UK Construction Excellence August 2017

AUGUST 2017

COVER STORY - THE VR REVOLUTION An exclusive interview with Colin Evison, Head of Innovation at BAM Nuttall

44 FIRE PROTECTION POST-GRENFELL

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH STEPHEN ADAMS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF BAFE

28 CLEARING THE AIR AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MATTHEW PENCHARZ

52 BUILDING SUSTAINABLY IS OUR HUMAN DUTY AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ENVIROBUILD’S DR AIDAN BELL

COMMUNITY

STAKEHOLDER

E-BOOKS

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WHAT DOES THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR ORGANISATION?

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WELCOME to the latest edition of UK Construction Excellence - celebrating the very best in British building.

Despite construction growth being recorded at an 11-month low by IHS Markit/CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index® (PMI®), the construction market is confident of a return.

While commercial growth is seeing a slow down, the residential

market remains buoyant. With the government leading housing and infrastructure investment, civil engineering is experiencing a boost and recorded an upturn in growth.

This month we focus on the evolution of technology and the emergence of augmented and virtual reality in the construction sector. We speak to two experts in construction innovation about how the technology can be

32 FTA urges Brexit Secretary to put logistics at the heart of EU discussions

applied and the benefits of integrating this emerging software.

With one eye always on the future, we also speak with Matthew Pencharz about tackling pollution on sites and the advantages of using cleaner, more efficient equipment.

And, as always, we catch up with the latest contract news, industry movers and our guest contributors, inside.

Robert Atherton

18 Top tips on controlling cash flow in construction in 2017

48 Building Blocks for VR in Construction

Publications Editor Robert Atherton

Managing Director Grahame Steed

Designer Seamus Norton

Production Manager Gareth Trevor-Jones Display Advertising Sales T: 0800 6127680 admin@ukconstructionmedia.co.uk ISSN 1461-1279

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2017

BUILDING SAFETY WORKSHOPS

Construction industry growth softens in June The UK construction industry experienced a slowdown in growth through June, according to the latest IHS Markit/CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers' Index.

Economic and political uncertainty stemming from the General Election led to another bout of risk aversion among clients and was a key factor in the loss of momentum. June saw growth drop to 54.8 from May’s figure of 56.0, but this remained above the growth threshold of 50.0 for the tenth consecutive month.

Residential was the strongest performing sector, coming out on top against both the commercial and civil engineering industries. Such was the growth of housing activity in June that the increase in activity was the second highest since December 2015.

Respondents said a lack of new contracts to take the place of completed work stifled progress, as new order growth fell to its weakest since March. Employment within the industry dipped to its lowest level for three months, and there was less optimism among construction companies as confidence dropped to its lowest level since December last year.

The demand for construction materials continued however, almost equalling May’s 16-month peak. Construction firms reported another sharp rise in their average cost burdens as well.

The overall rate of inflation rebounded since May and was the strongest for three months.

Tim Moore, Senior Economist at IHS Markit, said: “Survey respondents

commented on renewed caution among clients, in response to heightened political and economic uncertainty. Fragile business sentiment led to delayed decision making on large projects and greater concern about the outlook for workloads during the next 12 months.

“While construction firms remain upbeat overall about their near-term growth prospects, the degree of confidence fell to its lowest so far this year.

“Despite a softer rise in construction output, the latest survey revealed that supply chain pressures were among the most intense since early 2015. June data also pointed to strong input price inflation, driven by resilient demand and upward pressure on the cost of imported construction materials.”

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New electric vehicle guide launched to help fleet operators A new guide to help businesses electrify their commercial fleet has been published by UK Power Networks.

The guide, launched at the LoCITY roadshow last month, provides fleet operators with useful tips and information about the options available to connect to the electricity network.

New electric fleets may need charging points installed on site and there are various options, such as faster charging, to be considered. The guide explains what the connection process is for getting a new or upgraded electricity supply to power a fleet of vehicles, and estimates how much it will cost.

Steve Halsey, Distributed Energy Development Manager at UK Power Networks, said: “As a responsible electricity network we want to help fleet operators embrace a low carbon future. The guide tells fleet operators everything they need to know, including what type of charging they need, how many vehicles can be charged at one time, if there needs to be an electrical infrastructure upgrade and how long the installation process will take.”

Click here to read ‘Getting Electric Vehicles Moving’ in full.

HS2’s major construction contracts announced The winners of the major construction contracts for Britain’s new railway have been announced with the £6.6Bn agreements supporting 16,000 jobs across the country.

The huge infrastructure investment covers the main civil engineering work on the first phase of HS2 between London and Birmingham – including construction of tunnels, bridges, embankments and viaducts. Amongst the winners are joint ventures that include Carillion, Costain and Balfour Beatty.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling announced the decision to award contracts, which will mean the new high-speed link reaching Birmingham by 2026.

Mr Grayling said: “This is a hugely important step in the construction of Britain’s new railway and underlines this Government’s determination to deliver an economy that works for all.

“HS2 will deliver vital links between some of our country’s biggest cities, helping to drive economic growth and productivity in the North and Midlands.

“As well as providing desperately needed new seats and better connecting our major cities, HS2 will help rebalance our economy.”

In total, construction of the full HS2 route to the North West and Yorkshire will create up to 25,000 jobs and 2,000 apprenticeships. Another 3,000 people will operate HS2 and it is estimated that growth around new HS2 stations will create another 100,000 jobs.

The full list of winning bidders to build the first phase of the route can be viewed here.

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Image courtesy of Frederic Legrand – COMEO / Shutterstock.com

£1.7Bn deal to build 50,000 affordable homes announced The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced a record £1.7Bn deal with councils and housing associations in London to start building an extra 50,000 affordable homes to rent and buy over the next four years.

Housing associations and councils made the commitment in response to the Mayor’s first call for bids to the record-breaking £3.15Bn affordable homes fund he secured from the Government in November last year.

It represents almost treble the 18,000 homes secured by the final call for bids issued by the previous Mayor in 2014.

The announcement will see an estimated £1.7Bn invested in 49,398 genuinely affordable homes being built, with new properties in all 32 boroughs and the City of London.

They will be delivered by 44 housing providers – including large and small housing associations, as well as nine London councils.

Of the total, 17,500 will be for rents around social levels, while just under 32,000 will be for a combination of the Mayor’s new London Living Rent and Shared Ownership.

London Living Rent is a new type of tenancy the Mayor introduced last year to help middle-income earners in the capital save for a deposit to move into Shared Ownership by offering them rents based on one third of average local gross household incomes.

Housing associations will be given the flexibility to swap homes between London Living Rent and Shared Ownership depending on local circumstances when homes are completed. Sites have already been identified and bought for almost half the 50,000 homes – meaning delivery can get underway immediately – with the major housing associations committing themselves to working with City Hall to bring forward land for

the remaining homes allocated.

Mr Khan said: “I want to see everyone playing their part in tackling the housing crisis in London, because it is simply unacceptable that Londoners continue to be priced out of a city they call home.

“We know that solving the housing crisis is not going to happen overnight, but I very much welcome so many housing associations and councils matching my ambition by committing to build the new and genuinely affordable homes Londoners so desperately need.

“I am delighted that we have set a City Hall record for the number of homes allocated funding – but I am clear that we have got much more to do to secure the land we need to build homes and ensure we have sufficient capacity in the construction industry.”

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Bechtel wins delivery partner role at London City Airport Bechtel has been awarded a delivery partner contract to manage London City Airport’s development plan.

The work includes expanding existing terminal facilities and creating new airfield infrastructure for a further 30,000 permitted flight movements.

The new facilities will allow for up to 6.5 million passengers by 2025 while maintaining a reliable and consistent service for current passengers.

As part of the five year contract, Bechtel will work as part of an integrated team with London City Airport officials to deliver the multimillion pound City Airport Development Programme,

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which includes plans to expand the existing terminal and build a new threestorey passenger pier and seven new aircraft stands, as well as a new aircraft taxi lane.

The upgrade will be delivered with consideration for surrounding businesses and residents, helping to futureproof the airport and to accommodate the next generation of aircraft that are quieter, have a longer range and achieve greater fuel efficiency.

Paul Gibbs, Bechtel’s UK Managing Director, said: “Delivering London City’s expansion in an operational,

urban airport surrounded by water presents complex challenges that our team can meet.

“We will partner with London City to enhance this important gateway with minimum disruption to passengers, airlines and the community.”

Declan Collier, CEO of London City Airport, said: “The appointment of Bechtel signals the next important step towards the start of construction on this significant development.

“Their expertise and experience will ensure that the programme is delivered responsibly, professionally and skilfully, while the airport remains operational.”

Reserve Hub sails into Cardiff

Tower Hamlets Projects Manager issues call to action over Grenfell A month on from the tragic Grenfell Tower fire, Roy MacPepple – Interim Strategic Housing Development and Regeneration Projects Manager for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets – is seeking advice and opinion from the construction industry on the most innovative ideas, designs and products relating to external wall insulation (EWI).

According to Roy, this feedback will one day form part of an in-depth Tall Blocks Retrofit Fire Mitigation Strategy (TBRFMgs) which will explore five areas of risk, namely: • • • • •

External Wall Insulation Fire and Smoke Detection Sprinkler Systems Emergency Lighting Mechanical Smoke Ventilation

Mr MacPepple has since published an article addressing the Construction Industry Community UK (CICUK) directly. This was a call to action, an impassioned plea for housing professionals to “do better” for the residents in their charge, specifically in terms of health and

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safety provision and the fire risk of EWI to high-rise buildings.

According to Roy, the challenge now for the CICUK is to prioritise research and development of quality thermal insulation materials that are “inert or have very high fire resistance”. The retrofit of sprinkler systems into aging infrastructure is another key consideration, with a view to reducing the likelihood of another Grenfell Tower.

So far, response to the article has been astounding. Mr MacPepple told UK Construction Excellence that he had been inundated with offers to assist, and he is now considering a seminar to empower his colleagues in the CICUK. While still in its formative stages, this seminar is slated to take place after the much anticipated Public Inquiry process so that the verdict can be taken into consideration when developing the TBRFMgs proper.

To get in touch with Roy MacPepple or read his article in full, please visit: http://bit. ly/2ui40mn

A bespoke facility to house the Royal Navy Reserves has received planning permission from Cardiff Council.

The £11M Reserve Hub will provide a modern, 21st century training establishment, housing the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR), Royal Marines Reserve (RMR) and University Royal Naval Unit (URNU).

The project is designed to help meet the aspirations of the UK’s Reserve Forces for the next 50 years and will be delivered by the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Wales (RFCA) in partnership with the Royal Navy and Associated British Ports (ABP), who have offered the Navy a long-term lease on the waterfront site in Cardiff Bay. The tendering procurement process is now underway and it is hoped construction will start in early 2018.

Design of the facility is being undertaken

by ABP, working in close conjunction with RFCA and the Royal Navy. It will provide a suite of state-of-the-art training areas and classrooms, administrative services, social and fitness facilities and accommodation for three naval Units, the RNR Unit HMS Cambria, the RMR Cardiff Detachment and the Wales URNU. Access will also be provided to the waterfront and docking facilities for visiting warships.

