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What is the People Matter Charter?

Diversity, exploitation, wellbeing, employment conditions and training & skills are common challenges faced by organisations and their supply chains. People issues are vast, yet all connected.

With 99 signatories and counting, the ‘People Matter Charter’ helps organisations up and down the supply chain address these challenges together, in one workforce strategy.  The Charter has eight commitments that can apply to any organisation, of any size.

Why commit to the Charter and become a signatory?

Do you employ people? Do you work with supply chain partners who employ people, either sub-contractors or suppliers? If yes, regardless of your organisation’s size, the Charter applies to you.

By committing to the Charter you will:

  • Demonstrate to clients your commitment to engage and develop your workforce
  • Increase staff retention
  • Improve wellbeing and help decrease absenteeism
  • Improve supply chain resilience
  • Adapt to the needs of an evolving industry
  • Collaborate with industry to improve labour standards across the value chain

What commitment is required?

Signatories to the Charter must:

  • Already be at least level 1 in 6 of the 8 commitments outlined in the People assessment
  • Be committed to embedding the People Matter Charter in your organisation
  • Be committed to working with your supply chain and embedding the Charter’s commitments in your supply chain requirements
  • Provide the School with one written case study per year, providing either qualitative or quantitative evidence on the impact the Charter is having on your organisation and / or supply chain

Complete the People Matter Learning Pathway to become a free signatory.

For further information click here or contact [email protected]

 

As the recent IPCC report demonstrates, there has never been a more urgent need to address human impacts on climate change. This November, COP26 in Glasgow will bring together 190 countries to agree coordinated action to tackle climate change.

The built environment sector is one of the major contributors to carbon emissions, contributing approximately 40% of all emissions. To prepare our industry to take action in the year of COP26, we are pleased to provide our Members with a COP26 Training Pack, giving you direct links to free resources and training sessions designed to help your organisation and supply chain gain a better understanding of climate change and carbon.

This simple pack will guide you through relevant videos, e-learning modules, virtual training and information on the new carbon calculator. Download below or share with your colleagues and supply chain.

Download now >

Top Stories for Scotland this Month 

Scottish Government announces £25m funding package to improve ventilation 

Business premises in Scotland will be able to access a £25 million package to improve ventilation and reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission.

Read now >>

Scottish-made tidal turbine now generating power in Japan

Hailed by the Scottish government as a win for Scotland’s marine energy industry, a Scottish built tidal turbine has been installed in Japan and has clocked its first 10MWh of clean electricity generation after 10 days of operation.

Read now >>

Glasgow launches £30bn ‘Greenprint for Investment’

Glasgow City Council has set out a £30bn portfolio of investment projects designed to aid the city’s ambition of becoming net-zero by 2030.

Read now >>


Modern slavery resources recommended for you this month

With 40.3 million victims in forced labour estimated by the Global Slavery Index, and estimated 136,000 victims in the UK alone, there are now more people enslaved than there have ever been in human history. Labour exploitation is a lucrative business for organised crime and their willing participants and the built environment is no exception.

We have a wealth of resources to help you understand the principles of modern slavery and how you can use due diligence within your organisational processes to combat the risk of labour exploitation – take a look:

Modern Slavery: An Introduction This self-enrol learning pathway is designed to increase your understanding of modern slavery risks within your organisation and within your supply chain. It is the perfect place to start if you want to understand the principles of modern slavery and how you can use due diligence within your organisational processes to combat the risk of labour exploitation.

Enrol >>

Modern Slavery Due Diligence Prevention Checklist This checklist is based on best practice in the construction sector.  It outlines what organisations should have in place to combat modern slavery, as well as helping procurement specialists understand how to evaluate supply chain responses to requests for their own due diligence processes.

Get Started >>

Concrete – Tackling Modern Slavery in the Construction Sector Modern Slavery Video illustrating the forms of modern slavery and how it can manifest in the construction industry

Watch Now >>


Recommended for Scotland – get registered for our upcoming events:

Offsite and Mass Timber Construction – Business Bytes

21 October 0930h – 1130h

This session will raise the profile of on-going work to increase the use of timber in construction and stimulate dialogue with respect to barriers to uptake as well as providing a forum to gather feedback on the Timber Technology Engineering and Design competency framework in terms of unlocking the barriers to upskilling built environment professionals in timber engineering.

Speakers include:

  • Prof. Robert Hairstans – Director, Centre for Advanced Timber Technology (NMITE)
  • Mila Duncheva, Centre for Offsite Construction + Innovative Structure, Edinburgh Napier University
  • Nicola Jackson – Robertson Timber Engineering
  • Sam Hart, Construction Scotland Innovation Centre
  • Clare Vokes, Harlow Consulting

REGISTER NOW >>

Designing and Building Resilience into Infrastructure Projects

28 October 1000h-1130h 

Business Bytes A 90-minute Business Bytes session to discuss nature-based solutions in infrastructure projects, and their implications for prime contractors and supply chains.

