News

The climate emergency means that cuttings carbon emissions is a priority for all Building Engineers and construction professions.

Sleep pods, fresh fruit and discount gym deals can attract reluctant working-from-home workers back to offices to boost struggling high streets after lockdown and adapt to the new era of remote working, says Rob Diamond, one of the first people in the UK to achieve the new international WELL Accredited Professional qualification.

Property and construction consultancy Ingleton Wood announced plans to double the number of apprentices to help invest in local skills and the economic recovery from the pandemic.

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has recently released their new People Survey which aims to assess the implications of COVID-19 on the built environment and those working within it.

The Fuel Poverty Strategy report, Sustainable Warmth, sets out the government’s plans for protecting vulnerable households.

Millcroft is to take on 12 young people over the next two years under the government’s Kickstart Scheme – designed to create opportunities for young people and invest in skills for the sector by generating six-month, paid work placements in a trainee role for those aged 16-24.

March’s budget faced a number of criticisms from the construction sector for its lack of focus on climate crisis initiatives.

The government has committed to establish a national regulator for construction products as part of wider reforms to address systemic failings identified by the Hackitt Review.

Simplified External Wall System (EWS) guidance to help leaseholders sell flats in blocks with external cladding has been issued by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Three months in and Brexit is still playing second fiddle to Coronavirus in the headlines.

A survey of UK employers and employees by not-for-profit healthcare provider Benenden Health revealed that 32% of construction, engineering and building firms had experience of an employee leaving their company because they felt their mental wellbeing wasn’t being cared for.

The Welsh government has launched a consultation on accessible toilets and baby nappy changing provision. It seeks views on proposals to:   

A new organisation to ensure newbuild homes are built to a high standard has been launched by the government. Natalie Elphicke MP will chair the New Homes Quality Board, which will oversee consultation on an industry code of practice and a new homes ombudsman service.

Government proposals to extend permitted development rights – which would allow more premises to bypass normal planning procedures and be turned into homes – need greater safeguards to protect communities, says the Construction Industry Council (CIC).

Since choosing Leeds College of Building (LCB) as a training provider four years ago, construction firm BAM has significantly increased the number of female apprentices enrolled on its Level 4 programme.

The University of Central Lancashire’s first cohort of Building Services and Sustainable Engineering (building services design engineer) degree apprentices have completed their training.

The government is under pressure to extend the green homes grant scheme beyond March 2022 after a committee of MPs described progress as moving at a snail’s pace.

The Acoustics Technician Level 4 apprenticeship has been developed as an employer-led industry initiative with support from the Association of Noise Consultants and the Institute of Acoustics.