Commander Steve Fry, the Commanding Officer of HMS Cambria, the local RNR Unit, said: “We are very excited about this project. It is very fitting that this significant investment by the Royal Navy in Wales, which will provide great opportunities for our Reservists and for anyone wishing to be part of the Reserve Forces, gets the go-ahead today on Reserves Day”.

Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns, said: “The Navy’s investment in this facility signals the UK Government’s commitment to preserving a strong military footprint in Wales.

“Reservists are playing an increasingly vital role in the Navy, often taking part in operations around the world. Not only do they potentially risk their lives, they also play a crucial role in promoting a greater understanding of the Royal Navy and its work among the general public.

“I have no doubt that this new facility will attract the high-quality recruits we need to ensure that Wales’s distinguished contribution to the defence of the United Kingdom will continue.”

UK Summit 2017

BAM named construction partner on Donaldson’s College site BAM Construction has been named lead contractor for a landmark development within Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site.

Following the signing of a contract worth more than £30M, BAM Construction will deliver the main shell and core structure of The Crescent by CALA Homes, a sweeping curve of 84 glass-fronted, contemporary new residences set within one of the Scottish capital’s most iconic locations. CALA’s own team will undertake the fit-out of the apartments.

The project is set within the grounds of the historic Donaldson’s College, renowned for the A-Listed Playfair building.

Worth more than £90M, it is among the most ambitious projects undertaken by CALA and will see the

firm bring to life its vision for one of for the past few years and we fully the most important sites in Scotland. understand the responsibilities of 16work, May 2017, London Preparatory also carried out developing within the World

by BAM Construction, started in Heritage Site.

The Summit is the first of its “It kind to address the major May 2017 and involved a significant is incredibly important to us points UK'sunderstand built excavationtouch to create the of change, presenting that our the partners the underground parking – part of the of this site and work with environment sector with bothimportance unprecedented challenges design intended to keep the site neighbours and opportunities inasthe coming years. to minimise disruption as free from cars as possible once it is far as possible. BAM has proven that it complete and landscaped. shares these values.

Attend key sessions to: Following this, construction will “This promises to be a one-of-a-kind commence theabout westernmost thatinwe are extremely • on Hear the current anddevelopment future trends global real half of the split crescent, to create proud to be part of. This appointment estate markets with our keynote address from JLL a stylish, glass-fronted building is the next step in realising the final, EMEA Guy Grainger. which cleverly takesCEO a number of exciting design.” design cues – primarily height and Bruce Dickson, Regional Director of • Listen to an interactive panel discussion withsaid: Arup form – from the finest buildings in BAM Construction, “Both of our Edinburgh’s celebrated are completely committed to AssociateGeorgian Global Foresightteams Manager Josef Hargrave, New Town. L&Q Development Directordelivering this really exciting Andy Rowland and Britishproject David McGrath, Managing Director and it’s one that, once completed, will Land Head of “This Office Leasing Michael on how of CALA Homes (East), said: definitely be Wiseman an impressive addition to UK real estate can and should respond to changing has been a major focus of ours Edinburgh’s architectural legacy.”

workspace, and changing lifestyles.

CITB’s future dependent on fundamental change says • Discuss with Heathrow Development Director Phil FMB The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has backed the Government’s decision to support the continuation of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Anne Milton wrote to CITB Chairman, James Wates, to inform him of the Government’s decision to allow the organisation to continue holding levyraising powers.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “Most people agree that the CITB had lost its way but scrapping it altogether would only make the construction skills crisis worse. What we now want to see is for the CITB leadership to embrace a culture of change until we’ve reformed the organisation from head to toe.”

The Government’s review of the CITB was due to be published in the spring but the Prime Minister’s decision to call a snap General Election means that the report is now due to appear in October.

It was envisaged the findings would be

Wilbraham, along with other contributors from the road

made known before the construction and rail sectors where the opportunities in UK industry voted on the CITB’s levy currently lie. proposals thisinfrastructure summer.

Mr Berry commented: “It’s slightly Observe ansee in-depth interview session, including frustrating •that we won’t the detailed content of the Government’s Cushman & Wakefield James Maddock looking at how CITB review until after thecan consensus disruption positively impact your business. process has come to an end. We are particularly keen to see Book now andsome join senior attendees from high profile recommendations regarding the need companies. for a governance review as the current structure is not fit for purpose.”

He was also critical of the underrepresentation of SMEs within the organisation and called on trade federations to put aside their own needs in order to focus on the health of the construction industry as a whole.

Mr Berry said: “When you look at continue to flounder until it is properly the make-up of our industry, 99% of representative. For too long, major firms are small and medium-sized contractors have called the shots and companies but we don’t see that although they have an important role reflected on either the Board or the to play, their role has been inflated – Council. We recognise and support especially when you consider that it’s the need for a streamlined board the small firms that carry out the bulk of competencies but the CITB will of the training in our industry.”

View the programme and book now at rics.org/uksummit 11

WHEN SORRY SEEMS TO BE THE HARDEST WORD It was Elton John that sang the words “…oh it seems to me that sorry seems to be the hardest word..” What a great song. I am pretty sure Mr John was singing about unrequited love rather than legal claims but I just couldn’t resist making the connection.

Sorry about that.

We all know that in life things do not always go to plan.

Accidents involving motor vehicles, poor professional advice, cock-ups in hospitals and so on are part of everyday life.

So, what do we do when things go wrong and we are involved?

The instant human reaction is to want to apologise. But, more often than not, people are worried about making an apology, particularly if they are insured and their insurance arrangements make it abundantly clear that if they make any admission of liability their insurance cover will go out of the window and they will be left uninsured to face the claim alone.

If you doubt what I am saying, may I remind you of the Thomas Cook inquest into the deaths of two young children on a Greek holiday whose senior representative

steadfastly refused to apologise at the inquest. Do you think the person wanted to say sorry? Could it be that the representative felt that an apology would amount to an admission of liability? Were Thomas Cook’s insurers pulling strings behind the scenes? We will never know.

Now I am no psychology expert, far from it, but I have done my fair share of mediations and I know that a lack of an apology can stoke the fires of hell in the party that has been wronged. I have lost count of the number of times I have heard “if only he had said sorry at the start we wouldn’t be here now”.

An apology is often a part of a

Regent House, Folds Point, Folds Road, Bolton BL1 2RZ t. 01204 362888 f. 01204362808

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The lesson is that an early and genuine apology can do much good at no cost. mediated settlement so there is definitely something in this. Could it be that if a party that has committed a wrong apologised at an early stage, an escalation of the dispute might be avoided?

It seems that I am not the only person perturbed by the conceptual link between an apology and an admission of liability. My attention has recently been drawn to a pamphlet published by the NHS Resolution entitled “Saying Sorry”. The front page includes the following very wise words.

“Saying sorry meaningfully when things go wrong is vital for everyone involved in an incident, including the patient, their family, carers, and the staff that care for them”. The pamphlet goes on to explain why, when, who and how the apology should be made. It is an excellent document and available at www.nhsla.com/ claims/Documents/Saying%20 Sorry%20-%20Leaflet.pdf . I am not sure who drafted the pamphlet but, whoever you are, well done!

So, does saying sorry amount

to an admission of liability?

Well, The Compensation Act 2006 clearly states that “An apology, an offer of treatment or other redress, shall not of itself amount to an admission of negligence or breach of statutory duty”, so the answer seems to be no. But be careful – how you make the apology is clearly going to be important.

An insurer may not be too bothered about you saying “I am sorry X, Y and Z happened” but will probably be upset with you if you say “I am sorry I caused X,Y and Z – it is entirely my fault”. Do you see the difference?

Even the making of an open offer to settle may not be seen as proof of guilt. The Court of Appeal in Amber v Stacey [2001] ALL ER 88 addressed this issue in which it was said “The lesson is that an early and genuine apology can do much good at no cost.” But again, care needs to be taken in drafting any such offer.

Where does all this leave us?

Well it seems obvious that if you are on the end of a claim, an early acknowledgement

and apology is likely to take the heat out of an otherwise hostile situation. BUT. If you are insured, it is always a good idea to get your Insurer to approve any apology you are intending to make before it is made – just to be sure!

So, Mr John, sorry doesn’t have to be the hardest word after all, or does it?

Peter Vinden is a practising Arbitrator, Adjudicator, Mediator and Expert. He is Managing Director of The Vinden Partnership and can be contacted by email at pvinden@vinden.co.uk For similar articles please visit www.vinden.co.uk.

Regent House, Folds Point, Folds Road, Bolton BL1 2RZ t. 01204 362888 f. 01204362808

tvp@vinden.co.uk www.vinden.co.uk

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Don’t let your weakest link be your contractor chain An individual contractor, or company with multiple workers, visits your site to complete a task. This person may only need to be on site for a couple of hours, or just a day or so, carrying out essential works, usually with a fast turnaround. A job you need them to carry out given their skillset, training and qualifications, with great flexibility – helping you out at short notice. They are a great support, making your job easier. Aren’t they?

You are responsible for the health and safety of all those operating in and around your site. This contractor may not have ever visited your site before.

Perhaps they have, but it was a year ago, and they can’t remember the layout. The site environment could be

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completely new to them. This means they are wholly unfamiliar with your specific processes and risks, your methods of working and other tasks going on around them that they need to be aware of. They haven’t got an employee handbook and they didn’t hear the toolbox talks you held last week on effective health and safety practices. They might be keen to finish this particular job quickly in order to fulfil other commitments later on in the week.

These factors combined could result in lack of oversight, increasing risks and the likelihood of an incident occurring.

If this was to happen on one of your sites, you would face questions as to how you took your duty of care to the

contractor seriously. If you didn’t, you could face severe punishments.

In February 2017, HSE Inspector Neil Fry said: “This is a tragic case which could have been entirely preventable; if the company had managed their contractors effectively then the worker would have returned home safely from work.”

Fry was discussing the failures of Go-Ahead London in May 2011 after a workman died following a fall from a ladder, trying to access the top of a fuel tank. The HSE investigation found that the company had failed to implement and keep to their own procedures for managing contractors. Following the incident, Go-Ahead London undertook a review of its contractor

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In the event of a health and safety incident occurring, your audit trail becomes a vital source of evidence in the investigation process.

management procedures to ensure it wouldn’t happen again. Are you getting contractor management right and ensuring all possible gaps have been closed?

What does good contractor management look like?

Contractors may make up a significant element of your workforce, with specialisms that range from working at height, to asbestos removal, and to air conditioning maintenance. They may also be vulnerable, and pose risks.

With construction output reported at a 17-month high in May by The Markit/CIPS UK Construction PMI, use of contractors looks set to increase.

The future for industry growth appears positive, and with potentially more sites, locations and contractors to manage than ever before, fundamental control procedures have never been more important.

Every element of the contractor journey to site to carry out works must be monitored and recorded.

It involves: • Ensuring the right people, with the appropriate competencies, training qualifications and documented insurance/certifications, are on site and have completed necessary inductions.

• Making sure that all contractors are fully equipped to complete the job in the location specified and that this is supported with all necessary RAMS (risk assessments and method statements)

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documentation, proving that they can conduct the work safely.

