Experts focus on ESG at Birmingham event

CIOB president joins debate emphasising the importance of collaboration at A Golden Decade of Birmingham

This summer CIOB partnered with Building Brum for an event exploring the role of environmental, social and governance (ESG).

A Golden Decade of Birmingham saw a panel of five ESG champions discuss how ESG has shaped master planning and regeneration, from Perry Barr to Paradise Birmingham. They focused on what needs to happen within the sector to enhance and create healthy, strong communities.

The panel was chaired by CIOB president Sandi Rhys Jones and comprised: Philip Nell, director of property and investment, Birmingham City Council; Alan McCartney, partner, Howells; Simon Raiye, development director, HBD; Danny Miller, social value manager, Lendlease; and Tom Wraight, regional director, Careys.

Through the discussion it became evident that collaboration is a crucial factor in driving meaningful change – and is the presidential theme Rhys Jones will be focusing on throughout her term at CIOB. Birmingham City Council’s Nell stressed the importance of datasharing. “Sharing data will not only help to drive down the cost of a project, but it will improve collaboration within the supply chain helping us understand what is needed where, and when, in order to fully achieve ESG goals.”

Sponsors were Building Services Now, Solus, Cavendish, ScanTech Digital, Careys and APiC UK. ●

Turbulence to turbines

This summer 12 members from the CIOB Wessex and Channel Islands Hub braved choppy seas to visit the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm off the south coast of England.

Departing from Brighton Marina on a catamaran, the tour took in the 116 turbines on the 72 sq km farm. Rampion has a capacity of 400MW which can generate almost 1,400GWh of green power each year, providing renewable energy for the next 25 years.

The wind farm has created around 60 full-time permanent jobs, and is operated and maintained from a purpose-built base at Newhaven Port.

Midlands CBCs are winners

Kori and Selcon take home prizes at this year’s East Midlands Constructing Excellence awards

Two chartered building companies/ consultancies (CBCs) picked up prizes at the recent East Midlands Constructing Excellence awards.

Selcon Construction Consultants won an award for Integration and Collaborative Working for its work on the £2.9m Hybrid Theatre at Royal Derby Hospital which was delivered by Galliford Try.

The judges were looking for entries where “collaborative working has delivered outstanding results and significant benefits for the whole supply chain/partnership involved”.

Selcon managing director Sam Fowkes said: “The success is due to everyone working towards a single goal.”

Kori Construction (pictured, top) scooped SME of the Year, impressing the judges with its financial performance, 100% staff retention rate and its support for the communities and the environment around its schemes.

Managing director Jordan Connachie said: “Our aim is to make sure we derive as much value as possible from each of our developments for our client, but a lso for the communities that surround them. We try to do this while at the very least minimising our impact on the environment, and improving it where we can.”