Industry News
BRE appoints Piers White MBE as new Chair
BRE Group has appointed Piers White
MBE as its new Chair and announced
that he will commence his role at the end
of November 2019. He joins BRE Group
for the next three years at a time when
the built environment industry is going
through an exciting period of change and
innovation. Limited. Prior to these roles, he was UK
Chief Executive and a member of the Group
Management Board of Bank Insinger de
Beaufort NV, until the sale to BNP Paribas
in 2008, and also spent 15 years in retail
banking at Barclays, where his last role was
Service Director running the UK branches
with 20,000 staff.
Mr White brings a wealth of experience
to the role, having filled almost 40 senior
board positions in a career spanning more
than 30 years, including almost a decade as
Non-Executive Director at Hyde Housing,
one the UK’s largest housing associations. Mr White said: ‘I am delighted to have
been given the opportunity to lead this
important organisation at a time when it
can provide vital leadership to the myriad
challenges currently facing the building
environment sector. Challenge brings
opportunity and I am looking forward to
working with the leadership team and BRE
Trust to ensure BRE continues to play a
leading and innovative role in building
Mr White also acts as Chairman for
MOD technology business Ploughshare
Innovations, and for Heathrow Airport’s
export and import service Courier Facilities
Tool Theft Affects
8 in 10 Builders
More than three-quarters of Britain’s builders have been victims of
tool theft, with some having lost more than £20,000 worth of tools
in the past ten years, according to new research by the Federation of
Master Builders (FMB).
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “Decisive action is
needed to tackle tool theft. Eight in ten builders report that they have
had tools stolen before. This is causing mental health issues amongst
builders with reports of depression, anxiety, anger, frustration, stress
and even suicidal thoughts. The Government needs to look into tool
theft and consider the need for the introduction of tighter regulations
around selling second-hand tools, and greater minimum fines for
those convicted of tool theft.”
Source Federation of Master Builders
Consumer Demand for New
Homes Falls By 8%
Consumer demand for new homes has fallen by 8% over the last year
to its lowest level since 2013. This is according to the latest Federation
of Master Builders’ (FMB) House Builders’ Survey, the only annual
assessment of small and medium (SME) house builders in England.
construction, performance, safety and
sustainability’.
BRE Group CEO, Gillian Charlesworth said:
‘I’m delighted to have the opportunity to
work with Piers, whose skills, energy and
ambition for BRE are clear. I’m confident
that, with Piers in the chair, BRE will play
an ever more important role in enhancing
the built environment.’
BRE Group is owned by the BRE Trust.
Trust Chair Sir James Wates added: ‘I
would like to congratulate Piers on his
appointment. He brings extensive board
and business experience which will be an
asset to our profit for purpose agenda’.
Source BRE Group
Build UK Publishes
Public Sector
Retention Policies
Build UK has reached the latest milestone on its
Roadmap to Zero Retentions by publishing the retention
policies of major public sector clients that procure
construction services.
Obtained by Build UK directly from each public sector
client, this information brings much-needed transparency
to the construction sector by enabling the supply
chain to understand whether to expect cash retentions
in contracts on projects procured by Government
departments, ministries, agencies and public bodies. It
includes the retention percentage generally included in
contracts between the client and its Tier 1 contractors, as
well as when the money should be released.
A number of public sector clients have a policy of
generally not withholding retention, including High
Speed 2, Highways England and Network Rail. However,
there are significant complexities in the various policies,
including exceptions that exist for certain types of
project and the use of retention bonds. Details can be
found on the Build UK website.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “Small house builders
are starting to see the effects of Brexit uncertainty taking its toll on
consumer confidence. Many prospective homeowners are clearly
holding off buying until there is more political and economic certainty.
Hopefully this is just a short-term pause, and that post-Brexit, demand
will pick up once again.” Build UK’s Roadmap to Zero Retentions sets out specific
actions in a phased approach for the construction
industry to achieve zero retentions. Going forward, Build
UK aims to include information on private sector clients,
seek commitment from key clients to implement the
Minimum Standards on Retentions published earlier this
year, and develop alternatives to retentions.
Source Federation of Master Builders Source Build UK
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