This process is daunting, and there is a considerable amount of preparation work involved. This is why control should be put firmly back with the contractor company/individual, making it compulsory for them to provide you with all necessary documentation before gaining permission to visit your site and complete work. Otherwise, how can you run compliance checks safe in the knowledge that the individual is suitably qualified to be on your site carrying out the task? More importantly, are you prepared to take the risk?

Going online: the benefits In the event of a health and safety incident occurring, your audit trail becomes a vital source of evidence in the investigation process. It demonstrates you have done everything reasonable to reduce risks and protect individuals. What, Why, When, Where and How are all key questions that you should hold the answers to prior to a contractor arriving on site. Making it mandatory for contractors to fill out information before they can be approved for a job via an online system, is the most effective way of managing this sometimes complex process.

Banyard Solutions’ e-permits management system enables this.

The request system is straightforward for contractors and allows them to demonstrate that they are able to complete the specified task, with valid

training certification and insurance.

They are the persons responsible for uploading the data – showing if they have been inducted on site before, with relevant date information. This must be done before you can agree for them to be on the site and approve the supporting permit to work. It also ensures they only turn up on the day you are expected to work, and unexpected arrivals will not be able to get on site. A contractor arriving on site early could be dangerous. Necessary isolation of high voltage systems planned for Friday may not have occurred on the Wednesday when the contractor has turned up unexpectedly.

By having a system that only gives authority for them to come on site on particular days, you are protecting them, and your business.

Having contractor records also enables you to document where contractors have failed, or not performed the task you expected them to, meaning that you know not to work with them in the future. This ‘close out’ process is important – you are able to review whether the contractor turned up, was the work done in the right place, was it completed safely, did the individual take avoidable risks, were cables left lying around? If a non-compliant issue occurs you are able to keep a record of it and monitor it for the future, ensuring your health and safety processes remain watertight.

By Simon Olliff, Managing Director at Banyard Solutions

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Top tips on controlling cash flow in construction in 2017 Whether you’re working on the most expensive project in the world or a more straightforward house build, effectively managing cash flow is vital to keeping your job on plan and your business profitable. Here are our top tips for controlling your cash flow in the construction industry in 2017.

1. Do your research. Knowing your client before you agree to carry out any work is an important first step in any construction project. If they have any history of failing to pay on time – or worse, not at all – it may not be a risk worth taking, however enticing the final profit looks. They might be promising you a huge sum of money but you need to make sure they have the financial means to pay. Don't be afraid to collect references from other businesses the clients have worked with in the past to be confident of this before you sign any kind of contract.

2. Have a thorough plan of what’s coming in and going out every month. A cash flow forecast means you can estimate how much cash you will have at every stage of the project.

You can then work out important steps such as ensuring you get paid by clients before you have to pay out for materials and labour. Monitoring your forecast regularly as the project is ongoing also means you can see clearly whether you are on track financially and whether there are any regular costs such as utilities that you could reduce or change.

3. Put yourself first. If your business isn’t going to make a profit from the work, is it worth doing? Once you’ve established you’re definitely on track to

make money, then work out a realistic and profitable estimate for the project.

Don’t promise the potential client a low price so they will use you if you can’t deliver it with a profit – but on the other hand don’t set your costs so high that they will start looking elsewhere.

Also think about asking for a deposit on large orders so you have generated enough cash to get started.

have a question or issue and can’t contact you to resolve it, they may delay a payment which can then have huge knock-on problems. Give them a point of contact who they know they can speak to should any issues arise. It’s also worth having a strong relationship with your bank so you can let them know in advance about any unforeseen changes or delays.

4. Keep on top of the books. However well your business is doing, if you fall behind with the books you’ll be doomed. You might have ten profitable projects going on at once, but forget to set a schedule for the invoices or fail to collect them and you’re not going to have any money to pay your staff or buy materials. Agree clear payment terms and conditions with clients from the outset and set up a simple way for them to pay you so you know you will receive everything on time – or know immediately if you don’t.

Sending invoices as soon as the work is completed will also mean you get your money as quickly as possible.

7. Stay on top of change. Anyone working within the construction industry will know that projects rarely stay the same as originally planned – whether it’s something as small as choosing a different door handle or moving the location of a wall. Almost any change has an impact on cost – and you need to make sure you agree a way to communicate these changes to the client. We would recommend telling the client about any changes to cost as soon as possible; but whether you provide updates on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, make sure all changes are well documented.

It may sound obvious but it’s also worth checking the client has the funds to pay for the change before you make the decision to do it, however minor it seems.

Being thorough, well organised and open with clients are all key to controlling your cash flow in the construction industry, but if you follow these simple tips we’re confident your business will remain a success.

5. Timing is key. You need to make sure you have enough cash at hand when you are due to pay money out.

For example, if your customers have 30 days to pay you but your suppliers need to be paid within 14 days, you’re going to be left in the red. Working out a proper timing schedule as part of your cash flow forecast (see point two) will help you work out the most appropriate payment schedules to suit all parties.

6. Keep channels of communication open. Make sure your clients can contact you at all times – if they

Hasib Howlader is a Director at Hudson Weir, a successful Insolvency Practitioners based in central London.

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Grenfell Tower: The construction sector responds

Grenfell Tower, one of the worst incidents of its kind in UK history, has laid bare lax attitudes to fire protection and the limitations of the current building regulations.

It’s a time for introspection, as the industry re-examines its innermost workings. And yet, introspection should not come at the cost of a swift and appropriate response.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan was among the many urging fast action.

In an open letter addressing the Prime Minister, Mr Khan welcomed Theresa May’s decision to hold a Public Inquiry, maintaining that it would offer the “best opportunity to get the truth”.

In light of local frustration and mistrust, the Mayor also called for complete transparency. Central government and the newly appointed inquiry chair, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, must clarify to the community the Public Inquiry process, he said – specifically in terms of potential timescales and inquiry milestones.

What’s more, the review must not be hamstrung. Many deem Public Inquiry inferior to inquest, and anxiety

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remains as to whether the incident will be investigated as fully as it should be. No matter how inconvenient or uncomfortable the findings, only the absolute truth will do.

“The ferocity of the fire at Grenfell Tower shocked the entire country and the Prime Minister has announced there will be a Public Inquiry,” Mr Khan later said. “But it is crucial that any lessons are learned and taken on board at as early a stage as possible. This was the largest and most challenging fire we have seen in this country for decades. And with so many tall buildings in our city, the public need to have confidence that they will be kept safe.”

The Mayor has since advised that an interim report be made available during the summer months. And while Sir Martin Moore-Bick has so far refused to be drawn into discussion over the schedule proper.

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid has no such qualms.

In June, Mr Javid announced the creation of an independent expert advisory board, the intention being to effect immediate change on matters of regulation and fire protection. The board, which comprises numerous building and fire safety authorities, is to be chaired by Sir Ken Knight – a former London Fire Commissioner and one-time Government Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser.

Also lending their expertise are Dr Peter Bonfield, Chief Executive of the Building Research Establishment; Roy Wilsher, Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council; and Amanda Clack, President of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and a Partner at EY. “I want to know if there are measures we can put in place now to keep people safe and I want them done

The ferocity of the fire at Grenfell Tower shocked the entire country and the Prime Minister has announced there will be a Public Inquiry,

immediately,” said Sajid Javid. “I want the public to be confident everything possible is being done.

“That is why I am announcing a new expert advisory panel to advise Government on any immediate action that is required to ensure all buildings are safe.”

It’s a positive first step, though the root cause of the Grenfell fire might be more ingrained than previously thought. Could a change in culture be required? With this in mind, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has convened its own ‘Commission of Past Presidents’ to explore issues of build quality in the construction sector. In particular, how can the CIOB make sure certain methods of management and supervision are robust, further the education agenda, and better identify ways in which build quality can be improved?

Immediate CIOB Past President Paul Nash commented: “The recent tragic events at Grenfell Tower have further underlined the need for an urgent review of the way in which quality is managed in our industry. While aspects of the public inquiry must necessarily focus on the issues of regulation and inspection, I think we have to look beyond this at the behaviours that have led to a lack of focus on quality at all stages of the build process, from design and procurement through to construction and re-fit.”

It’s a sentiment shared by the Fire Sector Federation (FSF) – a not-forprofit, non-government forum for firerelated matters.

According to Federation Chairman Paul Fuller, the principal issue is one of communication.

“We are gravely concerned in particular about the whole design, specification, supply chain and construction

process,” said Mr Fuller.

“The system is inherently fragmented; meaning decisions about design strategies, products, techniques, certification, competency and auditing, among others, are made in a disjointed and often ineffective and inconsistent manner, with less regard to fire safety than should be the case.”

As such, the FSF has extended a hand to policymakers, the view being that the industry needs to have its say in reshaping the UK fire sector for the better.

“The Federation has made an offer to Government to assist. It is calling for Government to be proactive in helping to develop the most appropriate mix of solutions to make sure a tragedy such as Grenfell Tower can never happen again. We expect a response from Government soon.”

Understandably, health and safety has also come under intense scrutiny postGrenfell. More than 700 organisations and individuals have petitioned the Prime Minister rethink the “arbitrary deregulation of health and safety,” among them global health and safety professionals, leading academics and even some MPs. “We believe it is totally unacceptable for residents, members of the public and our emergency services to be exposed to this level of preventable risk in modern-day Britain,” said the open letter addressing Mrs May. A comprehensive review of the Building Regulations 2010 – specifically Part B, which covers fire safety within England – should be a matter of urgency, the letter stated, with improvements made this Parliament.

“We’ve seen organisations review and recalibrate their buildings’ fire protection arrangements, postGrenfell Tower,” said Park Health &

Safety Partnership founder Lawrence Waterman, who previously led health and safety for the London 2012 Olympic Delivery Authority.

“In effect, Grenfell has raised doubts in the minds of the decent-minded over whether building safety regulations are stringent enough, whether the Government is setting the bar too low.

And that’s why we, in the safety sector, want Theresa May and her Ministers to rethink their ‘one in, three out’ approach to deregulation that includes health and safety.

“We’re very willing indeed to sit down with the Government to help ensure it promotes smart safety regulations that protect people without being overly burdensome – but it’s time to scrap the red tape initiative.”

Nathan Garnett, Event Director of UK Construction Week, also implored the construction industry to act swiftly and with the best interests of those affected at heart.

He said: “It seems incumbent on the industry that it must act, and fast, as a sign of respect for those that lost their lives. By making dramatic improvements in the quality and safety of building in the UK, the industry can do something to demonstrate to those who have lost people that action is being taken.”

As is so often the case, it has taken disaster on an unprecedented scale to spark debate on building reform. Here, the construction sector has a vital role to play and central government would be wise to take note. But we must not forget the human cost, the true extent of which is not yet known. Never again can there be another Grenfell Tower.

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Fire Protection PostGrenfell: An interview with Stephen Adams, Chief Executive of BAFE In conversation with UK Construction Excellence, Stephen Adams discusses attitudes to fire protection four weeks post-Grenfell and the implications for building regulations going forward.

Stephen is the Chief Executive of BAFE, an independent registration body for third party certified fire protection companies across the country.

Do you feel the current building regulations are rigorous enough in terms of fire safety?

There has been a move for many years, especially post-Lakanal House and Rosepark in Scotland, to completely review the building regulations regarding fire protection. But there is also the issue of the devolved governments, each of which has its own responsibilities and fire acts.