Speakers include:

  • Elana Bader, Nature Scot
  • Peter Robinson, Scottish Canals + TBC Morgan Sindall (if possible)
  • James Murray, MGSDP – Glasgow Council

REGISTER NOW >>

Low Carbon Regeneration – Business Bytes

5 November 0930h – 1100h

A 90-minute Business Bytes session to discuss low carbon solutions used in major urban regeneration projects – particularly in Glasgow.

This course will be delivered virtually online. See the ‘what is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Speakers include

  • Martin McKay – Executive Director of Regeneration, Clyde Gateway (tbc)
  • Hugh Moore – Energy Network Manager, Clyde Gateway
  • Donald MacBrayne, Scottish Water Horizons
  • Anne-Mari Gillespie, CSIC

REGISTER NOW >>


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…

Learn more >>

Top stories

The Apprenticeship Opportunity

Linda Hausmanis, IWFM CEO says levy-funded apprenticeships allow employers to invest in their workforce by combining education, work-based learning and ongoing development

Learn More >>

No Jab, No Job?

More than 30 per cent of large UK firms have signalled that staff may be asked for proof of vaccination before they can physically return to work. Karen Holden, CEO of A City Law Firm looks at the legal issues that could arise.

Find Out More >>

Skilled to Succeed

It’s never been more important to develop our people.  In the latest in FM Journal’s series which celebrates the careers of front-line FM workers, hear from Kerrie Carrott, Trainee Fire and Security Engineer, EMCOR UK

Read More >>

 

October’s Featured Topic: Modern Slavery

There are 40.3 million victims in forced labour estimated by the Global Slavery Index, and estimated 136,000 victims in the UK alone. Labour exploitation is a lucrative business for organised crime and the built environment sector is no exception.

We have a wealth of resources to help you understand the principles of modern slavery and how you can use due diligence within your organisational processes to combat the risk of labour exploitation – take a look:

Modern Slavery: An Introduction 

An introductory learning pathway to help you begin to develop your understanding on modern slavery risks within your organisation and supply chain.

Start learning >>

Modern Slavery Due Diligence Prevention Checklist

A best practice checklist, outlining what organisations should have in place to combat modern slavery, designed to help procurement specialists understand how to evaluate supply chain responses to requests for their own due diligence processes. 

Find out more >>

Concrete – Tackling Modern Slavery in the Construction Sector

This video illustrates the forms of modern slavery and how it can manifest in the construction industry.

Watch now >>

 

Financial Wellbeing in the Workplace Lunch ‘n’ Learn

The aim of this lunch n learn is to understand the importance of financial wellbeing in the workplace. Now more than ever, money worries are the biggest cause of stress for UK employees, and are damaging to business too.  People take their money worries to work, affecting their performance and levels of absenteeism.

By attending this session you will:

  • Learn what financial wellbeing is and why it’s important
  • How you can incorporate free resources to support you and your employees
  • Access MaPS UK Partnerships Team to provide support and assistance with your financial wellbeing strategies

EVENT DETAILS:

  • DATE: 21st  October 2021
  • TIME: 10:30am -11:30am
  • LOCATION: Online
Register for FREE now >>

Top stories

Government Predicts Massive Infrastructure Spend, Do we have Capacity to Deliver?

In its National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline, the government has set out how £650bn of private and public investment will be spent over the next 10 years with Whitehall saying it expects up to £31bn to be spent on economic and social infrastructure projects in the 2021/22 financial year.

Find out more >>

CLC Seeks Industry Support for Next Zero Carbon

The Construction Leadership Council is calling on businesses from across the industry to play their part in securing net zero carbon construction 2050. In this year of the UK hosting COP 26, the CLC says it is imperative that the construction sector steps up to the challenge and supports the Race to Zero.

Learn More >>

The Built Environment Joins Forces To Address Air Quality

The Supply Chain Sustainability School (SCSS) is leading the way for the UK’s built environment to drastically reduce onsite emissions to air that are harmful to human health and the planet, such that they will reach net zero by 2040 and contribute to UN Sustainable Development Goals 3, 11 and 13.

Read More >>

 

October’s Featured Topic: Modern Slavery

There are 40.3 million victims in forced labour estimated by the Global Slavery Index, and estimated 136,000 victims in the UK alone. Labour exploitation is a lucrative business for organised crime and the built environment sector is no exception.

We have a wealth of resources to help you understand the principles of modern slavery and how you can use due diligence within your organisational processes to combat the risk of labour exploitation – take a look:

Modern Slavery: An Introduction 

An introductory learning pathway to help you begin to develop your understanding on modern slavery risks within your organisation and supply chain.

