Arup have launched their third issue of our UK Cities Intelligence Report on the topic of Retrofit at Scale.
In this issue of UK Cities Intelligence, we look at the benefits of taking a neighbourhood and place-based approach to retrofit at scale, to not only meet net zero targets, but to deliver safer, healthier, and more sustainable communities.
This issue explores how the built environment can tackle retrofit at scale through different policy levers and approaches. Scaling up retrofit is about strong relationships and partnerships between the public and private sector alongside a systems thinking approach and innovation to accelerate action to maximise long term benefits. Hear from our client, Perth and Kinross Council on how Arup helped them on their path towards net zero.
Download full publication HERE
Following the election of East Midlands Mayor, Arup have published 7 ideas to transform the East Midlands. They aim to promote discussion and debate over opportunities presented by the devolution deal and establishment of a Mayor and EMCC.
A devolution deal for the East Midlands, and the election of an inaugural mayor, provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to energise the region’s ambitions, and enduringly transform its relationship with national government.
The East Midlands has historically experienced persistent under-investment with local authorities and institutions lacking capacity and resource to advocate and maximise opportunities.
New local powers will help the region tackle challenges and harness its true economic potential. The East Midlands offers unique social, economic, and natural diversity – this devolution opportunity will allow the region’s individuality to be celebrated and harnessed.
We have used our global expertise, local knowledge and lived experience from working in the East Midlands for over 50 years to set out seven transformative ideas which can be used to inform conversations and key decision making. These ideas are designed around creating a sustainable and inclusive environment for people to live, work, learn and visit, with change being achievable in the first mayoral term.
You can download the document HERE:
We are delighted to announce The CE East Midlands Awards Shortlist
Please CLICK HERE to see the Awards Finalists!
It was an excellent evening of celebration and high spirits. The talent and hard work across the construction industry in the region was outstanding. It was a showcase for innovation for innovation and best practice.
InstallerSHOW is back and bigger than ever for 2024, taking place at the NEC, Birmingham from 25 -27 June. The UK’s must-visit event focusing on the sustainable delivery of heat, water, air and energy is packed full of solutions for you, whatever type of project you are working on.
With ten streams of top quality content and 600 exhibitors, InstallerSHOW will offer a huge selection of products to help Constructing Excellence members, plus expertise and solutions to help deliver sustainable buildings and get us firmly on the route to net zero.
Many of our exhibitors will be offering demos and taster training sessions during the show, with the chance to get hands-on with the latest products and discuss how they might help your projects.
Top speakers, insight and advice
The Housing Hub will be returning for 2024, with a three day programme of content designed for housebuilders, contractors, architects and housing associations, as well as those working in the supply chain. It will tackle the key challenges of decarbonising our homes, as well as meeting the regulations set out in the Building Safety Act.
It comes at a key time for those involved in the planning and construction of new homes, with the Future Homes Standard due to come into effect in 2025 and an uplift in housebuilding activity which has been widely forecast.
Our facilitators for the Housing Hub will be climate and sustainability journalists Rachel England and Jim McClelland. We’ll be addressing topics relevant for both newbuild and refurbishment projects, all designed to help our audience make homes healthier, more energy efficient and affordable. Sessions will include the Future Homes Standard, taking a fabric first approach to retrofit, designing low carbon homes and the Building Safety Act.
You will be able to hear from housebuilders including Persimmon & Cala, as well as industry partners including the National Retrofit Hub and National Home Improvement Council.
In the Elemental Arena you’ll hear from industry leaders in a range of panel discussions, keynote talks, Q&As and interactive seminars, tackling the major topics in our industry.
Constructing Excellence Midlands join this year’s content programme, and will be discussing and debating the Changing landscape for skills.
We know we need to build a net zero workforce and ensure the industry has the skilled professionals to decarbonise our buildings. Panellists for this session will consider the skills that are in demand and how we can train both existing installers and new recruits, particularly when small construction businesses will be at the heart of retrofit delivery.
Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive of Constructing Excellence Midlands will be joined on stand by John Hancock, COO of Wolseley Group, Paul Amann, Policy Officer at Liverpool Region Combined Authority, Bola Abisogun, Founder of Digital Twins Skills Academy, and Clayton Browne, MD of CB Heating.
This important debate, The Changing landscape for Skills, will take place Tuesday 25 June, 3:30PM in the elemental Arena.
Other highlights in the elemental Arena include Deborah Meaden, Jordon Brompton, Co-Founder of myenergi, and Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency & Green Finance. Check the full content timetable, with over 10 theatres here
Plus top brands delivering net zero solutions
Our 600 strong exhibitor list will cover heating and plumbing, renewable energy, electric vehicle infrastructure, kitchens and bathrooms, energy storage, software and digital solutions, ventilation, water efficiency and more. Some of the names you can expect to see are Vaillant, Grohe, Polypipe, Kingspan, Heat Geek, Ford, E.ON, Aico, Vitra, Climalife, Danfoss, Haier, Nesta, Mixergy, Passiv UK and Wilo UK.
InstallerSHOW opens at 10am on Tuesday 25th June, running 10am-5pm on 25th and 26th and 10am-4pm on 27th. It is free to attend, including parking, and tickets are available here.
The first three Best Practice Guides have been published by CE Midlands, focusing on a range of subjects currently affecting the industry.
Each guide is a short, in-depth dive by members, each experts in their own fields. These first three are written by practitioners in education, contracting and building control, with a focus on the Building Safety Act.
The Building Safety Act 2022 Implications for Building Control – Richard Cymler
Constructing excellence continues to play a pivotal role in reshaping the future of the construction industry by showcasing best practices and collaboration across the industry. Over the last few months each of the local clubs supported by theme groups have started to gather sense checks of any bottlenecks and problems encountered by its members and firms operating in various domains.
This has greatly assisted with development of bespoke CPD events (including workshops/seminars/podcasts/guidance notes) within each region in sharing knowledge, skills and behaviours where the speakers have walked-through-project successes adopting a collaborative approaches. These events heavily rely on creating transparency to foster confidence and trust in CE activities which is enhanced by member engagement and acting on member feedback.
It is evident that the landscape is changing in the sector at a far faster rate than previously thought. In these tough times where costs going up, clients and legislations require innovative solutions, as well as the usual challenges of Economic, Effective and Efficient project delivery; to survive organisations will continue to keep a sharp eye on cash flow to balance the books.
In addition, the industry is also facing increased pressures to adopt green practices (sustainable and retrofit technologies, skill shortages, diversity and social values). In order to stay ahead of the competitors every organisation needs to embrace new non-traditional approaches, changing legislations, the Golden Thread and the Moral Compass.
In summary, there is lots happening within the regions, if we are to remain head of the game, I invite and encourage everyone to take maximum advantage of the best practice series by getting involved in various theme groups and local clubs.