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One of the issues that we are most keen to encourage is the question of ensuring that the original and updated fire risk assessment, from which all else stems, is carried out by a competent provider, with appropriate third party certification.

However, even the best cannot test materials, etc, so the requirements for all materials and construction methods also need a serious review.

We’ve seen similar incidents in the past – Lakanal House, for instance. In your opinion, has enough been done to improve fire safety in the intervening years?

No. It’s been a piecemeal response at best. We do however understand the current strain the UK’s fire and rescue services are under and more help is required to enable them to perform

fire safety inspections and to prosecute those who are not following legislation.

This will send a stronger message that legislation must be upheld to protect people from the potential risk of fire.

Many people forget or ignore the fact that it is the building owner/occupier’s responsibility to source competent providers and ensure their building is safe from fire, and that begins with a quality fire risk assessment with any actions implemented.

Much has been made of Grenfell Tower’s apparent lack of active/passive fire protection systems. Do you see this as being true of high-rise social housing in general?

I am not an expert in the protection of houses in multiple occupation and high-rise buildings, but key issues include

This will send a stronger message that legislation must be upheld to protect people from the potential risk of fire.

fire stopping, the appropriate use and installation of fire doors, and how best to use alarms. Bearing in mind that these are individual households, should all alarms go off if someone burns the toast? This may seem trite, but it’s true.

The other key requirement is for all fire protection to be properly maintained to ensure that it works correctly and that it continues to be properly sited.

The sprinkler issue is not clear-cut either. It wouldn’t have stopped the cladding burning externally, but could it have stopped the original fire before it reached the cladding? We will have to wait for the results of the inquiry and information from London Fire Brigade to avoid any speculation.

What kind of active/passive fire protection systems would you expect to see in a high-rise building?

I cannot comment on a broad basis but this should be part of the review of the regulations. It must come back to the fire risk assessment for making recommendations for each building as appropriate.

Grenfell has exposed lax attitudes to fire prevention. In your experience, is the matter taken as seriously as it should be?

No. Over recent years there has been a steady reduction in fire deaths due to better materials, detection and procedures. That trend will continue despite, of course, this horrific case.

There are so many facets to ensuring fire protection is up to standard – building control, the role of the fire and rescue service, the competence of providers, the material testing regime, competent maintenance and communication with property users. All of which is easy to criticise but much more difficult to implement and keep up to date.

Fire protection is a long-term issue and can easily fall out of the public and commercial conscience until the worst happens. Unless it is regularly reviewed that is, with systems maintained and procedures refreshed. And yet, how do you check inter-floor fire stopping once the building is finished, the ceilings are up and the interior decorated? The Fire Sector Federation (FSF), of which

BAFE is a member, is campaigning for a review of Approved Document B to the Building Regulations which will address the current issues of fire safety during the building process. More information regarding this can be found on the FSF website: http://firesectorfederation.co.uk In light of this tragedy, what would you like to see happen next?

I’d like to see some quick actions regarding competence of providers and an expert review of requirements. But this would be at a cost to both the public and the private sector.

It is important to use competent providers, certified in the specific service that you require. BAFE provide a free search tool available online to find these third party certified competent providers near you to help fulfil your fire safety obligations.

For more information please visit www. bafe.org.uk

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Clearing the Air: An exclusive interview with Matthew Pencharz UK Construction Excellence’s Matt Brown speaks with Matthew Pencharz about tackling pollution on construction sites and the advantages of using cleaner, more efficient equipment.

Matthew is the former Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy where he led for the Greater London Authority on environment, energy and smart cities policy. He has since founded MSP Strategies to advise companies in the sustainable urban smart space and is also a Non-Executive Director at Off Grid Energy Ltd. What’s your opinion on the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs’ (Defra) recent consultation on its new UK Air Quality Plan?

I think the Defra report is a missed opportunity in lots of ways. We have an air pollution challenge in London and other areas, such as Greater Manchester, that have a high population density but also a lot of construction activity going on.

The fact is that we aren’t just dealing with a transport pollution issue – the construction industry also contributes significantly to reduced air quality.

The report refers to effectively implementing the EU directive around non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) – nothing more ambitious than that.

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It doesn’t even suggest local authorities look at London’s example and use planning systems to tighten the regulations around NRMM. There is a win-win here for the construction industry in that, if companies were incentivised to use cleaner equipment, it brings the advantages of greater efficiency.

This means cutting fuel consumption and therefore making financial savings.

The whole life cost of the equipment is also a great deal lower than the older equipment.

There is also the health aspect to consider, with workers on the construction site no longer exposed to this type of air pollution.

Finally, there is the stimulation of the precision engineering industry in the UK as companies bring solutions to these problems.

hadn’t lost repeatedly in the Supreme Court and the High Court, we wouldn’t have any kind of ambitious plan at all. These clean air zones that the Government is talking about would never have happened.

The Government constantly has to be incentivised, pushed forward perhaps, to take the necessary action to address air pollution.

There is also an innate conservatism and a fear of what would be a capital cost to procure the new equipment.

This is a very short-termist outlook because the whole life cost of that piece of kit will be a great deal lower than the total expenditure of what they are currently using.

There are also the social costs such as the environment to consider.

You said the publication of the Defra consultation didn’t go far enough. Why do you think this is?

What kind of reaction did you get from construction firms in London following the introduction of Greater London Authority’s (GLA) regulations for construction equipment?

The Government is only being forced to do this because of the High Court action. I think we all know that if they

The GLA had been trying to do this for quite a long time and we hadn’t made much progress so we engaged very

heavily with the plant hire equipment and construction companies.

It’s worth noting that Crossrail, which is obviously a huge civil engineering project in London, mandated the use of cleaner equipment.

This meant that as construction on Crossrail became more advanced, there was a lot of this equipment around. This made it an opportune time to be able to bring in these relatively tight regulations.

Quite simply, without Crossrail that would have been a more difficult task.

I will be perfectly honest; with hindsight I should probably have been a little bit tighter than I was. It was the first time having regulations on both NOX and PM had been done anywhere in the world and I suppose I was just being cautious.

Now the regulations are in place, the guys currently in City Hall can tighten them as they think is reasonable. I wouldn’t be surprised if they brought forward the plans’ tightening or implement other regulations around that type of equipment.

What kind of regulations could we see local councils implement if they were to be given the power to do so?

In my view they should start thinking about the stages of NRMM and start mandating, certainly on large construction sites, cleaner equipment to reduce emissions.

I also think they can be brave. When you think about some of the technology coming forward, they really should be thinking about hybrid systems when it comes to mitigating emissions and fuel usage.

Often what happens is you have site managers who contact the local plant hire company and end up supplying a larger piece of equipment because the appropriate sized one isn’t currently in stock. You end up in a position with a comically oversized kit running incredibly inefficiently for most of the time.

They haven’t considered how battery storage could mean that the temporary battery supply could be utilised.

Like a hybrid car, by flattening out the peaks and troughs you might be able to completely displace a diesel engine or reduce the number of diesel engines on site.

They could establish a hierarchy by properly thinking through what the power demands are on construction sites and encouraging companies to explore cleaner equipment options.

This isn’t regulation for regulation’s sake; this is going to save companies a lot of money. When they go to the big hire companies, the hire costs may be slightly greater because you have two units – the generator and the battery storage unit – but the fuel saving will be

huge; perhaps savings of up to £800 a week. You can imagine over the course of a 12-month contract how much money can be potentially saved.

It’s regulation that helps businesses to save money and reduce their environmental impact.

Given the importance of housebuilding and major infrastructure projects, does it make tackling this issue all the more pressing?

London has the greatest density of population and half of the country’s development going on there. It’s quite clear that the health impact from NRMM on London is far more profound than on areas with less densely populated cities.

When you think of some of the upcoming projects, HS2 is much bigger than Crossrail and a huge civil engineering project that will go along for a decade or so.

In my view, this is the perfect place for HS2 Ltd, DfT etc to push the envelope on regulations and demand cleaner equipment.

This would reduce the cost of building the project, which is no small thing, and its environmental impact.

You would also have a similar situation as we did with Crossrail, where you get all this equipment onto the market and that is a great driver for other projects across the country.

It becomes easier to say to the plant hire companies and construction industry that the equipment is available. We won’t be talking about things that aren’t available on the market yet.

What kind of alternative technology is on the market?

One of the best examples is a temporary power generator. This is essentially the battery storage to mitigate or even displace diesel generators.

Imagine having a 100 KVA generator set on a construction site. When it’s on a decent load it works perfectly well, but for most of the day and certainly the night it’s going to be running at 10-15% load. Just like a vehicle, it runs incredibly inefficiently for litres burned for kilowatt hours produced.

So just like a hybrid car, if you effectively flatten that out, you could run it at 70% load for seven or so hours a day, which is enough to do all the things required on site and also top up the battery.

Then during the quieter periods, overnight particularly, you just need a battery running. This could save hundreds, if not thousands of pounds of fuel per week. You also have the advantages of reducing the noise and air pollution levels.

Do you think a policy similar to the scrappage scheme for older plant would be an option?

From the Government’s point of view, like all things, it would come down to cost. You would need to look at the business case but I would suggest there is a good health case to get rid of some of the filthy old generators, similarly with the older diesel cars. If you are going to introduce regulations, you need to make it easy for people to comply with them.

Are there any other advantages in adopting cleaner machinery?

One thing to consider is the noise level.

Construction sites in the city have restrictions in place on working hours. If you have more silent running battery-powered equipment, you could begin work earlier on site and get on with tasks that don’t create a lot of noise.

That is quite a powerful economic case to use these solutions.

Do you think there is enough awareness among construction companies about the alternatives to running a traditional generator?

That is part of my criticism of the Air Quality Plan; it’s very focused on transport. Understandably so as it is the main source of air pollution, but by making marginal improvements in all the sources you can have a profound effect.

In London, you’re talking about 8-9% of total pollution coming from NRMM on construction sites – it is a considerable amount. If a few percent can be knocked off that plus the reductions coming from vehicle fleets, replacing old boilers, etc you are really getting somewhere.

Clearly, you need to focus on the big sources like taxis and buses where there isn’t that many of them but they have a big impact. However, you do need to consider everything.

There is a way of doing it that isn’t financially onerous but actually saves money.

Air quality as an issue has rocketed up the scale. When I started in this industry years ago, it was an interest of a minority group of environmentalists.

Now, it’s clearly of serious public concern, which is a good thing because it means action is being taken.

I would say it is very much focused on diesel vehicles and hasn’t yet blown up on other sources. We shouldn’t be blind to NRMM, the use of polluting generators at events, domestic boilers and other sources.

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THE BLAME GAME: WHO’S

RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSTRUCTION DEFECTS? AFTER the devastating fire at Grenfell Tower which has claimed dozens of lives, serious building defects continue to make the news, fortunately, on this occasion, without tragic outcomes.

In June, five Edinburgh primary schools were closed as a precautionary measure, after they were found to have the same fault that caused nine tonnes of masonry to collapse at Oxgangs Primary School during Storm Gertrude in January last year.

This is in addition to the closures of 17 other schools for the same reason, for which Scottish Architects have blamed those responsible for the design and build of the schools, PFI. In their evidence for Cole Report, the Royal Incorporation

of Architects in Scotland (RIAS), the firm attributed the problem to lack of supervision, but also noted the inexperience of project leaders and funders.

