK alone.

Jess Deacon CBC manager commented, “The LABC organisation is a natural alliance for CBCs. We intend that this greatly benefits both sides, and look forward to welcoming many more LABC offices around the country to CBC membership.” 

9. Events

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

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