Digital Right To Work (RTW) legislation – The Pitfalls

Research shows UK businesses underprepared for sweeping new digital Right To Work (RTW) legislation

LONDON 15th September 2022 – With less than a week until October’s overhaul to Right to Work (RTW) laws, Xydus, one of a handful of government certified providers who can carry out new digital RTW checks, has urged businesses to ensure they are prepared for the legislation. The warning comes after Xydus carried out independent research into business readiness revealing a widespread knowledge gap among UK businesses ahead of October’s changes.

The findings showed awareness of the new legislation was high, with 96% of businesses aware of the changes. However 48% of employers surveyed were still unprepared for the deadline, putting them at risk of significant non-compliance findings that could negatively impact their right to hire foreign workers and even the potential for directors to face jail time.

Xydus is the only IDSP with more than a decade of experience as the compliance partner for employers. It pioneered user experience in digital RTW and employee onboarding, and enabled digital access to the NHS during the lockdown. Xydus commissioned research firm Censuswide to survey 501 senior decision-makers at businesses employing over 1000 people.

Major misconceptions abound

The survey exposes a vast array of legal misinformation and misconceptions across the business landscape:

– 4% are completely unaware of any legal changes, while 3% bizarrely claimed to conduct no RTW checks at all, meaning up to 1537 large UK businesses may be headed towards compliance nightmares

– 72% believed driving licences were compliant for RTW checks, despite the documents never being accepted as evidence of RTW

– 78% were oblivious to the fact they could face jail time if non-compliant

Russell King, CEO of Xydus, commented: “The list of potential consequences for getting digital Right to Work checks wrong is worrying many UK businesses. This research reinforces what we’ve seen and heard for quite some time, that many businesses still have a wide knowledge gap on the details and implications of these major changes in RTW legislation. It is not too late, there are easy-to-adopt options for UK employers who now need to be introduced to digital identity checks. Business leaders who feel ill-informed about these changes need to act now and engage with a compliant, certified IDSP like Xydus that has the 10+ years of experience delivering enterprise-grade identity management and work authorisation solutions.”

Digital RTW: The basics

With less than a week to go, the research underlines the urgency businesses face if they are to be ready by October 1st. Despite 28% of businesses claiming that the legislation did not affect UK organisations, from next month, all UK businesses:

– Are highly recommended by the government to use certified Identity Service Providers (IDSPs) to complete digital Right to Work checks for all UK employees.

– Must conduct digital Right To Work checks using only digital images of personal documents using ID validation technology to verify the employees right to work. Any other method is non-compliant

– Could face a civil penalty of up to £20,000 per non-compliant worker, lose the ability to sponsor work visa applications for foreign nationals and potentially face criminal convictions if found non-compliant.

– Must keep records for up to two years after an employee exits the business

Pre-pandemic, Right to Work checks were mostly conducted in person. Employees provided documentation proving the right to work to employers who stored a copy.

Temporary adjustments were made to facilitate remote work during lockdown. For the first time, in-person checks were permitted via video calls, and job applicants could send photos of their documents to employers via email.

October 1st 2022, these temporary methods will be outlawed due to being easily manipulated by bad actors. Manual in-person checks will still be valid alongside digital RTW checks through the Home Office or an IDSP. However, Xydus’ research shows businesses believe these methods remain compliant, with 37% claiming they could submit employee photos via email and another 30% via zoom. Almost a third of organisations believe that loyalty cards and library cards were valid forms of identification.

Volume hiring sectors lack knowledge and preparation

Perhaps more worryingly, many industries that are reliant on high-volume hiring displayed a lack of knowledge and preparation. Many believed that they could conduct right to work checks after a worker had started – which has never been legal. Financial companies (46%), Healthcare organisations (41%) and Manufacturers (38%) all claimed it was possible to conduct RTW checks at a welcome meeting after employees started their tenure.

In addition, when industry decision makers were asked what had held them back from fully embracing digital RTW checks, a variety of roadblocks were listed. Retail organisations claimed they couldn’t afford it (43%), while both finance and HR stated they didn’t have the IT capabilities to implement it (27%).

1 Calculated as 3% of the total number of large businesses in the UK from UK Government figures. Source:

 

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THE CONFUSION OF STATISTICS

71%

given a straight choice between lower bills and green initiatives, the cost of living crisis took priority: 71 per cent said cutting energy costs should be the focus

Britons would overwhelmingly choose lower energy costs over climate-friendly policies if the two come into conflict, a poll for The National has found.

The findings came as ministers put environmental concerns to one side to restart fracking and expand North Sea oil and gas production in response to the energy crisis enveloping Europe.