In the report they stated: “some large contracting organisations require individuals without appropriate construction skills or expertise to be responsible for the administration of large and complex projects, requiring significant technical and contractual knowledge.”

Back in London, only time will tell how an error of such deadly proportions occurred during the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower. Planning documents show that sub-contractors Harley Facades were responsible for installing the cladding which caused such a rapid and ferocious blaze. In

the wake of the tragedy, Harley Facades said that they did not make the panels themselves.

The manufacturers, however, had clearly stated that the material, which is banned in the US, should not be used on buildings over ten meters high.

Grenfell Tower is seven times this height.

Construction builds require multiple contracts to sanction every stage of a project and to ensure that any repercussions come back to the right party.

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FTA urges Brexit Secretary to put logistics at the heart of EU discussions In recent weeks, David Davis – Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union – has met with British businesses to better clarify the trade implications of Brexit. But the Freight Transport Association is urging all parties to take seriously the warnings of EU negotiator-in-chief Michel Barnier, and prioritise frictionless trade relationships with EU member states post-Brexit.

"Mr Barnier’s speech predicted full inspection of all loads entering Europe after Brexit,” said James Hookham, Deputy Chief Executive of the Freight Transport Association (FTA). “This should act as a wake-up call for those assembled at the Chevening summit.”

In July, the so-called Chevening summit played host to a select few, including Xavier Rolet, Chief Executive of the London Stock Exchange; Carolyn McCall, Chief Executive of easyJet; and Dan Lewis, Chief Executive of Tesco.

“We are pleased that logistics and trade issues have been put back on the table by the European Commission and that the practical solutions to keep Britain trading with the European Union after Brexit can now be discussed,” continued Mr Hookham. “Working with its members, FTA has developed the priority areas and practical solutions that need urgent agreement to ensure the British economy does not grind to a halt after March 2019.

“A week may be a long time in politics but two years counts as short-term planning in most companies. This

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marks the starting point for serious development of how the new trading procedures and formalities with the EU will work post-Brexit. We are calling on government to prioritise this dialogue to ensure that industry can continue to move goods and services where they are required to keep Britain trading.”

According to Mr Hookham, a “wait and see” approach will not suffice however.

The logistics sector must not be sidelined as negotiations continue on other elements of the nation’s departure.

“FTA members are very clear about what needs to be done to keep Britain trading,” he said. “A ‘no deal’ walkout by the UK Government, where full customs checks are imposed literally overnight, is not an acceptable outcome. British consumers and businesses rely on the logistics industry to keep essential supplies flowing and production lines moving, and without proper consideration of the supply chains that feed, clothe and supply Britain, there is a real risk that irreparable harm will be caused to people’s living standards and job prospects.

“The workload is huge. We need an immediate start on building the new customs systems for the 300 million additional declarations that will be required to be made and the learning programmes for the 180,000 businesses that will need to learn how to use them.

We need to get equal treatment of British goods by the 27 other customs administrations across Europe and new 21st century approaches to inspecting and checking loads to avoid the need to check vehicles in our congested ports.

Above all there must be no cliff edge in arrangements while all this work is being undertaken. We need businessas-usual until the new arrangements are in place.”

Summarising his thoughts, Mr Hookham concluded: “The UK’s departure from the EU can be negotiated to ensure that frictionless trade can continue, provided the logistics industry is at the heart of the discussions. We urge Mr Davis to bear this in mind and work with industry to prove Mr Barnier wrong.”

Fleet Technology Survey reveals a sector in flux The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) has conducted its Fleet Technology Survey 2017 to better assess attitudes to connected vehicle and driver data in the UK. Some 298 respondents – among them motorists, fleet managers and the BVRLA’s own membership – weighed in on such topical issues as data access, control, protection, sharing and cost, while a separate questionnaire gave greater insight into the troublesome subject of data sharing.

The findings were unveiled during the 2017 BVRLA Fleet Technology Congress, held in early July.

According to the BVRLA, 70% of survey respondents believe manufacturers have an obligation to provide vehicle data, with the overwhelming majority (86%) stating that there should be no cost involved.

Worryingly, 79% voiced their concern that manufacturers would restrict access to telematics to further their own agendas, while 89% felt manufacturers should allow motorists to install third party telematics –

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providing they meet the required security standards, of course.

With the newly drafted General Data Protection Regulation now less than a year away, more than 50% of survey respondents said their company had a clearly defined strategy concerning the collection and use of driver and vehicle data, and understood the responsibilities involved.

Encouraging, though there was a notable lack of consistency when those same respondents were asked who has responsibility for controlling, securing and cleansing data.

“Connected vehicle data is rapidly becoming the new currency of the fleet sector and will drive many business models in the future,” said BVRLA Chief Executive, Gerry Keaney. “This is a new, unregulated environment which explains much of the uncertainty and concern about the roles and responsibilities played by different fleet sector participants.

“Our responsibility is clear. The BVRLA will play a lead role in helping the fleet sector work with government and

the wider automotive supply chain to ensure that all parties share data in an open, secure and fair way. By doing this, we can make sure that businesses and consumers continue to enjoy a competitive choice of suppliers for fleet management, after market and mobility services.”

Reassuringly, when asked for their views on data sharing, many were happy to do so if it helped diagnose or prevent a fault (95%), alert automatically a breakdown company (93%) or allow a manufacturer to identify safety or warranty issues with its parts (82%).

They were decidedly less comfortable with sharing data on driving behaviour or performance (44% ‘not comfortable’) or selling data about their location, local weather conditions or vehicle performance (36% ‘not comfortable’).

The BVRLA has since produced an infographic which outlines its findings in full: http://www.bvrla.co.uk/research/ article/bvrla-fleet-technologysurvey-2017

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Alison Watson tackles the skills shortage UK Construction Excellence speaks with Alison Watson, Managing Director and Founder of Class of Your Own Limited – creator of the Design Engineer Construct! (DEC!) programme.

Design Engineer Construct! is an accredited learning programme for secondary school age students developed to create and inspire the next generation of Built Environment professionals. Through a project-based approach, DEC! applies pure academic subjects to the latest construction industry practices. The result is young people with real-world practical experience and employability skills.

Could you tell us a little about your background?

I’m a land surveyor first and foremost.

But I didn’t find my ideal career until my mid-twenties.

At school, I enjoyed maths. Careers advisors told me that I should become a maths teacher, which wasn’t for me at all. I wanted to do something interesting with numbers, so after my A Levels, I applied to join a bank, and imagined myself crunching numbers and eventually having my own branch. I thought banking was going to be great, but it was the dullest job you could imagine. Lots of sales talk and target hitting, and very little to inspire me.

After six years of banking, the turning point in my life came when I was invited to a nightclub with a friend who was in desperate need of drowning her sorrows following a relationship breakup. Within ten minutes, she had disappeared onto the dance floor with a new prospect, and I was left at the bar, wishing I had stayed at home. A chap drifted by and the age-old ”come here often?” chatup line thankfully turned into a really interesting conversation about his line of work. He was a civil engineer. I didn’t have a clue what that was at the time, but it sounded hugely exciting. We went out for dinner and arranged to meet the following week, but had to cancel

as he had to go and do some ‘setting out’. I had no idea what that was but, assuming he wasn’t just trying to give me the brush-off, asked him to take me with him. And that was it – I was smitten. All the maths that I’d enjoyed in school was there on a construction site.

I left the bank and started down the road of land surveying and site engineering.

How did ‘Class of Your Own’ come about?

Some years later, I was working on the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme as a project surveyor. My first school started in Hackney around 2004 and I didn’t release that setting up a total station in the middle of a playground would be a magnet for kids.

“Who are you? What’s that? What does it do? Can we have a go?”

Rather than turn them away, I handed the kit over. It occurred to me that engaging young people in technology and showing them the application of the stuff they learned in school could be really good fun – maths wasn’t abstract, it was there on the ground.

I worked on a number of workshops in BSF schools, and met lots of kids who’d had very little to do with the ‘builders’ on the site of their new school buildings, and very little understanding of what went on behind the hoardings.

I was often asked to present ‘What is surveying?’ as a careers talk to groups of kids, often because I was the only female on site. Some of the stuff I was involved in through the new school build programme was so tokenistic; just touring children around a building site with very little opportunity to follow up in the classroom. I was sure we could do better than this.

In an effort to demonstrate the wealth of technical and professional opportunities in construction, I decided to write a workshop and called it ‘A Class of Your Own’. Children took on a variety of roles to work together in teams and design an Eco Classroom – a mini version of their school that embraced environmental principles, energy efficiencies and, most of all, end user engagement and satisfaction.

After delivering a number of workshops with colleagues, it soon became clear that schools really valued the challenge, especially the students, who got to meet real people from industry. It occurred to me that these students could learn so much more if their teachers could teach a dedicated programme that provided access to a wide range of professions – an actual curriculum that would address the growing skills gap in the built environment.

Over time, the Class of Your Own one day workshop became a small project, which then developed into the full ‘Design Engineer Construct!’ (DEC!) learning programme with Level 1, 2 and 3 qualifications. DEC! became a subject in its own right.

What were the aims of the project?

I think the main aim was to contextualise STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects.

STEM subjects are generally taught in silos and I wanted to show children and their teachers that STEM – and art, geography, English and history! – is EVERYWHERE in the built environment.

We constantly hear people talking about the need for a change in the perception of construction, to raise aspirations and ambitions, but talk is cheap; doing is so much better. Design Engineer Construct! is an applied subject with 37

clear academic synergies, and provides young people and their teachers with the skills and knowledge for a 21st century digital industry.

What was the catalyst for the DEC! programme?

The catalyst was my frustration that teachers knew little more than their students when it came to careers. We needed to empower and excite teachers through a robust training programme, and for those new to the subject, access to a network of experienced Design Engineer Construct! teachers. Critically, we needed to ensure that industry professionals work closely with new teachers, offering focused support where skills gaps existed.

Teachers are central figures in children’s lives. Bearing in mind that teachers spend so much time with children, the hope was that teachers would teach DEC! and the children would go home and involve their parents in their homework. They might sit at the dinner table in the evening and discuss what they’d done in the day. Imagine the

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conversations around 3D modelling, or environmental analysis! Parents would begin to understand, through their own children, that the construction industry was a great place to be.

I wanted to make teachers the new champions of the built environment.

Engaging with students through live projects sounds like it would naturally inspire them. This must be a rewarding experience for all involved?

It’s brilliant. There are now well over 3,000 kids studying Design Engineer Construct! and I feel like a mum to all of them! We’ve just had the Ugandan School Parabongo Challenge – the four girls who won were just amazing. You can see what it does for them and they just take it in their stride. I am in awe of what they can produce.

I used to say land surveying is the best job in the world but it’s not actually.

My new job of encouraging children to be the land surveyors (and architects and engineers!) of the future is a truly rewarding experience. I’m 100% fulfilled, high on happiness, all the time.

Has the well-publicised construction industry skills-shortage led to an increase in schools looking to offer the DEC! programme?

Not at all really. Ridiculous, isn’t it?

