The Infrastructure Group is the largest in the School with 63 Partners. Around 40 Partners regularly attend the quarterly meetings chaired by Graham Edgell, Director of Procurement and Sustainability for Morgan Sindall Group.
The meetings contain a mix of providing information about School activities, collaborative learning and developing new initiatives. At each meeting we try to invite a high level speaker to address the group about significant strategic issues, from within the sector and from other sectors.
The group is actively developing a number of initiatives:
Forming a cross-School group on social value in response to the Government’s procurement policy notice PPN 06/20
Developing a supply chain mapping initiative driven by Highways England
Delivering a partnership between 11 Delivery Implementation Partners (DIPs) on the Highways England Regional Development Programme (RDP) to provide a consistent approach to development and performance management for the supply chain
Setting up a group to enable utilities clients to collaborate around regulatory requirements
Adopting the approach taken by housing partners to packaging and single use plastics
Countryside, Persimmon and Saint Gobain have recently joined the School’s world-class collaboration of over 120 homebuilders, clients, contractors and sub-contractors driving the direction of the School, sitting on the Homes leadership group.
School Partner Lovell announces 62% reduction in CO₂e
Lovell has announced it has achieved a 62% reduction in carbon dioxide equivalent emissions over the past decade and are taking further measures to “significantly reduce” its future carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
Net Zero targets only possible with a National Retrofit Strategy to green our homes says FMB
The Prime Minister’s announcement that the UK Government will set a target of cutting carbon emissions by 78% by 2035 is welcome news in tackling climate change, but they must lead a campaign to green our homes to make this possible, said the Federation of Master Builders.
Digital technology has the potential to transform the Homes sector, but only if it is equipped with the right skills and knowledge. Look at the learning available in our NEW topic to help you on your digital construction journey.
Cyber Security This e-learning module are to identify the necessary skills and competencies around cyber security which are essential to successful – and safe – digital transformation.
Industry Launches Skills Hub to Improve the Quality of Procurement
In April we launched the first ever construction-focused skills hub, dedicated to improving the quality of procurement practices.
Our new topic area in procurement aims to provide a wide range of free resources to help organisations of all types and sizes improve their procurement skills. Procurement is a critical part of client and contractor policies and strategies and this new topic area will cater for businesses at all stages of their procurement journey.
School Partner Kier trials Formula 1 tech to cut diesel emissions
Kier has trialled a fuel-saving technology that it found succeeded in cutting diesel consumption of an onsite generator by 41 per cent with procurement partner Sunbelt Rentals.
Digital technology has the potential to transform construction, but only if the sector is equipped with the right skills and knowledge. Look at the learning available in our NEW topic to help you on your digital construction journey.
Cyber Security This e-learning module are to identify the necessary skills and competencies around cyber security which are essential to successful – and safe – digital transformation.
**Keep up to date with the latest resources recommended for the construction sector HERE**
Benchmark your Sustainability Knowledge
Want to understand your sustainability knowledge level, and know how that compares to others in the sector? It’s easy to find out… just take an assessment today with our FREE tool. It’s designed to help you, or your company, assess your current level of knowledge and identify strengths and hot spots.
Once you’ve assessed, you get a tailored action plan – this list of 10 resources tells you where to focus your learning.
The Supply Chain Sustainability School, a multi-award-winning initiative which represents a common approach to addressing sustainability within supply chains, has today launched a learning platform dedicated to building the skills of managers in the construction industry, to accelerate digital adoption.
Digital technology has the potential to transform construction – but only if the sector is equipped with the right skills and knowledge. Modern digital technologies can raise productivity, increase efficiency, improve quality and safety, reduce sustainability impacts and help attract people to the sector.
The construction sector has not increased its productivity over the last forty years and, as such, managers within the construction industry currently lack the skillset to lead the adoption of new digital technology. Without widespread digital adoption, the construction industry risks being marginalised and may lose a generation of new talent to other sectors. This new programme will support business leaders by equipping them with the right skills, knowledge and tools required to successfully lead the implementation of new digital technology solutions within their organisations.