Start learning >>

Modern Slavery Due Diligence Prevention Checklist

A best practice checklist, outlining what organisations should have in place to combat modern slavery, designed to help procurement specialists understand how to evaluate supply chain responses to requests for their own due diligence processes. 

Find out more >>

Concrete – Tackling Modern Slavery in the Construction Sector

This video illustrates the forms of modern slavery and how it can manifest in the construction industry.

Watch now >>

 

What is Modern Slavery & the current trends Lunch ‘n’ Learn

Join Slave-Free Alliance and School Partner Electricity North West for an overview on modern slavery and current trends. The blend of knowledge and sector insight will give you overview into what it is, how it can take place and how to spot the signs across utility operations and the supply chain.

At the end of this Lunch ‘n’ Learn you will:

  • Have an improved understanding of the Modern Slavery Act 2015
  • Find out how to identify the signs on slavery within the supply chain
  • Gain some insight into the strategic framework that can be used to ensure transparency in supply chains

EVENT DETAILS:

  • DATE: 20th October 2021
  • TIME: 12:00pm -13:00pm
  • LOCATION: Online
Register for FREE now >>

Top stories

Net Zero Strategies Debated

Partners Transport for Wales, Wales & West Utilities and Welsh Water discussed ideas including a greater role for hydrogen, planting seagrass, energy efficient heating and lighting, and switching to renewable energy at the Game Changers: Sustainable and Net Zero roundtable.

Find out more >>

£5.87 Low Carbon Growth Programme Approved

The UK and Welsh Government have approved the £58.7 million Swansea Bay City Deal’s Supporting Innovation and Low Carbon Growth programme.

Read more >>

The Push Towards Offsite Construction is Nothing New

Take a look at Sears Homes from 1908 -1914, demonstrating that the push towards Offsite Construction is nothing new!

Take a look >>

 

October’s Featured Topic: Modern Slavery

There are 40.3 million victims in forced labour estimated by the Global Slavery Index, and estimated 136,000 victims in the UK alone. Labour exploitation is a lucrative business for organised crime and the built environment sector is no exception.

We have a wealth of resources to help you understand the principles of modern slavery and how you can use due diligence within your organisational processes to combat the risk of labour exploitation – take a look:

Modern Slavery: An Introduction 

An introductory learning pathway to help you begin to develop your understanding on modern slavery risks within your organisation and supply chain.

Start learning >>

Modern Slavery Due Diligence Prevention Checklist

A best practice checklist, outlining what organisations should have in place to combat modern slavery, designed to help procurement specialists understand how to evaluate supply chain responses to requests for their own due diligence processes. 

Find out more >>

Concrete – Tackling Modern Slavery in the Construction Sector

This video illustrates the forms of modern slavery and how it can manifest in the construction industry.

Watch now >>

 

Anxiety Lunch ‘n’ Learn

Anxiety is the body’s natural response to stress. It’s a feeling of fear and unease about what’s to come. In 2013 there was 8.2 million cases of anxiety in the UK.

This Lunch ‘n’ Learn explains the anxiety cycle and the complexities and triggers associated with the different types of anxiety that can affect us.

By attending this session you will:

  • Gain an understanding of the anxiety cycle.
  • Understand the different types of anxiety and anxiety disorders.
  • Learn different strategies which can help in coping with the symptoms of anxiety that can arise in our daily lives.

EVENT DETAILS:

  • DATE: 19th October 2021
  • TIME: 12:00pm -13:00pm
  • LOCATION: Online
Register for FREE now >>

The Fairness, Inclusion and Respect conference held in June focussed on Wellbeing. Kate Walker from Diabetes Safety Organisation presented some compelling statistics and insight into diabetes and the impact on individuals in the workplace.

Diabetes affects 4.6 million people in the UK and poses health and safety risks many people and companies do not recognise. Someone is diagnosed with diabetes every 2 minutes, that equates to 700 people a day, a staggering 255,500 people a year.

A recent survey from the British Safety Council showed that nearly three in every five employers (59%) that responded did not know their legal responsibilities if one of their workers had diabetes, while the same proportion (58%) of employers did not implement and review risk assessments for the role(s) workers with diabetes undertake.

What makes diabetes a safety risk?

  • possibility of a hypo e.g. sudden loss of consciousness
  • lack of sensation in feet while driving vehicles or machinery
  • impaired awareness
  • impaired concentration
  • impaired balance or co-ordination

There are two main types of diabetes, type 1 which develops when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin producing cells in the pancreas, the cause of this is unknown. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes, which develops when the body doesn’t make enough insulin or the insulin the body is making is not being used properly.

Type 2 diabetes can be hard to recognise in the early stages and the symptoms can be put down to late nights and other lifestyle factors. It is vital people get tested if they have any concerns.

