CIC Cascade

29 November 2006

1. What the London 2012 Games mean for Construction in Wales - with guest speaker Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson
2. CIC Gives warm welcome to EU Services Directive
3. ConstructionSkills Coaching Scheme for professionals launched
4. IPHE CEO calls for Plumbers to have Chartered Body
5. ABE working with others to deliver HIPs
6. New Construction Industry Scheme - 5 months to go
7. Events

1. What the London 2012 Games mean for Construction in Wales - with guest speaker Tanni Grey-Thompson

The joy shown at the success in securing the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games can only be matched by the arduous and difficult task of delivering the facilities and infrastructure required to host the largest sporting event on earth. Many historic London landmarks will play host to numerous sports, but the facilities not usually given much profile are the training facilities required 2-3 years in advance of the games, the visitor and athlete facilities, transport, accommodation etc which are dotted around the host nation

This morning seminar on the 5th December in Cardiff, jointly organised by the Construction Industry Council and Constructing Excellence in Wales, will provide details of the procurement strategy of the games organisers, the Olympic Delivery Authority, and how the construction industry in Wales can play a part, and also how Wales has a role to play in providing training facilities and contributing to the overall infrastructure which will enable the games to go ahead and be considered a success.

In addition to the Olympic Delivery Authority and Arthur Emyr who is Director Wales for the 2012 Games at the National Assembly, joining us will be other speakers including 2 Olympians who have been competitors at a number of previous Games and will be able to give us a first hand insight into the requirements of a successful Games. We will be joined by Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, the most successful Welsh Olympian of recent times and Graham Watts of the Construction Industry Council who is Manager of the British Olympic Fencing Team and a member of the Strategic Forum 2012 Task Group who are advising the government on construction in relation to the Games.

More information and booking form Exhibition space is also available.

Top

2 . CIC Gives warm welcome to EU Services Directive

The European Parliament has approved the Services Directive, which is aimed at creating a free market for Europe's services sector, at its second reading today (15 November). 

Whilst welcoming the aims of the Directive, CIC had serious concerns regarding the application of the proposals to the construction industry, in particular the application of the country of origin principle.

Under the country of origin principle, service providers – for example construction consultants – would have been subject only to the law of their home country, not the host country, when working in another member state (without being established there). This meant that, for example, a Spanish consultant working on a project in England, would be subject to the law of Spain not England.

The CIC having actively and successfully campaigned for the removal of the ‘country of origin’ principle feel that this is excellent news, not just for the UK but also for Europe as a whole. 

The government has said the Directive will generate up to 136,000 new jobs and be worth up to £5bn per year to UK businesses and consumers, who will benefit from the Directive, especially SMEs who can take advantage of testing the waters in a Member State on a temporary basis - this is only one of the examples the Directive has achieved.  Not only businesses but consumers will benefit from greater variety and choice of services, and lower prices.

Trade Minister Ian McCartney called the ruling 'good news' for UK businesses, saying: "We will now have a Europe where businesses and entrepreneurs can tap into new markets without facing a mountain of unnecessary rules and regulations"

The government claims that the directive, which is expected to be implemented across the EU by 2010, will be particularly beneficial for the UK, with its strong services sector

Top

3. ConstructionSkills Coaching Scheme for professionals launched

The new Constructionskills Coaching scheme which is being piloted by CIC got off to a flying start this week with the staging of both an Introductory training session and the Ice Breaker event at the pilot school where Built Environment professionals were introduced to the pupils who they will be coaching over the next few months.

This new volunteering programme aims to increase recruitment of school leavers into the professional disciplines. It gives children the chance to find out about the wide range of careers available directly from respected local Built Environment professionals in the South East. Pupils will be able to learn about what the roles involve and what projects the professionals are currently working on as well as taking part in a number of external visits and practical activities aimed at promoting interest in the industry.

With assistance from East London Business Alliance (a business-led regeneration agency), the pilot is being run in conjunction with Eastlea Community School in Newham, one of London's Olympic Boroughs. Professionals from a wide range of companies have offered to take part in this pilot including Bovis Lend Lease, Child Graddon Lewis, Conisbee, Costain, CTRL, Devereux Architects, Rok and Willmott Dixon. They cover all manner of different professional disciplines including architecture, engineering, architectural technology, estimating and project management and are situated across the South East region.