There’s a bigger push in Scotland and Wales to a certain extent because construction is generally seen as a good industry to aspire to, although I suspect it is still considered a trade and craft opportunity. I think the main reason there is an issue in England is because schools are driven by core academic subjects. Children have to study maths and English – that’s a given and that’s fine. They also have to study humanities, science and language subjects to meet English Baccalaureate (EBacc) targets.

Vocational, or as the Government now refers to them, ‘technical and professional’ qualifications, are still seen as non-academic in many schools, and as such, subjects such as DEC! can easily be ignored. Essentially, kids can be left with just one option choice from DEC!, art, drama, music, PE, sport, design technology, and a host of other creative and technical subjects.

Although Design Engineer Construct! has academic parity, it’s not part of the EBacc. Most schools don’t see the construction industry as a destination for high attainers, and so you lose young people to traditional law, medicine, science and research careers. The construction industry just doesn’t appear on their radar.

I can give you a good example: at my local school, top-achieving children didn’t have a clue that they could be engineers. Their careers advice was limited to a pile of Russell Group University prospectuses. It’s terrible, but unfortunately the construction industry is at fault as much as the education system, because we never champion what we do.

It frustrates me; I still believe there’s so much more we could do.

Does this mean that the skills shortage will hit infrastructure and housing projects with a lack of people to build them?

Yes, I’m sure it will, especially when schools see bricklaying, plastering and joinery as a job for those who ”if you can’t do anything else, do that”.

We need to champion the fact that bricklayers, plasterers and joiners need maths. Schools admit to sending kids to construction college because they believe they can’t do anything else. I’m quite sure many of these kids are highly capable; they just learn in a different, more practical, way.

Colleges can turn out some wonderful bricklayers who bypassed the school system because they didn’t achieve the grades they wanted. They need ‘functional maths’ – applied maths – but sadly, the general consensus is that applied maths is for people who can’t do pure maths and statistics. It’s bonkers.

Absolute bonkers.

Clacton Coastal Academy (CCA) is in one of the most deprived areas of the country and depravation is also linked to low attainment. Yet CCA is turning out DEC! students who are being offered great jobs with major contractors and consultants. These kids are fantastic and have been given a chance to prove themselves. The school genuinely believes that the construction industry can offer these amazing life chances.

The same is true at St Ambrose Barlow RC High School in Salford. Those students, even the ones who attained lower grades in DEC!, chose to come into built environment – going to

college to study bricklaying and so on, because they want to become bricklayers. They see the worth and they know they’ll need special skills, especially in numeracy and literacy.

We need to put the message out there that whatever you do in construction, you can have a brilliant career. You can carve out a niche for yourself no matter what your academic ability.

Our Government is constantly sending out the message that our country needs to up its game when it comes to raising attainment in numeracy and literacy.

Instead of spending so much money on deploying teachers from Singapore, I’d love to get maths teachers into construction for a week to spend time with architects, surveyors, engineers and trade and craft specialists – because the maths they use is just like that taught in British classrooms. I have worked with maths teachers and showed them some of the applications we use on site – most memorably Pythagoras for setting out – and most would love to take the kids out into the fresh air and show them. However, there is not enough time – teachers have to crash through an ever expanding GCSE syllabus and hope they hit their target grades.

I’m not criticising maths teachers; I’m basically saying that when pupils question the use of maths in everyday life, saying “I don’t like maths, it’s boring, I’ll never use it”, it would be great to show them applications that bring the subject to life. There’s no better industry than construction for doing that. Think of a school building, a classroom, as a fantastic tool – so many opportunities to use trigonometry and quadratic functions, area, volume…

Do you think more could be done to encourage and engage children at primary school age?

Yes, but it’s a tough one. Going around championing Bob the Builder probably isn’t ideal – we’re simply reinforcing the stereotypical builder. Children at primary school learn how to apply maths in the real world. They have the time to look around them and get to go outside doing practical things, and as such we could do lots to inspire them.

It’s too early to say “be a surveyor or an architect” at that age, but we could certainly introduce the skills they need.

Using a map and orienteering skills is great – I did a treasure hunt a few years ago with a group of eight year old Brownies, and they loved the fact

they had to orientate themselves with a compass and take a number of ‘giant strides’ (metres!) to find the treasure.

Let’s not roll out Bob the Builder; instead let’s think outside the box. It’s just too easy to go into a primary school and say, ”I’m a builder, this is what I do” and have a bit of fun with Lego. These kids are playing with Minecraft from a young age! We’re all capable of bringing what we do to a younger age group – a little time and effort can make our jobs really engaging for the children.

Given the reports of underrepresentation of women within the industry, does DEC! do anything in particular to make the programme more attractive to girls?

I don’t worry about girls coming through because they just do! Girls and boys start off working up a design based on a small school building, but when they get to around 14 years old – a really impressionable age when young people do start to seriously think about their future careers – the brief progresses to designing a building that they believe the community needs.

We find that girls design buildings that mean something to them, such as shopping malls and health centres, equestrian centres and spas.

We shouldn’t be concerned with stereotyping – most girls like shopping!

And actually, there are just as many shopping malls designed by boys because boys like shopping too. We get a number of football stadiums from the boys, and I know of a boy who is designing a centre for the rehabilitation of returning soldiers.

It’s incredible. Some of the work that these kids do before they are even 16 years old can blow your mind.

We simply say to them, “Use your imagination; design what matters to you and your community.”

If a girl wants to design a new Topshop; fine, do it. If you think the community needs a Ralph Lauren shop; justify it and then design it. Whatever building they choose, they are thinking about the end users, services, foundations, environmental efficiencies and the building’s lifecycle.

Would you say there is a ‘point of no return’ in terms of an age when young people will no longer take an interest in STEM? I don’t think it’s so much to do with interest, but the point of no return

comes with the restriction of choices.

You can still be interested at 50. The point of no return is when a young person’s choices become more limited.

The Government goes on about increasing awareness of careers at 16 years of age – that’s too late. Kids don’t wake up on their 16th birthday and suddenly say, “I want to be a civil engineer.” It doesn’t happen like that; the seed should be planted well before they take their GCSE options.

While it’s fun to visit primary schools, the serious business begins when kids go into secondary school. When they are choosing their options they are thinking, “Whatever I choose today will affect the rest of my life.” Children have so much angst at this time, especially when they’ve had little exposure to really

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good, reliable careers advice.

Maths and numeracy is still a great problem in our country – we seem to slip down the OECD lists year on year. If they haven’t achieved their maths GCSE by the time they are 16, some children drop off the radar and can’t see a future for themselves. I just wish that more children could see the value of maths through an applied subject. They would quickly learn not to fear maths when it’s part of a job or environment they want to work in.

Kids are empowered when they know they are using the maths of architects, surveyors, structural engineers. It’s a whole different ball game.

Does the digitalisation of the construction industry with things such as BIM make DEC! a more attractive option for some students, given similarities with popular video games such as Minecraft?

Massively. It’s funny, I had kids using

modelling tools two years before Paul Morrell launched his Level 2 BIM mandate. When it was announced, industry started talking about collaboration and digital engineering.

I sat in Paul’s office and told him that I had kids doing the stuff he was talking about and that BIM really needs to be on the Government’s agenda to make sure kids are working to the same agenda in schools, albeit at a lesser level, of course.

The reason it’s so easy to work with kids is because they expect to work in teams.

They expect to use technology. They go on their smartphones and find some app that enables them to collaborate in real time, and assume that industry is far more advanced than them. There is that expectation from kids that we work in a digital environment and we have to deliver on that.

Is the Government being proactive enough in dealing with the skills shortage?

No, because, unfortunately, the Government only knows what the Government knows.

We are so far behind other countries in terms of acknowledging skills. Around the same time as the CBI launched their latest Skills Report last February,

an eminent professor from Cambridge, who advises the Government on education, said it was preposterous to think that any 16 year old can be workready when they leave school. I thought to myself, “These guys should get themselves into a DEC! school – the kids are so work-ready.”

And they’re being recruited as a direct result of studying DEC! Take A* DEC! student Bradley Lees from St Ambrose Barlow RC High School.

He was destined for university, but at 16 years old decided to take a technical apprenticeship with Mott MacDonald.

His 18 year old work colleagues asked him how come he knew so much ‘stuff’ about the built environment. Bradley had been using Autodesk Revit to work on his buildings and structures for three years, so he was already confident in the digital environment. The ones who came with A Levels had no practical application whatsoever. Bradley is a real role model for other kids, but the Government is so blinkered with the English Baccalaureate, that kids don’t need creative or technical subjects. I know maths teachers who say they are simply teaching kids how to pass an exam. There’s no skill involved; a maths exam factory.

It’s not just about DEC!, it’s the fact that our teachers are empowered by their industry connections and are showing their students a great way to develop valuable new skills and apply all the STEM subjects.

What kind of support does DEC! receive from the construction industry?

I’m a firm believer that, despite all the STEM and construction ambassadors who go around the country giving careers talks to kids, we can do so much more collectively as an industry to impact their future careers.

There’s now significant support for DEC! in industry, and it all started back in 2013 when Keith Howells, Chairman of Mott MacDonald, agreed to support the first ‘Adopt a School’ scheme. Some of the UK’s most respected organisations have made DEC! a key part of their social responsibility strategies, and more are coming on board all the time.

I wish it would happen quicker and more often, especially given the number of people who talk about it, but I’m patient. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and everyone knows I don’t agree with short-termism in our industry when it comes to investment in education and skills. I hope that the recent apprenticeship developments will see companies taking a longer view and looking to schools to develop young talent in the way that other sectors do.

What else does the future hold for Class of Your Own / DEC!?

There are still loads of things that I want to do. If you imagine a wheel, DEC! is the core subject, the hub in the middle, and I’m developing other specialist programmes that will give DEC! students a chance to study a small project in a discipline that they really enjoy – the spokes so to speak. It will take their knowledge that little bit further because they are interested in it and can see their career path going down a favoured

route.

An ambition is to develop a true DEC! teacher training programme and I’m finally talking to academic colleagues to do just that. We’ve had too many enquiries from new and existing teachers who want to teach DEC! to ignore it. I want DEC! teachers to be among the best teachers in the world, whose students remember them as the most inspiring teachers in their schools.

For the past year, I’ve been working with some fantastic people, many of them very well known in industry and academic circles, to pull together an extraordinary programme of support.

I’m hoping this major collaboration will give built environment education the respect it so desperately needs, bringing a relatively swift solution to the dreadful skills shortage we have.

And when I’m not busy with that, I’m quietly working behind the scenes with some very cool, like-minded people developing a new project to ensure that every child can experience what it’s like to work in our fantastic industry.

I’ve been excited about projects before, but this one keeps me awake at night.

Just as when I started writing DEC!, the people who matter most are the children who will learn from it, and as such, they are once more my critics.

The thought of being accountable to a couple of thousand teenagers…

I cannot wait.

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The big BIM MEP buy-in Building Information Modelling (BIM) is about much more than software and hardware. It is a revolution that’s shaping the way the AEC industry works.

More than just a 3D model, BIM is founded on consultation and shared information. BIM is essentially a philosophy that defines different ways of thinking and working at all stages in a building’s lifecycle.