Some of the symptoms include:

  • increased thirst
  • blurry vision
  • slow healing
  • frequent urin ation
  • tingling or numbness in the hands and feet.

If you think you may have any of these symptoms or are concerned, contact your GP or you could use the UK risk assessment tool. Companies and organisations need to understand the condition fully and the impact it could have on their staff and business.

Implications at work can include:

  • increased time off for those not managing their condition or those undiagnosed
  • increased risk of accidents
  • not complying with the Equality Act, Health and Safety at Work Act and DVLA regulations

The DVLA states people on insulin must check glucose levels no more than two hours before driving, followed by repeat tests during breaks for every two hours of driving. This helps prevent the risk of a fatal hypo without blanket bans, as many people have their diabetes under control.

For those who know they have the condition, DVLA regulations can be met but there are 1 million people undiagnosed in the UK who may have less sensation in their feet or deteriorating vision.

There is good news, many people with type 2 diabetes, can do something to support or improve their condition by making changes to their lifestyles. We know it is not easy to make sustained lifestyle changes, so we are encouraging the one less challenge.

  1. One less sugar in your tea/coffee x 6 cups a day =1kg less a month, 12kg a year
  2. One less biscuit x 3 times a week = 5.5 packets less a year

To support staff at work, companies should be:

  • increasing awareness and understanding of the condition and educating those in high-risk roles
  • providing a non-judgmental environment where people feel they can share about their condition (there is still a stigma about type 2 diabetes being associated to weight)
  • providing an appropriate place to test and take injectable medications
  • ensuring specific diabetes safety risk assessments and safe systems of work are in place

Diabetes is a manageable condition and for many at high risk of type 2 diabetes, it is preventable with early intervention and lifestyle modifications. Diabetes currently costs 10% of the NHS budget, £14 billion a year. What is the cost to your company, both in human and financial terms? Are you doing enough to support your staff and reduce risk? If you feel you want to know more or sign up to the Tackling Diabetes Safety Charter, please contact Kate Walker.

Top stories

Climate change: Construction companies told to stop knocking down buildings

Britain’s top engineers are urging the government to stop buildings being demolished. They say the construction industry should where possible re-use buildings, employ more recycled material, and use machinery powered by clean fuels.

Find out more >>

55% of commercial property firms recorded increased demand for ‘green’ buildings amid Covid-19

In the commercial property sector, respondents were asked about investor and occupier appetite for buildings considered ‘green’ or ‘sustainable’. Globally, 55% of respondents said demand had risen.

Take a look >>

Balfour Beatty, in Partnership with the School, launch findings of their Greening the Chain survey

The survey, targeting the construction and infrastructure industry’s supply chain partners, aimed to understand the barriers, issues and opportunities faced by the sector in achieving Net Zero. In the findings, Balfour Beatty provide access to key recommendations for policy makers, customers, and the wider industry to help it to achieve Net Zero.

Discover more >>

 

October’s Featured Topic: Modern Slavery

There are 40.3 million victims in forced labour estimated by the Global Slavery Index, and estimated 136,000 victims in the UK alone. Labour exploitation is a lucrative business for organised crime and the construction industry is no exception.

We have a wealth of resources to help you understand the principles of modern slavery and how you can use due diligence within your organisational processes to combat the risk of labour exploitation – take a look:

Modern Slavery: An Introduction 

An introductory learning pathway to help you begin to develop your understanding on modern slavery risks within your organisation and supply chain.

Start learning >>

Modern Slavery Due Diligence Prevention Checklist

A best practice checklist, outlining what organisations should have in place to combat modern slavery, designed to help procurement specialists understand how to evaluate supply chain responses to requests for their own due diligence processes. 

Find out more >>

Concrete – Tackling Modern Slavery in the Construction Sector

This video illustrates the forms of modern slavery and how it can manifest in the construction industry.

Watch now >>

Top stories

Housebuilder Awards 2021 finalists announced

The finalists of the Housebuilder Awards 2021 have been revealed with Vistry Group, Barratt and Taylor Wimpey performing strongly. 

Find out more >>

School Partner Vistry announces its commitment to carbon reduction 

Vistry Group has announced its commitment to some ambitious carbon reduction targets for the business, with the housebuilder planning to incorporate sustainability criteria into its executive remuneration from next year.

Read more >>

UK’s retrofit industry must grow by ten times to play role in reaching net-zero

The UK’s retrofitting industry needs to grow by ten times its current size if the UK is to decarbonise its housing stock at a pace suitable for the wider net-zero emissions target, new research has revealed.

Take a look >>

 

October’s Featured Topic: Modern Slavery

There are 40.3 million victims in forced labour estimated by the Global Slavery Index, and estimated 136,000 victims in the UK alone. Labour exploitation is a lucrative business for organised crime and the built environment sector is no exception.

