The Chancellor must use his forthcoming Autumn Statement to cut VAT on work to make homes greener and invest in more than just ‘big ticket’ infrastructure projects to boost economic growth and stimulate a stagnating economy, says the West Midlands Centre for Constructing Excellence (WMCCE) and the Midlands Environmental Business Company (MEBC).
Phil Wilson, Executive Director, WMCCE says:
We were pleased to welcome Paul Morrell the Government’s Chief Construction Advisor to our Question Time event at Edgbaston on 18th October when he highlighted the major challenges ahead facing the industry. The event focussed on the Government’s Construction Strategy and specifically addressed the issue of whether this will help or hinder SMEs. Whilst the Strategy sets a target of 25% for SMEs for construction public procurement projects in the future, clearly many feel that fewer SMEs are in practice likely to benefit.
Retrofit Case Study Project
Through October and part of November WMCCE will host two Pioneers, through the Climte KIC Programme. Cristiano Ferarri joins us from Modena and Maria Sanchis Morato from Valencia. Both have backgrounds in sustainable construction, Christiano as an architect and Maria as a site manager. Together they will assist WMCCE, undertaking the project outlined below.
Background
Government Construction Chief Calls on Sub-Region’s Construction Industry to Embrace New Ways of Working
Paul Morrell, the Government’s Chief Construction Advisor has told sub-regional construction businesses that it is ‘no time to put its head under the duvet’ and that it must forge ahead with radical new ways of working.
Grasping the opportunities for growth presented by a sustainable construction and property sector will be the main priority for the new Green Construction Board.
The board, which is co-chaired by Business Minister Mark Prisk and Chief Executive of Lend Lease, EMEA Dan Labbad, will be focused on taking a unified approach to the problems facing the industry and setting out an action plan to combat them. They will also work on persuading sceptics both inside and outside of the industry that a ‘green’ construction sector can lead to growth.
Up to £1000 in grant funding is now available to help business leaders pay for training to grow their organisations. Through the Leadership and Management Advisory Service, senior leaders of businesses and social enterprises with the potential to achieve high growth have a great opportunity to develop their leadership and management skills.
This offer is available to private sector businesses or social enterprises
with:
SHAP (Sustainable Housing Action Partnership) are delighted to announce the appointment of Rosemary Coyne as SHAP co-ordinator from 22 August 2011. Rosemary was previously the Sustainable Design and Construction Policy Manager at Advantage West Midlands. In addition to experience of a wide range of sustainable development and sustainable communities issues, Rosemary has had specific involvement with the sustainable housing agenda in terms of both new low carbon buildings and of measures to improve energy use and reduce carbon emissions in existing housing.
NEW CROSS LEP CONSTRUCTION GROUP TO HELP STEER REGION’S INDUSTRY
A new construction group working across the recently formed Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) in the West Midlands has been launched to help the region’s industry unlock new commercial opportunities and mitigate against the impact of a challenging economy.
The West Midlands Centre for Constructing Excellence (WMCCE) commissioned Ecorys (formerly ECOTEC Research and Consulting) to undertake an independent evaluation of the organisation's operation, performance and impact. The evaluation approach encompassed a range of tasks and the findings have been closely informed by desk research, a survey of businesses beneficiaries, and consultations with strategic representatives and delivery partners.