As BIM adoption becomes increasingly widespread globally, it’s increasingly more important to understand how BIM transforms the way buildings are designed and managed. BIM is beginning to change the way buildings look, the way they function and the way in which different stakeholders engage in their design and build. It is also determining how the MEP wins contracts, completes projects and quality checks its work.

For businesses still struggling to get to grips with BIM terminology or worried

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about having to make a substantial investment in technology and staff training, BIM adoption can feel like a leap into the unknown.

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The VR Revolution: An exclusive interview with Colin Evison, Head of Innovation at BAM Nuttall Colin Evison, BAM Nuttall’s first Head of Innovation, speaks exclusively to UK Construction Excellence about his new role, the importance of innovation and the emergence of augmented and virtual reality in the construction sector.

A Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Colin is a former chairman of the Railway Civil Engineers’ Association.

He has over 25 years’ design and construction experience, having worked on a number of major projects including the Victoria Station Upgrade and Bhairab Bridge in Bangladesh.

As BAM Nuttall’s first Head of Innovation, what do you see as being your core responsibilities?

This is a new role for me and for BAM Nuttall but I’ve been with the company nearly 20 years now, having worked in various civil engineering

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roles previously.

As part of our defined strategic agenda we’ve said that “doing new things” must form 10% of our turnover by 2020.

That might mean new materials, new products or new customers – there are a lot of different definitions for “doing new things”. We have already established some great new relationships to explore potential business opportunities.

Bringing improvements into what we’re already doing forms part of my role as well. Looking at the ways in which we have delivered projects or used tools in the past, is there anything that we can bring into BAM, the construction sector or the UK as a whole that has the

The construction sector is waking up and realising that there is a need to do things differently.

There are a lot of busy people doing their day jobs who have ideas about improvements but lack someone to sound them off against.

potential to make things quicker, safer or easier?

Is the emergence of the Head of Innovation role a sign of the times?

I think so. The construction sector is waking up and realising that there is a need to do things differently. There are a lot of busy people doing their day jobs who have ideas about improvements but lack someone to sound them off against. They need others to take up their ideas and develop them further.

That’s what businesses like ours are attempting to do; to have a dedicated team that can help make some of those ideas a reality.

Historically, the construction sector has been fairly slow to embrace exciting new technologies. Is this still the case or has the industry become more amenable to innovation?

I think we’re getting a lot smarter.

There’s an organisation – I3P – currently in its infancy, which is bringing together the whole of the infrastructure industry in an attempt to break down some of the barriers to these things being implemented. Many of the ideas and innovations that people come up with are fantastic but you do tend to encounter issues of “show me where it’s been done successfully over the last ten years”. Things are improving but in order to be more efficient, which the Government keeps calling for our industry to be, we need to adopt a bit of a new approach.

How is BAM Nuttall exploring the possibilities of augmented and virtual reality?

We’ve trialled and evaluated different technologies, just really to give us

something to take round the business and show to our colleagues. Once people experience it, the ideas just keep on coming. We’ve done a bit with augmented and virtual reality and we’ve since invested in a couple of Microsoft HoloLens to show people what’s possible. Now we’re thinking about how best to use this technology – whether as a design tool, a method of engaging with stakeholders, or a means of selling our services to potential clients.

There’s a whole piece on encouraging young people into the construction sector as well. We need to inspire kids in schools and make sure they see construction as an exciting and viable career path.

For many, augmented and virtual reality remains something of a gimmick. How do you go about changing those perceptions?

There’s an initial impression of “what’s this you’re playing around with now?”

But once people see VR first-hand, they begin to think about how it can be applied to their own jobs; about examples in the past when they’ve struggled with communication. VR is generally more accepted as a tool that people can use to do what we do.

They might have seen kids play with it in one arena but it’s now becoming commonplace in industry.

Has consumer use helped build the case for VR in construction?

It has. Initially, you would need high-end computing power but VR is much more accessible now. The cost has come down and companies like Samsung are readily advertising it as something that can be picked up on the high street.

There are apps available on smart phones as well. People are already

carrying the hardware around in their pockets and that’s definitely helping to increase accessibility and awareness of VR technology.

For SMEs, is augmented and virtual reality worth the investment at this stage?

I think they can dip their toe in the water. It can do no harm. Whether you’re using a 360 degree camera to create your own photos and videos or designing with 3D modelling software, which is now increasingly the norm across the industry, you can readily convert that data into a VR environment. It’s a different way of interrogating the information.

Cost isn’t a barrier anymore. It’s about awareness of what VR can do – making sure that people can see the value that they might get from it.

How long before augmented and virtual reality is as ubiquitous as Building Information Modelling?

We’re maybe a couple of years away from full saturation. Certainly in our business, when you ask people what VR is, they’ve seen it in one form or another. Whether they’ve seen it or actually used it as part of their job is the difference between where we are now and where we will be in a couple of years.

But we’re now beginning to be asked by clients how we are using this technology. We’re working with HS2 Ltd at the moment and they’re asking us to look specifically at how we will be using the HoloLens on one of their enabling works projects. Obviously, someone within that organisation sees VR as being of sufficient value to implement for real rather than a trial, and that’s certainly encouraging uptake.

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Reinforcement clash detection

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We can provide a 3d model of your design or we can design your scheme for you to DMRB standards or your adopted standards.

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We can create 3d models for you which comply with the BIM principles.

These models will show all 3d elements, such as pavement layers and street furniture, allowing quantities to be extracted directly from the model and 4d schedule simulation to be carried out. The models created will capture the design intent and will facilitate clash detection.

The models will also feature elements which are capable of being attributed with information for asset management purposes, which is a key requirement of BIM level 3.

Are you still designing the same way as you did in the eighties ?

Are you still using a computer like this to do your highway design ?

No – of course not – it’s antiquated and not up to the job.

So why do your highway designers still want to design using software which was created around the same time ?

Why do your designers want to write input files which were designed to run on computers like the one shown ?

In the early eighties, the industry standard software programme for highway design was called MOSS. MOSS was written using Fortran and BIM wasn’t even a dream.

To use MOSS you had to write an input file, run it and then come back tomorrow to see if it had worked.

Unfortunately, many highway designers have held on to this way of working and won’t move on.

One of the problems with 3d models created using this way of working is that it isn’t suitable for BIM and isn’t BIM compliant in any way.

One of the basic ideas of BIM is that you can attribute data to the elements you design, so that the information can be harvested at a later date.

This is impossible with a 3d model created using MX (formerly MOSS).

Bentley Systems, who are the current owners of MX, realised this and have completely rewritten the software using modern computer language and called the new package Openroads.

Models created using the Openroads technology allows elements to be attributed with data which can be harvested at a later date.

Openroads also remembers your design information and retains on the drawing for design checking purposes.

The latest version of the software is called the Openroads Designer Connect Edition and does not include the ability to create input files.

Bentley have eventually removed the link to the past and produced a modern software package which is fit for purpose.

A 3d string model created using input files A 3d model created using Openroads

So, you may have designers who are very proficient in creating highway designs to DMRB standards however they need to be retrained to use the latest software and this is where we come in.

We can train your Engineers to use the latest software and create BIM compliant models.

We can come to your offices or you can come to our offices in Newcastle.

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Building Blocks for VR in Construction 2016 was the year of Virtual Reality (VR). Adoption levels started to reflect the buzz created around the technology, with CCS Insight estimating that 11 million virtual and augmented reality devices were sold in 2016, and businesses began to appreciate its value outside of gaming and consumer applications. Research firm Tractica estimates a compound annual growth rate of 60% for enterprise spending on VR hardware and content from 2016 to 2021, up from $592.3M to $9.2Bn. This is around 35% higher than the firms estimate for consumer spending over the same period.

When we look at enterprise adoption, the construction industry is often referenced as an industry that can see value in integrating VR technology as an enterprise tool. This is primarily down to the widespread adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) which requires architects to model proposed building projects in 3D, prior to construction work commencing.

Although more traditional forms of 3D modelling are adequate for this purpose, VR can bring 2D drawings

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and renderings to life in a way that other methods cannot. Those involved in the development of a building are now able to interact with the design and are in a much better position to spot inaccuracies or introduce amendments than before.

We see a number of areas where VR could be used to deliver high ROI for the construction industry.

Efficiency Creating a physical 3D model can be time consuming and can quickly become obsolete when dimensions of the plan change during the modelling process. A VR representation can be created in a fraction of the time, and when the groundwork is complete, the model can continuously be modified to reflect how the building changes.

Given that during the construction phase decisions affecting the overall outcome of the building are made every day, this is a crucial benefit.

Another major benefit is the accuracy of the exterior and interior mapping that can be achieved. As VR apps can ingest and visualise complex datasets,

the resulting map is geospatially accurate – down to a millimetre. This level of accuracy is almost impossible with physical models. A driving force behind BIM regulation was to provide building information for contractors, estate agents and eventually renters or buyers, so that informed decisions could be made in relation to renovations, selling the property and maintenance of faults.

A VR representation – or digital twin – of the building could house data related to every element within the finished property so that along the supply chain, information on dimensions, location and materials used could be viewed in an instant and within the context of the building.

The 2016 BIM report highlights that although 70% of respondents are using 3D models for their construction projects, only 37% use the models from the start of a project to the very end, meaning for most BIM is restricted to the design stages. 30% produce a model that is software dependent and just 16% pass on a model to those responsible for the management of a building. Creating the model in a VR

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application could change this, as it can be updated in real time to reflect the day to day changes on a project and make it more accessible to other stakeholders.

Decision making It’s very rare that a construction project reaches completion without a hitch along the way. Almost from the outset there are differences of opinion, from various stakeholders, that can result in costly delays. VR could be a helping hand in these situations, particularly when the issues raised come from lobbying bodies.

Experiencing the proposed building project as a finished article, via a VR headset, could provide peace of mind, as well as providing an opportunity to give valuable feedback that could have a positive impact on the project, at a stage in the building process when feedback could be taken on board and implemented.

Try before you buy The area of the construction industry

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that could most obviously experience the positive impact of VR is the residential market. For developers selling houses off plan, VR is a tool that could help them bring homes to life and enable them to offer potential buyers a differentiated customer experience. Unfortunately, when it comes to buying a house, ‘try before you buy’ is almost impossible, particularly when you may be purchasing the property before construction work has even begun. VR could bridge the gap between a 2D plan or mock images and the finished product.

Putting the customer first In many instances VR technology can alter how the construction process progresses. Creating a digital twin of a physical environment, particularly large commercial buildings that will have a large footfall such as shopping centres, airports and stadiums, architects can simulate the customer journey and assess how the building will work in practical terms – are there enough toilets within walking

distance?; will the layout of the space be intuitive to navigate?; and so forth.

This could have a huge impact on the end customer experience and enable architects to anticipate issues before it’s too late to rectify them.

So what’s next?

We’re likely to see VR technology trickle into businesses, including those operating in the construction industry, in the same way that we witnessed consumer adoption steadily increase.

As the technology continues to improve and the main players in the VR headset space (Oculus, HTC Vive, Sony PlayStation and OSVR) continue to innovate, VR will become more accessible and we’ll see software developers focus their efforts on building industry-specific tools.