We have a wealth of resources to help you understand the principles of modern slavery and how you can use due diligence within your organisational processes to combat the risk of labour exploitation – take a look:

Modern Slavery: An Introduction 

An introductory learning pathway to help you begin to develop your understanding on modern slavery risks within your organisation and supply chain.

Start learning >>

Modern Slavery Due Diligence Prevention Checklist

A best practice checklist, outlining what organisations should have in place to combat modern slavery, designed to help procurement specialists understand how to evaluate supply chain responses to requests for their own due diligence processes. 

Find out more >>

Concrete – Tackling Modern Slavery in the Construction Sector

This video illustrates the forms of modern slavery and how it can manifest in the construction industry.

Watch now >>

 

Future Homes Task Force – Business Bytes

Join this session with Barratt Developments, Telford Homes, Thakeham Group, Places for People and Broadway Initiative to hear about the key elements of the Future Homes Delivery Plan and Hub, and understand how this will impact your organisation.

You will hear insights on the challenges and opportunities for the supply chain around embodied carbon and construction methods that are net zero; low carbon placemaking; infrastructure smart systems and energy; and ensuring businesses operations are in line with the Race to Zero.

Register for FREE now >>

A reflection from CIPD’s Health and Wellbeing at work survey

 

Looking after people’s health and wellbeing at work is central to the CIPD’s purpose to champion better work and working lives. CIPD’s annual Health and wellbeing at work survey has been running for over 20 years and the findings help to inspire change and achieve this mission in organisations.

We’re now over 18 months into this global pandemic. The threat to people’s physical health from COVID-19 was immediate and obvious but the challenges are also psychological, which came through strongly in the survey. Over two-fifths (42%) of HR professionals said they were ‘extremely concerned’ about the impact of the pandemic on people’s mental health and a further two-fifths (40%) said ‘moderately concerned’.

It’s encouraging that most organisations have been acting on that concern, with their top action in response to the pandemic being ‘more focus on looking after people’s mental health’. However, only just over half [54%] believe they have been effective in managing the mental health risks from COVID-19, which begs the question: why not?

The research suggests a number of areas where many employers could focus more attention to improve people’s health and wellbeing. First, more organisations need to adopt a systematic approach to identifying and managing the main risks to people’s health – both physical and psychological. This should include taking action to prevent ill health where possible, so it was very encouraging that this was the theme of the Inspiring Change Conference in June, delivered through the Fairness, inclusion and Respect Programme.

Organisations also need to be aware of the underlying factors that are influencing people’s wellbeing and driving behaviour. For example, our survey findings show that the main cause of stress at work is unmanageable workloads, and so organisations need to think about fundamental issues like allocation of work, deadlines, targets and objectives to make sure they are realistic.

The survey also reported high levels of presenteeism [people working when unwell] observed by HR professionals, so more action is needed to tackle this unhealthy working practice. People need to have healthy routines where they can balance work and personal responsibilities and switch off from work, as well as taking time off to recover when they’re ill.

‘Management style’ is the second main cause of stress which highlights how much influence line managers have on wellbeing, which can be detrimental if they are not equipped to go about their role in a supportive and effective way. Line managers can’t be expected to act as counsellors or medical experts but they should build relationships with people that are based on trust, where individuals can have sensitive and genuine conversations about work and health, and ask for any workplace adjustments or flexibility. Therefore, they need to have a good understanding of what health and wellbeing support is available in the organisation and how to signpost people to expert sources of help like an employee assistance programme or occupational health when needed.

Disappointingly, the increasing expectation on line managers to support people’s wellbeing isn’t always matched by the level of investment most receive in terms of training, ongoing guidance and support. Well under half of organisations (43%) have trained managers to support people with mental ill health, for example. Therefore it’s not surprising that there are low levels of confidence on the part of HR professionals in the capability of line managers: 38% think managers can have sensitive discussions and signpost to more specialist sources of help and 31% think they can spot the early warning signs of mental ill health.

People’s health and wellbeing has been slowly creeping up the corporate agenda over the past few years. This year shows a significant increase in the proportion of organisations reporting it’s on senior leaders’ agendas, with three in four survey participants saying this is the case. This isn’t surprising because the pandemic has made health and wellbeing a critical business continuity issue. The CIPD is keen to make sure it remains a priority going forward.

Key CIPD Resources:

  1. CIPD/Simplyhealth: Health and wellbeing at work survey report 2021
  2. Practical guidance for managers on preventing and reducing stress at work
  3. Resources to support line managers in their people management approach
  4. CIPD/Mind: People Managers’ Guide to Mental Health

The Plantworx team are collaborating with the Supply Chain Sustainability School to deliver a new technology and sustainability show case – Futureworx.