Ian Heptonstall, Director, Supply Chain Sustainability School said: “Net Zero carbon, improved profitability, workforce attraction and improved safety and quality are just some of the big challenges our industry faces. We can continue as we are, or we can embrace new ways of working and the digital technologies that can help us to address these challenges. Our new training materials allow managers and leaders to understand the emerging digital technologies and the skills they will need to be an effective champion of digital in their organisation.”
Drawing upon one of the UK’s leading digital infrastructure projects, Tideway, and using best practice from Costain, Skanska and other main infrastructure contractors, the Supply Chain Sustainability Tool have created a series of free-to-access learning materials via a new Digital topic area, funded by CITB. This programme will provide a suite of learning materials, including workshops, e-learning modules and online resources to help managers embed digital technology in their business.
Jeremy Galpin, Lead for Digital Social Value Consultancy, Tideway East and Costain said: “These learning materials plug a key gap in providing freely available resources that, firstly, allow organisations and individuals to benchmark the digital leadership maturity of themselves and their organisations and, secondly, provide the learning resources to develop the gaps that they identify. Both aspects are critical to adding value. I am confident the programme will make a measurable and significant contribution to the digital leadership maturity of the infrastructure supply chain”
Phil Greenman, Supply Chain Manager, Skanska said: “As a major Tier 1 contractor we need our supply chain to be digitally advanced. Working with clients, contractors and our supply chain we have jointly developed a range of freely available learning resources that allow managers to develop the knowledge and acquire the skills that they need to drive the rate of digital adoption in both their own organisations and their supply chain. I’m confident that these new tools in the Supply Chain School will help businesses to do that.”
The School is co-funded by CITB and industry Partners, with the direction of the School being led by over 120 Partners – working in collaboration, they share knowledge and free resources to inspire the UK built environment to drive positive change and each share a common desire to upskill the industry.
Partner Corner (May 2021) – Advanté Ltd
Primary Service / Product
Oasis® Welfare Units Advanté pioneered instant start welfare with their first Oasis unit in 1998. The launch of Oasis Welfare provided construction sites with access to welfare facilities before any service connections were available. This prevented delays starting work on site and complied with new H&S Regulations.
Oasis Welfare inspired a whole new industry for self-contained welfare units, while remaining at the forefront of the instant start welfare market, through close client collaboration and innovation.
23 years on, Oasis welfare units provide much more than just welfare. Improvements driven by the needs of Clients has led to the expansion of the Oasis Welfare range to include different layouts, sizes, facilities, and technology.
The Oasis Welfare range focuses on creating positive environments for people working in construction, as well as reducing sites’ carbon footprint and community impact.
Sustainability Credentials
The evolution of Oasis Welfare has been driven by our Clients’ ESG sustainability aims and the Government’s net zero carbon targets. The EcoLogic, EcoMax and (new) EcoLogic SOLAR welfare ranges are all designed with staff wellbeing, environment, community, and economic impact in mind.
Staff wellbeing:
Suitable welfare facilities
Pleasant environment enhances wellbeing
Low environmental impact:
Hybrid Technology limits generator use and CO2 emissions
Telemetry monitors and improves performance
Renewable energy gained from solar
LPG = greener fuel alternative to Diesel
Low community Impact:
Low noise = happy staff and neighbours
Promotes positive image of construction
Quality facilities attract diverse workforce
Low economic impact:
Improved energy efficiency
Reduced welfare running costs
More staff catered for with one unit
How Do You Use the School as a Partner?
Our first involvement with the School was engaging with the Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) programme, to promote and develop FIR culture and staff engagement within our business. The vast resources made available by the School have helped fast track our learning.
We joined the School as a Partner in March 2019, to support our wider sustainability aims and work collaboratively with a cross section of industry professionals. We gain a valuable insight into Clients’ changing requirements, enabling us to respond with effective, sustainable solutions at the earliest opportunity.
Advanté organised a Supplier Engagement event to demonstrate our commitments to maintaining a sustainable supply chain, in the procurement of products and services, and in the delivery of our service to our clients.
