Construction National

Tackling modern slavery in supply chains

From 1 April 2023 government departments must follow updated guidance on identifying and managing the risk of modern slavery in their supply chains. Alex Minett, Head of Products and Markets at CHAS, looks at what’s changed and discusses some steps all organisations can take to prevent modern slavery within their networks.

Modern slavery is on the increase. The International Labour Organization (ILO) reports the Covid-19 pandemic has fuelled a surge in extreme poverty which is considered a major factor in driving forced labour. Recent UK government statistics reflect this; November 2022 saw the highest number of potential modern slavery victims referred to the Home Office for investigation since their National Referral Mechanism (NRM) began in 2009 – a 38% increase on the same quarter the previous year. 

Read more: Tackling modern slavery in supply chains

Government’s “green day” announcements underwhelming and a missed opportunity

The GSHPA has today described the Government’s “green day” announcements as a missed opportunity and “underwhelming” for the UKs ground source heat pump sector.

To date, the UK government has simply failed to grasp the potential of this proven technology, which has been widely adopted across Continental Europe, and is critical to delivering the Government’s existing heat pump target. Today could have been a major pivotal moment in the UKs transition to low carbon heat, but instead there is a disappointing lack of urgency around the limited measures announced to boost the heat pump sector.

Read more: Government’s “green day” announcements underwhelming and a missed opportunity

We’re flying the flag for British-made products with Made in Britain membership

There’s something you’re going to start seeing soon from Clark-Drain that you haven’t seen before: the Made in Britain mark, with its combined Union flag and soaring arrow, appearing on many of our drainage and access solutions.

We’ve long been advocates of designing and manufacturing within the UK wherever possible, and we’ve achieved this with some 88% of our products already.

Read more: We’re flying the flag for British-made products with Made in Britain membership

Access contract hire specialist seizes chance for green transition

Head of access Stuart Lambert at Contract Plant Rental has added lithium electric LGMG boom lifts to the company’s fleet to help access clients transition smoothly to a carbon-neutral future.

The contract hire specialist, based in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, has invested in new LGMG T20JE telescopic boom lifts for rental clients to use flexibly as they pivot to zero-emissions operations.

Read more: Access contract hire specialist seizes chance for green transition

Health and sustainable development go hand-in-hand at college's Wellness Centre

An exciting new sport and wellness centre under development at New City College Epping Forest will provide state-of-the-art fitness facilities for students and the local community, as well as contributing to making the campus greener.

Designed by architects at Scott Brownrigg and delivered by Neilcott Construction, the new building, in Borders Lane, Loughton, will not just be good for health and wellbeing – it is designed with environmental sustainability in mind.

Read more: Health and sustainable development go hand-in-hand at college's Wellness Centre

Common Assessment Standard and PAS 91 become best practice for procurement

Contracting Authorities in the public sector must prepare to assess their supply chains using the Common Assessment Standard (CHAS Elite) or PAS 91 (CHAS Advanced) following the release of Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 03/23 which updates the Selection Questionnaire and replaces PPN 08/16.  

The changes, which come into effect from 1 April 2023, mean that contractors looking to win public sector contracts will need to show compliance not only with SSIP and health and safety requirements but with a broader range of standards as covered in the Common Assessment Standard (CHAS Elite) and PAS 91 (CHAS Advanced) accreditations. 

Read more: Common Assessment Standard and PAS 91 become best practice for procurement

MODULHAUS™ crowned Innovation of the Year

Following a year of unprecedented growth and success in 2022, leading innovators in offsite modular solutions - VOLUMETRIC™ are celebrating after being crowned ‘Innovation of the Year - Wellbeing' winners, at the 2023 CIBSE Building Performance Awards.

The VOLUMETRIC™ team picked up the trophy for SOLOHAUS™ in the MODULHAUS™ range. Designed to help overcome the homelessness crisis, these single person modules offer a safe, independent and innovative interim housing solution which helps former rough sleepers find the stability they need before making the transition to a permanent home.

Read more: MODULHAUS™ crowned Innovation of the Year

O'Donovan launches its ReUse Hub

A new initiative called the ReUse Hub has been launched by industry leader and innovator, O’Donovan Waste. Headed up by trailblazer Jacqueline O’Donovan, the new initiative ensures that sustainability sits at the heart of the O'Donovan ethos and further demonstrates its commitment to reaching a circular economy by encouraging people to think differently about waste. The new hub is designed to encourage the reuse of what would have otherwise been waste. O’Donovan continues to promote the waste hierarchy to the maximum as they generate inventive ways to help increase reuse and work towards their target of net zero emissions by 2035.

Read more: O'Donovan launches its ReUse Hub

ASFP to hold regional seminar in Leeds

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) is holding a regional seminar on Tuesday 14th March 2023 at Leeds Headingley Stadium. The event, which runs from 10am-3.30pm, will explore best practice in design and installation of Passive Fire Protection (PFP).

Read more: ASFP to hold regional seminar in Leeds

Leeds College of Building principal takes skills investment case to Westminster

Leaders from across West Yorkshire have been speaking with MPs at Westminster as part of a national campaign to bring skills to the forefront of the government’s agenda.

Principals from Leeds College of Building (the only specialist general further education construction college in the UK), Leeds City College, Keighley, Bradford, Kirklees, Shipley and Calderdale colleges, joined hundreds of leaders from across the country in calling for fairer funding, a right to lifelong learning, and support for local skills shortages.

Read more: Leeds College of Building principal takes skills investment case to Westminster