Industry News
RIBA responds to the government’s building safety
update
The Royal Institute of British Architects
(RIBA) has responded to the government’s
building safety update and implementation
plan, released today following two reports
undertaken after the Grenfell Tower
tragedy, now over 18 months ago.
Immediate Past President of RIBA and
Chair of the RIBA’s Expert Advisory Group
on Fire Safety, Jane Duncan says:
“The update released today contains
some welcome proposals. We are pleased
to see that the government will require
proper testing of fire safety products
rather than relying on desktop studies and
that they are planning substantial and
comprehensive reform to the regulatory
and accountability framework.
But the news is long-overdue and with the
exception of combustible cladding, the
building regulations remain the same as
they did when the Grenfell Tower tragedy
took place, over 18 months ago. England
is now lagging behind Wales and Scotland,
who have in place or are introducing
regulations to require sprinklers, and
in Scotland provide a second means of
escape – two recommendations the RIBA
has consistently called for to provide
clarity for the industry and protection for
the public.
Build UK members
contribute to latest updates
to Construction H&S and
Environmental Manuals
Build UK is continuing its work with Construction Industry Publications
(CIP) to ensure the Construction Health & Safety (H&S) manual includes
industry recognised health and safety policies and standards.
This integrated approach aims to improve the knowledge and practices
of those on site without duplicating information or publishing conflicting
advice.
Build UK partner Construction Industry Publications (CIP) is offering
all Build UK members an exclusive 30% discount (excludes the six-
monthly updates) on its online combined Construction Health & Safety
and Environmental Manual CIP Knowledge and also on hardcopies and
CDROMs.
BSA comments on CMA
decision on CAB super-
complaint
Furthermore, until we see real reform
of how construction projects are
procured, the pressure to cut costs
will continue to incentivise the use of
cheaper and ultimately riskier materials
and approaches. The government must
urgently reform the inspection process, but
in the long-term we need to see a holistic
focus on safety, not just cost cutting.
The next large scale fire may not happen
in a tower block – it’s vital that the
government do not neglect other high risk
buildings like care homes, hospitals and
schools.”
Industry unites for
largest ever survey
on skills shortages
Build UK, along with other leading industry trade
bodies, have joined forces to build a picture of
those occupations that are in greatest demand.
A survey, which will go to more than 20,000
companies nationwide, asks respondents to
indicate which roles they are finding difficult to
recruit for now, and which ones they expect to be
challenging post-Brexit.
In order to ensure that the survey has as wide
reach as possible, companies that are not
members are also invited to take part in the
survey.
The evidence uncovered from this survey will
be used to identify where industry should be
focussing its efforts to recruit new workers.
It will also be used to engage with the
Government and Migration Advisory Committee
to support decision-making on appropriate
migration for workers from the EU and rest of the
world.
A BSA spokesperson commented:
“The BSA welcomes the decision by the CMA for regulators to take forward
the recommendations within their current work without the need for a
separate market study at present.
“We are engaging with the FCA on multiple consultations and will continue
to contribute as the regulators and industry consider the full CMA
response. We also look forward to working with the CMA and our sector’s
regulators on the generic cross-cutting recommendations.”
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Suzannah Nichol MBE, Chief Executive at Build
UK said: “We recognise that more needs to be
done in recruiting, training and retaining the
next generation of home-grown talent to meet
our industry’s skills needs. However, to deliver
the homes, hospitals, roads and rail projects
underway and those in the pipeline, the industry
also must have the ability to continue to recruit
skills at all levels from outside of the UK. This
is our opportunity to collectively demonstrate to
Government the extent of those skills needs and
create a system that works for everyone.”