By Faizaan Ghauri, CEO of WRLD

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2

Building Sustainably is our Human Duty: An exclusive interview with EnviroBuild’s Dr Aidan Bell UK Construction Excellence’s Matt Brown speaks with Dr Aidan Bell, Director of EnviroBuild, on the benefits of sustainable building and the need for the construction industry to drive the sustainability agenda.

EnviroBuild specialises in sustainable building materials and environmentally friendly construction solutions, with minimal harm to the environment.

on sustainable building, particularly on the amount of embedded energy within construction materials as well as the ongoing costs of building occupancy.

How would you define sustainable building?

What are the benefits to companies choosing sustainable construction methods?

I think that the best definition of sustainability is given by The Living Planet Report 2016: “When humanity’s annual demand on nature matches what Earth can regenerate in that year.”

Of the guiding principles within this report, three are most applicable to buildings: 1. Zero carbon 2. Zero waste 3. Sustainable materials These guiding principles call for a focus

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The primary reason for sustainability is simply that we cannot carry on as we are doing. If we wish to leave a world for later generations, then we’re reneging on a fundamental human duty.

This sense of responsibility is increasingly being seen in the younger generation and they want their companies and institutions to make the world a better place. Therefore, recruiting the best talent – especially young talent – is now reliant upon more than just money, and sustainability is the

biggest driver. Sustainable construction companies will therefore expand their talent pool.

In addition, making sustainable choices as a business generates a PR opportunity and an improved reputation for CSR. The growth of the public sector divestment in fossil fuels proves how economically the tide might turn, and change industry behaviour as a result.

Is it a misconception in thinking that sustainable construction is far more expensive?

Sustainability engenders efficiency within design which, when combined with greater integration of stakeholders, can improve a building’s efficiency, saving both energy and money. A prime example of this is the rise in the pre-fabricated construction of buildings,

which increases the consistency of quality, reduces build time and, in turn, reduces costs. More methods of increasing profitability and sustainability will be found, and the continual sharing of best practice across the industry will help realise the greatest gains.

There are also sensible, cost-effective measures already prevalent within the heat recovery and insulation industries that reduce the ongoing costs of sustainable buildings. Models like district heating at King’s Cross or Battersea Power Station are economically and environmentally beneficial.

In addition, there are some areas where materials can be effectively replaced with sustainable options – either recycled or lower embedded carbon options. However, while FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) wood is taken as standard now primarily because of public perception, there is no such mark for recycled plastics.

Finally, there is also the potential increased value of a building where the tenant is willing to pay more for a ‘sustainable’ home or business space.

However, the reality is that a lot of the green measures do not increase the bottom line for either developers or contractors, and therefore sustainability is driven only by legislation.

Does sustainable construction demand constant innovation?

Yes. No industry stands still, and the pace of change needs to increase if agreements such as the Paris Accord are to be reached.

Do you feel enough is being done

by the Government and industry to promote sustainable building?

it comes to choosing construction materials and services?

While individual companies are making commitments, the industry has so far lacked a revolutionary company to really drive the change in the industry.

There is no ‘Tesla’ of the construction industry, so to speak.

The construction industry is driven by profit the same as every other industry, and while sustainable practice that combines profitability and efficiency is being gradually embraced, sustainability at a cost is still primarily driven by regulation.

With regard to regulation, it is clear that the Conservative Party isn’t in favour. The scrapping of the CSH (Code for Sustainable Homes) in 2014 was extremely disappointing for the sustainable sector and the latest Conservative manifesto was described as a “car crash for the environment” by the Green Party. Given the Conservative minority government and the upcoming Brexit, which will loom over all departments, there is unlikely to be further regulation in the short to mid term. Therefore the industry and consumers will have to lead the way, otherwise progress will stall.

Without regulation it is only through the end consumer indicating their choice – by being willing to pay more – that industry will truly listen. It’s therefore the responsibility of businesses in the construction sector to give the consumer enough information to make these sustainable decisions.

It has been said that consumers are less focused on sustainability than they were five years ago because their concerns are centred on economics and security at present. While this is potentially true, the younger generations are more engaged than ever, and their attitude will filter through in time and influence the wider buying public. This trend will inevitably hit the construction market, but it requires signposting.

For example, it would be great to have a recycled plastics scheme so that the public could easily make their own choices, as is already facilitated by the FSC symbol for wood. People can then change their purchasing behaviour with fully verified integrity.

Finally, there is still great confusion as to what sustainable really means among many consumers, and that needs to be changed. That is where our industry can make the greatest progress: educating the consumer.

Would you say the public are becoming more interested in sustainability when

Are there any restrictions in terms of design that choosing to build sustainably might bring?

If anything, making a choice to build sustainably brings opportunity. For example, high-density living is the most efficient sustainable option and making those spaces pleasant for people to operate in – rather than the concrete jungles of the 1960s and 1970s – is an exciting challenge! Examples from Singapore to Stockholm can really drive innovation and a new era of beautiful sustainability.

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Real Sustainability is Standing the Test of Time: An exclusive interview with Keith Aldis of the BDA UK Construction Excellence’s Matt Brown speaks with Keith Aldis, Chief Executive of the Brick Development Association (BDA), about the brick manufacturing industry meeting sustainability targets and the advantages of using bricks in construction.

The Brick Development Association is the national authority on clay bricks and pavers. Its 15-strong membership accounts for almost 100% of the sector’s productivity in the UK. How has the process of making bricks changed since the increased demand for sustainable construction?

This question is often answered without drawing the distinction between the sustainability of the construction process and that of the construct itself.

In terms of process, the introduction of appropriate measures to assess manufacturing sustainability and identify opportunities for improvement has become far more transparent. Since its inception in 2001, our sector’s Brick Sustainability Report has refined KPIs for our members on subjects as diverse as energy, carbon, materials, waste, water, biodiversity and wellbeing, all of which factor in the brickmaking process.

This has facilitated the assimilation of manufacturers’ data and setting targetsin-common. Part of this process of course is recognising existing strengths,

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such as abundant raw materials, product longevity, and an established, short domestic supply chain.

In reference to sustainable constructs: clay brick has been a mainstay of the built environment for thousands of years, because as a product it is sustainable. The quality will continue to improve as research and technology facilitate, but essentially the process of extracting and firing clay to make bricks has survived this long because it offers a longevity not easily rivalled.

What is the brick industry doing to reduce carbon emissions?

In addition to keeping the materials local, producing it locally, transporting the bricks locally and keeping the embodied carbon within the clay brick as low as possible, we are tied into a number of initiatives like EU ETS (The EU Emissions Trading System).

Manufacturing bricks uses energy. It uses gas fired kilns; you have to have a high temperature – between 900°C and 1200°C – to fire a brick and it could take up to two days for a brick to be

fired, requiring a substantial amount of energy to be used. However, the waste heat generated from firing the bricks is reused in the manufacturing process, such as drying out clay.

We are fortunate in the brick industry in that we are relatively small. The carbon embodied within the brick is there for a long time. We don’t simply manufacture bricks for brand new housing – we have a fairly regulated output of around two billion a year.

What are the advantages of using brick in sustainable building?

First and foremost, it’s certainty. In what is often criticised as a throwaway society, one of the unique traits we as a population demand of our built environment is longevity. Brick has a very long track record of lasting a very long time. We know that a well-manufactured, designed and constructed brick building has a typical lifespan of 150 years. This track record offers certainty, which is important because even with the most efficient, sustainable process, if the finished

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article does not stand the test of time then the process is wasteful in the bigger picture.

Brick’s adaptability and resilience contribute in a similar way. There is a tendency now to attribute sustainable credentials to constructs that can be deconstructed and adopted somewhere else for some other purpose. As a society, we aren’t good enough at challenging the follow-on impact of transporting components and the process of reconstruction on overall sustainability. The resilience of clay brick means that the building stands the wear and tear of multiple occupiers and, through intelligent design, can be put to multiple uses. This means that as well as using a sustainable process through locally sourced material and a short supply chain, one is left with a sustainable finished article. True sustainability must satisfy both factors.

The offsite construction sector talks about building offsite and shipping to sites before assembling there. We have no issue if they are using clay slips for that; we would welcome that.

We do have a problem, however, with some of the claims that this process is sustainable. I don’t believe for one moment that it is.

For me, sustainability is about longevity and certainty.

17% against the first quarter of 2016.

Given the need to build more homes in the UK, is there greater pressure to deliver a more sustainable product?

Can you tell me about the ‘circular economy’?

There should be. One of the things we would like to see more focus on is the longevity of the housing being promoted by the UK Government.

Recent rhetoric has focused very much on the need for volume and speed, but on their own these don’t address the long-term issue of available, affordable housing, because if the longevity of the housing isn’t prioritised, we’ll be in the same position again in 60 years’ time.

People want a home that will last their lifetime, not simply an alternative temporary solution. Perhaps this is why recent ONS stats show that the sector has sustained a consistent rise in deliveries during the last 12 months. A significant year-on-year rise in deliveries was published for the fourth quarter of 2016 (up 26% compared to the same period in 2015) – a trend that has continued in the first quarter of 2017, which has seen deliveries increase by

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Does the push for more modern materials and construction methods such as offsite manufacturing make the need for a more sustainable product all the more vital?

The need for sustainable products comes from a growing population who will always need somewhere to live and work. The push for so-called ‘modern’ materials and construction risks undermining this unless quality is insisted upon.

There are some very exciting opportunities for the brick manufacturing industry, not least the prospect of bringing the benefits of offsite quality control onsite, through evolutions in robotics, but let’s not lose sight of reality. So-called modern materials often have very little evidence to support claims of sustainability.

I also question the definition ‘modern’.

With examples such as the RIBA Sterling Prize winning Newport Street Gallery, clad in a bespoke, handmade clay brick and revered by those who work in the built environment as exemplar contemporary architecture, it is difficult to reconcile clay brick manufactured today with anything other than the term modern.

The ’circular economy’ seeks to answer the question, ”Can a building be made entirely from components and materials that can, at the end of their life, be reused, remanufactured or recycled?”

The objective is to ensure that the full potential of a resource is realised. It is no longer considered acceptable for products to be disposed of at the end of first use, commonly referred to as a ‘linear economy’.

The circular economy is a good concept, but we must not consider it to be all-encompassing. Treating first use as, by definition, an inadequate period of time poses a danger to the integrity of our sustainability efforts. With clay bricks, if the correct considerations are made in manufacture, design and construction, they can have a typical lifecycle of 150 years.

More importantly, there is a distinction to be drawn between the lifespan of a material, that of a construct, and

its purpose. Through extensions, alterations to internal configurations and facade renovations, a clay brick building has multiple uses.

Compare this to claims presented at the Explore Offsite conference here in the UK in April, at which 60-year lifespans of fledgling prefabricated technologies were professed to be sustainable. We must not only ask ourselves if they can be reused, recycled and repurposed.

But rather, do the materials in question stand the test of time?

A significant proportion of modelling work undertaken to date has focused on high value, short service-life products, such as white goods and electrical equipment. It may be appropriate to measure clay materials’ contribution in an alternative way.

The concept of natural capital is a debate in which we will see the industry become more involved and act as an umbrella to some of the popular talking points, including resource efficiency.

Manufacturers recently published their 2016 Brick Sustainability Report. First established in 2001, the 2016 report covers a range of activities and criteria that show how narrow too heavy a focus on only one concept, eg the circular economy, may be.

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