Supply chain

from Bristol Magazine (Weekly) 10 -17 June 2021

Whats on at the cinema

The ‘perfect storm’ of Brexit, Covid and the Suez blockage has left the British building industry in the midst of a supply chain crisis, but it could bring about long-overdue change, says industry specialist Dan Grimshaw.

Dan, founder of design and construction firm Bath and London-based Beam Development, says the present disruption, although tough to take, could ultimately hasten the modernisation of the sector and deliver a fundamentally-different ‘new normal’. “If we look at the current dominance of nextday delivery options, we need to ask whether it is the most efficient and sustainable way of doing things,” said Dan. “Suppliers have little idea what is coming down the line, because nobody is looking forward; they are just looking back at what they sold last week and the week before and basing the next week’s orders on that.

“For the industry to adapt and flourish, we need to co-ordinate information across the supply chain and embrace the use of new digital technologies, such as product configurators or cloud manufacturing. “It could lead to a visible shift to a more-considered, more-productive, more-planned way of working in the next five to 10 years.” Dan says employing a more vigorous project management process could also lead to a reappraisal of geographic links and vulnerabilities.

“Each sector of materials has its own story, but all of those stories are interconnected by Covid and Brexit”, added Dan.

“Hitherto builders and contractors have had little idea where their materials came from because they had no need to ask about the breakdown and traceability of products. “But since leaving Europe and the start of the pandemic, we are more tuned into how and why a supply chain might be affected. There is an appreciation of where materials are coming from and the challenges of procuring and transporting them. “From being dependent on next-day-delivery options and doing things in bits and bobs, adapting to the new changes will ultimately make the sector more productive.

“Ordering 10 bags of cement for tomorrow and then and then 50 in the next day or when you need it, is not necessarily the most efficient way of doing things. “Thinking and planning ahead a bit more is no bad thing. And from a sustainability point of view, the harder it is to get hold of something, the more valuable it becomes. Scarcity increases value, and in turn you attach more value to it.”

Dan says the future may see the decline of just-in-time-style procurement and the increasing importance of project management and says this will also require training. “For the sector to prosper, we urgently need to develop and nurture the people that work for us. We need more home-grown permanent staff and to build teams and keep them, rather than just drafting people in. “The key to a dynamic future lies in training, on-boarding and recruiting people into the sector from an early age and who have an energetic outlook to their prospects and their career.

“Without doubt the industry has a daunting task ahead of it that will require bold and agile moves and deft navigation, but the size of the prize is enormous.” Dan Grimshaw is a design and construction specialist based in Bath and London who has worked on premium residential projects for more than 15 years. Dan believes in the importance of nurturing talent and is a mentor to the British Library’s prestigious Innovating for Growth programme, and is on the jury for the BLT Built Design Awards 2021. For further information click the image above.

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HOPE FOR RESTRICTIONS LIFTING

A Bristol funeral directors has issued a plea to the Government to lift social distancing measures for funerals as of 21 June so that grieving families don’t have to choose between loved ones to invite.

As things stand there are no limitations on the number of guests allowed at a funeral service in the UK. However, as social distancing rules are still in place, numbers are limited by the amount of people venues can hold while adhering to social distancing guidelines.

According to the Government roadmap in June some social distancing measures may still be in place, meaning families will still be restricted on who is allowed to come and pay their respects.

MW Funeral Directors in Westbury-on-Trym say that planning a funeral is already a highly emotional experience and the rules make the process even harder for grieving families.

Funeral Director Ella Abbott, said: “The past 14 months have been really tough for the funeral industry and for the families we have helped during that time.

“We understand that social distancing measures should remain in place in some situations but we believe funerals to be a safe enough environment to be able to relax the rules and allow more people to mourn and celebrate the loss of a loved one.

“Of course wearing masks would still be applicable but we would like to see venues able to safely hold more guests – especially when there will be a far higher volume of people allowed to attend bars, clubs and football stadiums when the rules change.” MW Funeral Directors provide funeral directing services to families in South Gloucestershire, Bristol and further afield. As signatories of the ‘Fair Funerals Pledge’ the business is committed to providing outstanding funeral care that is accessible to all.

With over 25 years in the funeral industry, the independent business has become renowned for its personal, bespoke and client-centred approach.

Ella continued: “It’s been extremely difficult for families during the pandemic and we are so looking forward to returning to business as usual. We have tried our best to make things as pleasant for our clients as possible by offering flexible virtual planning, live streaming services, and taking longer routes with the hearse so that people can stand on their doorsteps and see their loved one pass.

“Attending a funeral and paying respects is a vital part of the grieving process for many so we hope that the Government will take this into account.”

MW Funeral Director’s competitive prices start from £1,995 for a complete service including cremation costs.