All coaches were invited to attend an Introductory training session on 7 November at the CIC offices. This training aimed to provide the coaches with a background to the area and the school they would be working with as well as giving them some examples of possible activities which they could undertake with the pupils and the opportunity to design an activity themselves.

Coaches were then introduced to the pupils they had been matched with at the Ice Breaker event which was held the following day at Eastlea School itself. All pupils are in Year 9 at school (13-14 years of age) and have volunteered for the programme following presentations about the scheme in their school assembly and at a recent Parents Evening. Each coach was matched with 2-3 pupils who showed their coach around their school grounds.

All groups were then given a practical activity to work on together with their coaches to ensure that both coaches and pupils felt at ease prior to the next coaching session when coaches will be able to create their own activity. Groups were asked to try their hand at the Taylor Woodrow Tower Building activity which is used by the ConstructionSkills Education teams. Teams were required to work together to design and construct a tower which gained optimum profits based on its final height, the time taken to construct it and the quantity of materials used.

Coaches will meet with pupils once each month until Easter 2007 to explain what their role involves.

A second introductory training session is being planned for early 2007 for new coaches who wish to join the scheme. To register your interest in participating in this pilot please contact Janette Welton at CIC (Email jwelton@cic.org.uk; Tel 020 7399 7404).

Top

4. IPHE CEO calls for Plumbers to have Chartered Body
Blane Judd, Chief Executive of the Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (IPHE), asked delegates at the Building Research Establishment’s Conference, held on 16th November, to support the Institute in its bid for chartered status.

In his keynote speech, ‘Drinking Water for Life’, Blane covered water conservation and talked about the role the IPHE has in making the public aware of the link between professionally qualified plumbing and heating engineers and safe drinking water.

He told the audience of the Institute’s plan to petition for a Royal Charter and said that if the IPHE is granted chartered status it will be one of the first craft-based bodies to achieve this distinction.

Blane went on to say that the Royal Charter, would raise the sector's image to the benefit of all industry associations, organisations and trade bodies.  

“We will enhance our dialogue and collaboration with engineering institutions and trade bodies so that we can develop shared aspirations and objectives, so facilitating improved outcomes for the sector.  The plumber has long been the butt of British humour, the time to stop the jokes has come.  If we do not start to take seriously the recognition of these professionals and their contribution to health and conservation, by helping the public to understand the need to demand properly qualified plumbing and heating engineers, there will eventually be no one left to laugh.”

“I strongly believe that events like today show that the time has come for everyone to accept that plumbing and heating be recognised as sufficiently important to the future survival of this planet that it deserves to have a professional body that holds the highest level of recognition - Royal Charter - so that there is no doubt in the minds of the public that drinking water for life means for tomorrow as well as today.  I therefore urge you to get behind the Institute to help achieve the recognition this sector deserves.  I’m not talking about life long learning but learning for life.”  

Top

5. ABE working with others to deliver HIPs

The Association of Building Engineers confirms its position in the support and delivery of the Home Information Packs, the inclusion of the energy performance certificates and the provision of the Home Condition Reports.

The Association is working closely with the DCLG and AHIPP in the development and delivery of HIP’s. The feedback from participants received has shown a far greater recognition and appreciation of the benefits provided by the current proposals.

The ABE are disappointed by the perceived negative actions and stance being taken at this point in time by both individuals and organisations. The provision of support to participants within the housing process is essential. The HIP proposals will provide greater clarity at the earliest possible stage and must be effectively supported If the efforts being taken to negate the proposals had been applied to promote them the systems for delivery would be in place now.

Find out more about the Association of Building Engineers, ABE-Assess and the

Home Inspector Diploma online at http://www.abe.org.uk and http://www.abeassess.org.uk/.

Top

6. New Construction Industry Scheme - 5 months to go

With just six months to go before the launch of the New Construction Industry Scheme (New CIS), HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) are urging the industry to get ready for its introduction in April 2007.

HMRC are reminding contractors that they need be ready for three big changes:

• Cards and certificates are being replaced by a 'verification' service to confirm whether subcontractors should be paid gross or net

• Instead of issuing vouchers, contractors will make monthly returns and issue pay statements

• The monthly return will include a declaration that the contractor has considered the status of the workers on the return and that none of them is an employee

For further information and advice  

Contractors can get advice from a number of places: the HMRC website, www.hmrc.gov.uk/new-cis/new_guidance.htm, or the helpline on 0845 366 7899.

7. Events

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

Top