Standfirst: The CEA, hosts of the Plantworx construction exhibition, has joined forces with the Supply Chain Sustainability School to deliver a future technology event – Futureworx. The new event is taking place on the 30th and 31st of March 2022 at the East of England Arena, in Peterborough,  and will showcase the latest in technology and cutting edge innovations to make the workplace safer, smarter and more sustainable, as we head down the road to net-zero.

The event will focus on people plant interface management, telematics, the connected site, GPS systems, safety systems and advances in autonomous and electric and hydrogen machinery. The show aims to highlight sustainability, productivity and advances in future fuels such as hydrogen, electric and HVO.

This new technology showcase was first mooted by engaging with Plantworx stakeholders asking ‘what they wanted to see at an exhibition’ and indeed if they were ‘ready to attend live events following the COVID pandemic’. The results from the survey were quite clear with the majority of respondents saying they were very keen to get ‘live, interactive and in person’ events back on track.

The Plantworx team followed this survey, conducted by Gobby Surveys, up with a twitter poll and autonomous vehicles, machine technology and alternative fuels were at the top of the poll.

Futureworx will bring together industry professionals keen to find out what is in the pipeline of ideas and technology which will shape tomorrow’s construction equipment experience. The two-day event will also include conference sessions, live product demonstrations and technical talks.

On the first evening of the event Futureworx will host the Plantworx Awards evening in partnership with the Supply Chain Sustainability School.

The event will see a welcome return of networking, innovation and collaboration – the future is now!

James Cadman, Head of Consultancy and Carbon at Action Sustainability explains the work of the Supply Chain Sustainability School, “The School’s role is supporting businesses across the built environment sector in becoming more sustainable – environmentally, socially, and economically. Through our collaborative engagement work, and the knowledge we provide, more organisations are switching their business models to ones that are more forward looking, with sustainability principles woven through everything they do.

James continued “Our partnership with the CEA and Futureworx will provide the School, along with our partners and members, the perfect platform to engage with the sector to help promote and develop the skills and competence within the supply chain on key sustainability issues, and develop carbon reduction techniques, so they feel confident that they can engage with their clients on those topics.  This benefits everyone: client, contractor and the wider community. We are very much looking forward to the event.”

Rob Oliver, CEE (Construction Equipment Events) Director, hosts of Futureworx commented, “This is an exciting development for both the CEA and Plantworx. Virtual presentations of technological innovations have their place, but educating and exciting industry professionals on what the future holds is best done face-to-face with practical demonstrations. We see this as a service to both CEA members and the wider construction community. It’s all part of our Plantworx mission”.

To find out more about this event and if you have an innovative technology you would like to showcase please email [email protected]

The Supply Chain Sustainability School (SCSS) is leading the way for the UK’s built environment to drastically reduce onsite emissions to air that are harmful to human health and the planet, such that they will reach net zero by 2040 and contribute to UN Sustainable Development Goals 3, 11 and 13.

The Plant Commitment Charter was developed by the Supply Chain Sustainability School’s Plant Group to encapsulate and communicate this approach. Each organisation signatory pledges to work toward five commitments, including: minimum standards in procurement, engagement, awareness raising & education, measurement & reporting, and innovation. The result: they contribute to a cleaner working environment.

Kier and Cheetham Hill Construction are the latest signatories to the Plant Commitment Charter. They join nineteen other organisations publicly dedicated to actively reducing their emissions from the plant and equipment they buy, hire and use.

Jade Hunt, Group Environment Manager, Kier, said “Kier have been active for a long time in reducing the impacts of its business, across all sustainability issues. Signing the School’s Plant Commitment Charter is an outward confirmation of our determined intent, and we want our suppliers and subcontractors to match our ambition.”

Howard Chamberlain, Managing Director and Owner, Cheetham Hill Construction, said: “CHC has signed the School’s Plant Commitment Charter as a clear statement that we take the impacts of our business seriously, taking action to reduce them where possible, as far as possible.

Signatories to the Charter come from across the value chain and commit to improving air quality and reducing greenhouse emissions and any negative impact caused from their construction plant and equipment (CPE). Direct action on reducing tailpipe emissions can only lead to better local air quality for workers and neighbours, resulting in less impact on the global climate.

Chris Matthew, Strategic Manager, Flannery Plant Hire, said: “Flannery signed the Charter in June 2020, the first to do so, because we saw value in making a public declaration of our strategy to reduce emissions across our fleet and the service we provide to our clients. We are glad to see others joining the same declaration.”

Lara Young, Group Climate Change Director, Costain, said: “Costain were one of the first signatories of the Plant Commitment Charter in August 2020. As an early adopter of low emission plant and having introduced several Groupwide low emission plant standards since 2017, joining the Charter was an evident next step in our journey to net zero. Tackling one of our greatest whole life cycle emissions sources and providing a clear signal to our clients, supply chain partners and Plant OEMs to know of the importance we place on taking tangible action, reducing emissions from plant and machinery. I am delighted that more organisations are following suit.”