The Deltapoll survey for The National also revealed considerable discontent about global climate change policies, especially among the young people at the vanguard of the green movement.

But given a straight choice between lower bills and green initiatives, the cost of living crisis took priority: 71 per cent said cutting energy costs should be the focus, while 22 per cent chose climate change.

The two aims do not have to clash. Saving energy and using it more efficiently can cut both bills and carbon emissions. Experts would like to see better insulation of homes to meet both goals. Britain has plans for a. huge expansion of offshore wind energy by 2050, which should also serve both ends.

Politicians such as Alok Sharma, the president of the Cop26 climate summit, have sought to persuade voters that they should blame wholesale energy prices for their rising fuel bills — and not the pursuit of net-zero policies.

“The energy crisis should be an opportunity to scale up the production of renewables to guarantee a long-term, sustainable supply,” said Joan Edwards, director of policy at British charity the Wildlife Trusts.

“In the long term, renewable energy production is better value for money, and has a critical role to play in helping us to reach net zero,” she said.

However, the new government under Prime Minister Liz Truss has made clear that it will not be squeamish about exploiting Britain’s oil and gas reserves. Several new blocks of the UK’s continental shelf are to be made available for drilling.

The preference for lower energy bills was felt across Britain. This was the case in Scotland, Wales and even younger, more left-leaning London, where cheaper energy was favoured by a margin of 57 per cent to 30 per cent.

The poll was conducted shortly after Ms Truss announced a two-year freeze in energy bills, although attention was soon diverted by the death of Queen Elizabeth II that day.

It came amid darkening economic clouds after inflation rose to a 40-year high and economists raised fears of a recession in Britain.

“People overwhelmingly felt the top priority of the UK government should be lowering energy costs as opposed to tackling climate change,” Deltapoll’s polling report said.

Ministers appear to agree. More than 100 new North Sea drilling licences are expected to be handed out to oil and gas companies in a drive for more domestic production, it was announced this month, over activists’ objections.

Deltapoll interviewed 2,096 adults in Britain between September 9 and 12.

Source: The National

77%

of the public in support of the development of solar and wind farms

Labour Party has unveiled a plan on Twitter to turn the UK into a clean energy superpower by 2030 with plans to increase the generation capacity of technologies such as offshore wind and solar.

Labour claims this could save UK households a total of £93 billion over the rest of the decade. On average, this is the equivalent of saving £475 for each household every year.

Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, recently discussed his ambition to transform the UK into a green energy superpower allowing the general public to have access to cheap, green home-grown renewables and nuclear by the end of the decade.

“A central mission of my Labour government will be to turn the UK into a clean energy superpower,” Starmer said.

“Our plan for clean power by 2030 will save the British people £93 billion off their energy bills and break the UK’s vulnerability to Putin and his cronies. It will also drive higher growth and rising living standards.”

But how will this target be achieved? Announcing details of the plan to the Observer, the political party will quadruple offshore wind, triple solar and double onshore wind production by 2030. This could be crucial in weaning the UK off fossil fuel reliance – a major instigator of rising energy costs plaguing the UK.

The party have also said it would utilise nuclear energy to end the UK’s dependency on fossil fuels.

This would appeal significantly to the people of the UK with 77% of the public in support of the development of solar and wind farms to tackle the energy crisis, said Survation. 76% of people also are in support of building renewable energy projects in their local area.

Source: Current+

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West Fraser Blooms in South Molton

South Molton-based wood panel manufacturer, West Fraser (trading as Norbord), has donated £1000 to help a community sustainable planting project, designed to sow colourful gardens across the town.

The factory in South Molton donated the funds to the South Molton In Bloom project which has been used to create beautiful flower displays around the local community, including a garden of blue and yellow flowers near the South Molton Community hospital – cultivated to show solidarity with the country of Ukraine.

The project was founded by the recently retired Sue Harrison, who decided to launch the project during lockdown to work with the community in creating eye-catching and vibrant gardens. Each garden is designed sustainably and help provide wellbeing support for all residents in the area.

On the project and donation, Sue said: “The South Molton In Bloom project started out as a simple idea I had during lockdown and has grown into a fantastic community effort, which people and businesses alike have been hugely supportive of. It’s been fantastic to see so many people from across the area band together to add some wonderful colour to the town with the new gardens.

“I’d also like to thank the generosity of the West Fraser team for their large donation which has helped us to not only create a dedicated garden near the South Molton community hospital, but allow us to extend the project to Bloomer’s Corner in the town centre.”