We worked with Partners of the School to develop a policy to treat people responsibly, which resulted in the launch of the People Matter Charter. Since signing up to the commitments of the Charter, we encourage others to do the same, so that we can work together to address people issues, such as equality, diversity and staff retention, in the workplace.
What is the biggest sustainability issue facing the industry?
The Construction Industry’s (and therefore our) biggest challenges are the current and widening skills shortage and achieving the UK Government’s net zero carbon targets.
We aim to promote a positive image of construction by delivering high quality welfare units. We recognise that excellent site welfare and office facilities are required, to retain staff and attract a more diverse workforce into the industry.
In our mission to decarbonise instant start welfare for construction sites, we created our next generation of innovative, market-leading Oasis Welfare units – EcoLogic SOLAR.
EcoLogic SOLAR welfare units proven successful in creating an effective, near carbon-free solution to powering self-contained welfare units. Their advanced telematics have shown impressive levels of solar energy gain, even during some of the darkest winter months. Some of EcoLogic SOLAR’s benefits include:
NEW hybrid EcoLogic SOLAR power system
Large solar array = increased carbon-free power supply
Silent-running welfare when powered by solar or stored energy
Next-generation telemetry improves unit performance
Impressive reduction in CO2 emissions
Reduced welfare running costs
Contributing solution to ESG challenges and reporting
One message for School members?
Speaking from an SME perspective, it can be a daunting task to keep up to date with all developments and focus within the industry, as well as the resulting need for upskilling and training your staff to stay abreast. Engaging with the Supply Chain Sustainability School makes this much easier. The wealth of information and training resource available is easily accessible at any time of day, to suit individual members of your team, and to fast track your company’s staff learning.
Infrastructure Market Update: May 2021
Top stories for Infrastructure this month:
Tarmac & JCB successfully trial new pothole fixing machine:
Tarmac and JCB have successfully trialled what has been described as “a brand new revolutionary pothole fixing machine” in partnership with Rutland County Council.
With the ability to repair a pothole in less than eight minutes, Tarmac’s highway services team carried out a full day of demonstrations with the JCB PotholePro on a 140 square metre patch of asphalt at Ashwell Business Park in Rutland. Read more
HS2 signs £52m early environment works contract with Balfour Beatty:
HS2 has signed a new £52m contract with Balfour Beatty to create new woods and wetlands as part of early environmental works on the route between the West Midlands and Crewe – also known as Phase 2a – of the high speed rail project. Read more.
UK construction industry – toxic and dysfunctional?
A report from the Times in the UK highlighting the woeful state of the construction sector. These systemic failures are a serious barrier to sustainable procurement. Read more.
Did you know a NEW digital topic area has launched?
Digital technology has the potential to transform the built environment, but only if the sector is equipped with the right skills and knowledge. Look at the learning available in our NEW topic to help you get t grips with what’s needed.
An Introduction to your Digital Journey How and when should you start your digital transformation? Watch Now >>
Digital Leadership Identify the necessary leadership skills and competencies which are essential to successful digital transformation. Get Started >>
Cyber Security This e-learning module are to identify the necessary skills and competencies around cyber security which are essential to successful – and safe – digital transformation. Get Started >>
Embodied Carbon in Infrastructure Business Bytes
Join BAM Nuttall, Costain & Willmott Dixon at our Embodied Carbon in Infrastructure Business Bytes on the 18th May!
Our panel of experts in this field will discuss what embodied emissions are, how to measure and reduce them. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and join in the debate.
If you have any questions about Infrastructure or the School please contact [email protected]
Top stories for Scotland this month:
Campaign to tackle modern slavery launched
Communities and businesses are being urged to be vigilant and report signs of modern slavery as Police Scotland launches a new campaign to raise awareness of the issue. Read More
Green jobs in Scotland
Scotland’s low-carbon economy transition ‘could create up to 367,000 jobs’ Read More
Edinburgh Council proposes how it will become a net zero organisation by 2030
Draft plans include ensuring that all new council operational buildings are constructed to the highest energy criteria and electrifying all council car and van fleets. Read More
Did you Know a NEW digital topic area has launched?