Signing the Plant Commitment Charter is free and voluntary. Visit the Supply Chain Sustainability School to find out more.

In advance of COP26, the United Nations climate change conference in November, Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, today launches the first in a series of innovative solutions and learnings to support the construction and infrastructure industry in reaching Net Zero Carbon emissions.

Building on its 55% carbon emissions reduction since 2010 and its recent commitment to the United Nations Race To Zero campaign, the company is also gearing up for its official submission to the Science Based Target Initiative.

To kickstart its countdown to COP26, Balfour Beatty partnered with the Supply Chain Sustainability School to undertake a joint survey targeting nearly 40,000 of the construction and infrastructure industry’s supply chain partners, to understand the barriers, issues and opportunities faced by the sector in achieving Net Zero.

In publishing the findings today in its latest thought paper “Greening the chain: Overcoming barriers for a Net Zero Supply Chain” Balfour Beatty is providing access to key recommendations for policy makers, customers, and the wider industry to help it to achieve Net Zero  and play a major role in tackling the global climate change emergency.

Over the coming weeks, Balfour Beatty will demonstrate a wide range of innovative activities that support the bold international targets and ambitions set out in its sustainability strategy, “Building New Futures”.

Following its month-long internal sustainability campaign, in which Balfour Beatty generated over 750 ideas through its employee-engagement programme, My Contribution, the company will launch a number of new initiatives including:

  • A Carbon Conscious training programme to improve employees collective understanding of carbon, supporting efforts in reducing their individual and the business’ carbon footprint.
  • A Sustainability Showcase, demonstrating the significant progress in making its plant and fleet sustainable as well as modern methods of construction at its Shotts depot in Scotland.
  • Opening the doors to its Digital Innovation Hub in Glasgow, displaying the great progress on all things digital and virtual. To register your interest in attending either virtually or in person please click here.
  • Highlighting Balfour Beatty’s international approach to reducing carbon emissions, demonstrating tools, innovations, and activities from across its US and Hong Kong operations as well as those in the UK.

Balfour Beatty’s aim is to be smarter, faster and greener; showing how together, the construction and infrastructure industry can play a key role in tackling the urgent climate change threat through global ambitions and local action.

Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty Group Chief Executive, said: “The climate emergency is probably the biggest global societal challenge we have ever faced. It’s a challenge that will require all of us to pull together in the same direction.

“Whilst Balfour Beatty has long been at the vanguard of sustainability having halved our carbon emissions in the last decade, we know that more can and should be done. The United Nations Climate Change Conference is a welcome opportunity to accelerate this process forward, as we work in tandem with businesses across our industry and beyond to drive rapid, meaningful change.”

Commenting on Balfour Beatty’s programme of activities, The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said: “I welcome Balfour Beatty’s efforts in supporting the construction sector to reach net zero.

“We’re committed to tackling climate change and, alongside the Prime Minister’s ambitious Ten Point Plan, have set up the UK Infrastructure Bank to invest in net zero and will issue £15 billion in green bonds over the next year to help finance green projects.”

To find out more visit Balfour Beatty’s dedicated COP26 website pages or join the conversation on social media using the hashtags #COP26 #SmarterGreenerFaster #BuildingNewFutures. To understand Balfour Beatty’s carbon emissions reduction journey, so far, view its carbon timeline here.

We are pleased to announce that Wales & West Utilities has become the latest Partner of the Supply Chain Sustainability School

Wales & West Utilities have joined the School as a Partner to collaborate with their colleagues and drive sustainability across the built environment supply chain.

The School is delighted to welcome Wales & West Utilities on board and look forward to working with them.

Our Partner organisations are committed to building sustainability skills and knowledge across the industry. This will help us to safeguard the future of the UK’s built environment and ensure that it is fairer, greener, and more robust.

The School is committed to working alongside our Partners to support us all in our objective to “build back better”.

Find out more:

FIS and the Supply Chain Sustainability School are collaborating to help deliver Net Zero in the finishes and interiors sector through a new virtual training portal hosted on the Supply Chain Sustainability School website.

This sustainability training hub is another output of the FIS Sustainability Working Group, which has been established within the FIS community to support a focus on individual change, collective focus and supply chain engagement.  The working group has five core objectives:

  • Increasing knowledge and understanding within the supply chain
  • Setting targets and standardisation (including monitoring and measuring impact)
  • Providing an active network and encouraging collaboration
  • Highlighting individuals and approaches that help inspire and inform change
  • Informing design and encouraging better asset management

FIS Board Member Phil Brown from Meronden Ltd who has been supporting the FIS Sustainability Working Group said:

“In our supply chain there is a growing understanding, not only of our responsibilities, but also the potential of the sector to support change. Our Working Group really starts with a focus on helping individual businesses in the sector to take the first and identify the next step to being better in terms of sustainability.  In the true sense of sustainability there is absolutely no point in reinventing the wheel.  The collaboration with Supply Chain Sustainability was quickly identified as a priority, the School has a amazing wealth of resource that can help educate and inform our supply chain and we just needed as a first stage to curate this and help set up some suggested learning pathways.  This launch is the first step, but we have ambitious plans together to develop the content and with it the understanding of sustainability through our supply chain.”

Graham Edgell of Morgan Sindall who is a Board Member of the Supply Chain Sustainability School added:

“Collaboration is key to driving change.  The School exemplifies this with an open source approach that makes content, developed by experts, available to all.  It is great that we have teamed up with FIS, one of the more dynamic bodies in our sector and a key sector within construction to really help drive knowledge and capability on sustainability issues. With an improved understanding of the issues we can all individually and collectively help companies and the sector deliver more sustainable outcomes and play our part in the CLC CO2nstruct Zero programme and the national Net Zero effort”.

With construction accounting for 40% of UK carbon consumption, the construction industry is critical to supporting the UK Net Zero Effort.

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) Roadmap to Recovery has laid out proposals to secure the future of construction businesses nationwide, while setting the industry on a sustainable path towards recovery.

The goal of the strategy is to: Improve design, product selection and manufacturing and construction processes to deliver built assets that achieve a 50% reduction in greenhouse gases as part of the pathway towards net zero.

With the finishes and interiors sector estimated to be responsible for 40% of energy consumed by a building and an estimated 300 tonnes of fit-out materials going to landfill every day, FIS is working to rally the sector and, in addition to work with the School has recently signed up as a partner organisation to support the delivery of the Co2nstruct Zero strategy.

You can view the Finishes and Interiors Sustainability Virtual Training here Finishes & Interiors | Supply Chain Sustainability School (supplychainschool.co.uk)

You can visit the FIS Sustainability Hub here.

Sustainability Tool partners with Supply Chain Sustainability School to launch a free carbon calculator for supply chains

 

Sustainability Tool, a software application designed to help organisations and supply chains track and measure their sustainability performance, has today launched a carbon calculator, in partnership with the Supply Chain Sustainability School (SCSS).

With 80-99 per cent of the built environment’s total carbon footprint coming from their supply chain, the Sustainability Tool’s carbon calculator will play an integral role in supporting businesses in their fight against climate change.

Charles Naud, Head of Product at Sustainability Tool, said: “With COP26 approaching swiftly, there’s never been a more appropriate time for companies to delve into their supply chains for carbon measurement and reporting. The carbon calculator will be a company’s greatest ally in their quest to reach net zero and reduce their carbon emissions. With our suite of customisable and simple reporting software offerings, our aim is to be a one-stop-shop for all sustainability reporting and performance management.”

A spin-off of the Sustainability Tool, the carbon calculator’s purpose is twofold: (1) to support supply chains with calculating their greenhouse gas emissions, and (2) to provide clients with a view of emissions embedded in their supply chains (i.e. their scope 3 emissions). Suppliers can either input their emissions by scope (if those are already known to them), or complete a simple report covering fossil fuel, company travel, gas, electricity consumption, materials, waste and water data. Upon completion, the report automatically calculates emissions in a dashboard that supports submissions to Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) and other carbon reporting frameworks. The system also permits suppliers to apportion a percentage of their carbon emissions to clients based on financial turnover.

The carbon calculator will be offered free-of-charge to Supply Chain Sustainability School members (suppliers), whereby they can register for free. The tool is also offered to Partners (clients) of the School, presenting them with a full view of their scope 3 carbon data.

Martin Gettings, Group Director Sustainability at Canary Wharf Group, said: “The carbon calculator has resulted from an industry-wide collaboration of clients, main contractors and trade contractors, across the Supply Chain Sustainability School. We’ve established a standardised data collection and reporting mechanism for supply chain carbon. This hugely benefits suppliers, because it enables one simple carbon measurement exercise, the results of which can easily be shared with their major clients.”

Julia Barrett, Chief Sustainability Officer at Willmott Dixon, said: “As a company committed to delivering net zero embodied carbon by 2040, it’s paramount that we equip our supply chain partners with the necessary tools and support to reduce emissions. The carbon calculator provides all our partners with a simple and robust approach to calculating and understanding their emissions.  Through this initiative, the Supply Chain Sustainability School offers a unique opportunity for our industry to work together in reducing our emissions.”

The carbon calculator is also available for usage across other industries, whilst the Sustainability Tool can help businesses report and manage sustainability performance across more than just carbon, whether that be within an organisation, its projects, contracts and supply chain.