Digital technology has the potential to transform construction, but only if the sector is equipped with the right skills and knowledge. Look at the learning available in our NEW topic to help you on your digital construction journey.
An Introduction to your Digital Journey How and when should you start your digital transformation? Watch Now
Digital Leadership Identify the necessary leadership skills and competencies which are essential to successful digital transformation. Get Started
Cyber Security This e-learning module are to identify the necessary skills and competencies around cyber security which are essential to successful – and safe – digital transformation. Get Started
Have you caught up on our Biodiversity resources?
The Supply Chain School is working with Nature Scot to communicate out some of the resources they have developed for organisations working in Scotland. The conservation and enhancement of Scotland’s natural heritage is the responsibility of Nature Scot, the public body who oversee the development and management of protected sites, species, and scenic areas.
You can find these new resources on the Scotland page
If you don’t measure, you can’t manage
Complete our free self assessment to get your bespoke action plan today. The benefit of assessing is that it provides a tailored action plan. This list of 10 resources tells you where you should focus your learning with direct links to top-quality materials…
The Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management has just released its Market Outlook 2021 report, finding that a majority of FM professionals believe the market will improve in the next 12 months, despite ongoing concerns. Read more here.
7.5 million workers in the UK hoping to do their jobs from home permanently:
New research from Deloitte shows more than one in five UK workers are hoping to work from home all, or almost all, of the time once lockdown restrictions have lifted. Read more.
Building owners & developers capitalising on health & wellbeing will benefit in post – pandemic world:
A new report from JLL highlights the key trends over the next five years that developers and building owners will need to address to meet the radically altered needs of occupiers, who have been forced to re-think their relationship to the office as a result of the pandemic. Find out more.
Did you know a NEW digital topic area has launched?
Digital technology has the potential to transform the built environment, but only if the sector is equipped with the right skills and knowledge. Look at the learning available in our NEW topic to help you get t grips with what’s needed.
An Introduction to your Digital Journey How and when should you start your digital transformation? Watch Now >>
Digital Leadership Identify the necessary leadership skills and competencies which are essential to successful digital transformation. Get Started >>
Cyber Security This e-learning module are to identify the necessary skills and competencies around cyber security which are essential to successful – and safe – digital transformation. Get Started >>
Benchmark your Sustainability knowledge!
Our free Maturity Matrix tool has been designed to help you assess your company’s current Sustainability strengths and to identify the areas in which you can develop your competencies.
The assessment will help to benchmark your current knowledge of sustainability topics and then generate a tailored action plan. This list of 10 resources tells you where your company should focus learning, with direct links to top resources. Get started today!
If you have any questions about FM or the School please contact [email protected]
Wales Market Update: May 2021
Top stories for Wales this month:
Sustainability leaders address construction students:
NPTC Group of Colleges has developed a series of talks for their construction students focused on ‘Constructing the Future- Buildings, People & Planet’. Construction and Building Engineering Students from NPTC Group of Colleges are in for a treat this Spring as the College has been successful in organising several high profile guest speakers to deliver a range of innovative virtual presentations. Find out more.
Whole home surveys underway for optimised retrofit project:
The Optimised Retrofit project, supported by Welsh Government, is now live, with Whole Home Surveys being delivered across Wales by more than 100 trained industry professionals. The collaboration of 68 partners (Including The Supply Chain Sustainability School), and 26 social housing providers, and managed by Sero, will see the decarbonisation of more than 1,750 Pathfinder homes to enable the creation and refinement of the tools required to roll out the large-scale decarbonisation of homes across Wales and beyond. Read more.
FE Colleges lead the way on the future of apprenticeships:
ColegauCymru believes that the Welsh Government’s confirmation of investment in the FE-led work-based learning sector is essential to support Wales’ economic recovery post-Covid. Find out more.
Did you know a NEW digital topic area has launched?
Digital technology has the potential to transform the built environment, but only if the sector is equipped with the right skills and knowledge. Look at the learning available in our NEW topic to help you get t grips with what’s needed.
An Introduction to your Digital Journey How and when should you start your digital transformation? Watch Now >>
Digital Leadership Identify the necessary leadership skills and competencies which are essential to successful digital transformation. Get Started >>
Cyber Security This e-learning module are to identify the necessary skills and competencies around cyber security which are essential to successful – and safe – digital transformation. Get Started >>
Delivering Social Value in Wales
Join us on the 19th May at our ‘Delivering Social Value in Wales’ lunch ‘n’ learn where you will hear from School Partner, Willmott Dixon, on their approach to creating social value in Wales.
At this lunch ‘n’ learn you will:
Find out about Willmott Dixon’s business model, and how they use their commercial operations to support and sustain charity programmes for offender rehabilitation, residential and educational support.
Discover how Willmott Dixon measure, monetise and report social value Find out what is expected of WD’s supply chain in this areaHave an opportunity to submit questions to Willmott Dixon during a live Q&A session
If you have questions about Wales or the School please contact [email protected]
The Supply Chain Sustainability School, a multi-award-winning initiative which represents a common approach to addressing sustainability within supply chains, has today launched the first ever construction-focused skills hub, dedicated to improving the quality of procurement practices.
The construction sector has not increased its productivity over the forty last years and the Supply Chain Sustainability School members often cite procurement as a blocker to innovation and improved performance. The procurement hub has been set up to increase the skills level for those who buy products and sub-contract services within our industry. By improving these procurement skills, the School hopes to drive productivity improvements and increased value for clients.
A joint venture with the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), the Institute for Collaborative Working (ICW) and King’s College London, this programme will demonstrate the value of good procurement to the built environment sector, providing free self-assessments, e-learning modules, an innovative cloud-based performance tool and a library of best practice procurement resources.
The Supply Chain Sustainability School’s new topic area in procurement, aims to provide a wide range of free resources to help organisations of all types and sizes improve their procurement skills. Procurement is a critical part of client and contractor policies and strategies; therefore this new topic area will cater for businesses at all stages of their procurement journey, featuring four key topics: Procurement for Beginners, Procurement for Professionals, Supplier Relationship & Management and Collaborative Construction Procurement.
The School is co-funded by CITB and industry Partners, with the direction of the School being led by over 120 Partners – working in collaboration, they share knowledge and free resources to inspire the UK built environment to drive positive change and each share a common desire to upskill the industry.
Shaun McCarthy OBE, Chair of the Supply Chain Sustainability School, said: “In the 25+ years since the Latham Report, there have been various calls for the construction industry to improve the way it procures. Although the industry has pockets of good practice, there is still a need to embed better procurement in all tiers of the supply chain. I am proud to have worked with Partners such as CIPS and Kings College London to lead a programme of work to develop learning resources for all levels of competence through the Supply Chain Sustainability School, which will be made available free of charge to the industry.”
Duncan Brook, Group Director at the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), said: “Improving procurement skills and capabilities throughout the construction sector has been highlighted in a number of studies and reports as an essential part of addressing some of the poor commercial practices which affect performance, reduce quality and impact safety. It is important that improvement in procurement practices happen at all levels of the supply chain. We at CIPS have been happy to support this important procurement education initiative by the Supply Chain Sustainability School. We would encourage everyone to take advantage of these excellent educational resources and invest the time to improve their procurement skills.”
Professor David Mosey, Centre of Construction Law, King’s College London said: “Industry training on collaborative procurement is long overdue. A practical understanding of collaborative relationships, tools and systems is essential to help us resolve age-old problems and to improve efficiency, value and risk management. King’s College London Centre of Construction Law have been glad to support the Supply Chain Sustainability School in developing their modules, workshops and online tools on Collaborative Construction Procurement, and we strongly recommend them.”
The Supply Chain Sustainability School provides free practical learning and support in the form of sustainability training, networking, e-learning modules, tailored assessments, action plans and a library of over 2,900 online resources. Sign up for free this spring to take full advantage of the new topic area in procurement.
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with Flannery Plant Hire as the first signatory