 

John Maude, General Manager at West Fraser’s South Molton mill, said: “We are always happy to support great local initiatives in any way we can so we were thrilled to help Sue in her goal to bring together the local community and add some beautiful gardens to the area. The whole town looks fantastic now that all the flowers have bloomed over the summer, so thank you to Sue and everyone involved for their hard work.”

For more information on West Fraser, visit https://uk.westfraser.com/.

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‘REAL CHANGE’ TO THE PLANNING SYSTEM

Legislation to address the UK’s “slow” and “fragmented” planning system will be tabled by the UK government in the months ahead to support the accelerated delivery of “priority major infrastructure projects”, UK chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has said.

High-level details of what will be in the legislation, and which specific projects the reforms will benefit, have been trailed by the Treasury – a non-exhaustive list of 138 projects across transport, energy, local growth and digital has been outlined. The Treasury said (42-page / 1.38MB PDF) these projects “have particularly high potential to move to construction at an accelerated pace”, though it said a project’s inclusion on the list is not a guarantee that it will benefit from funding, planning consent or approval for other regulatory or permitting processes.

Planning law expert Robbie Owen of Pinsent Masons said the proposals look like they would go further than what has previously been outlined and have the potential to deliver “real change” to the planning system. However, construction law expert Neal Morris, also of Pinsent Masons, has warned that fewer construction companies may be around to deliver the raft of new infrastructure planned unless more government action is given to the industry to overcome the economic challenges it faces.

According to the Treasury, delays to the delivery of major infrastructure projects “undermine investor confidence and restrict the growth potential of the government’s landmark public investment in high quality infrastructure”. It has attributed the delays, in part, to “a complex patchwork of environmental and regulatory rules”, which it said it wants to “reform and streamline”.

Some of the rules have their origins in EU law and were retained on the UK statue book post-Brexit. On Thursday, the government introduced a new Bill aimed at repealing retained EU law en masse, and the Treasury has now given an indication of what that might look like in the context of planning law specifically.

It said the new legislation will reduce “the burden of environmental assessments” and “bureaucracy in the consultation process” and reform “habitats and species regulations”. It said the legislation will also provide greater flexibility to make changes to a development consent order (DCO) once it has been submitted.

The DCO planning regime applies to nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs). The Treasury confirmed plans for a new cross-government action plan for reform of the planning system that applies to NSIPs and said that new national policy statements for energy, water resources and national networks would be prioritised.

The Treasury also outlined its intention to update onshore wind planning policy so that it aligns with planning policy for other infrastructure. This, it said, would make it easier for onshore wind development to take place in England.

Further reforms aim to promote consenting for new roads and make it more difficult for legal challenges to “cause unnecessary delays to delivery”.

The Treasury also confirmed that it would add amendments to the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill that is already before parliament “to give telecoms operators easier access to telegraph poles on private land, supporting the delivery of gigabit capable broadband”. Further government plans for supporting new digital infrastructure are to be outlined later this year, it said.

Owen said: “The announcement of major infrastructure projects planning reform is welcome and goes much further than the limited provisions in the current Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill. A standalone Bill on the matter will provide the greater focus needed to secure real change, particularly to reduce the myriad of assessments and appraisals now required.”

“The list of a wide variety and large number of transport, energy and telecoms infrastructure projects to be prioritised for acceleration should give a real boost to the good work already done and still underway as part of the Project Speed initiative, although it is so long that this may make prioritisation simply not possible in every case, particularly for those projects still at an early pre-planning stage,” he said.

In what the Treasury has termed a “growth plan”, Kwarteng referenced the issue of rising energy costs which businesses and households are grappling with. He announced a package of measures designed to help businesses address these rising costs.

The package includes a series of tax cuts, including reversing the previous chancellor’s decision to increase corporation tax to 25% from next April – the rate will remain at 19%. It also includes an energy bill relief scheme, which will provide businesses with a discount on energy prices for six months from October. Kwarteng has also committed to negotiating agreements with gas producers and electricity generators with a view to bringing wholesale prices down.

Neal Morris said, though, that more targeted action is required to support construction companies.

“Unfortunately, the reality is that these support measures might not be enough to save businesses and jobs,” Morris said. “Construction companies, in particular, have already seen a considerable increase in the costs of essential materials such as reinforced steel and concrete. Whilst some costs are being passed to end users, traditional contracts often don’t factor in such an increase in price or cost recovery in light of an energy crisis, leaving businesses bearing the brunt of sky high prices.”

“If the government is serious about committing to delivering infrastructure projects, including its re-commitment to the Northern Powerhouse Rail, it must work with developers and contractors to control spiralling energy, materials and labour costs to enable these projects to be delivered and to provide the ‘boost to growth’ that the government is banking upon to increase tax revenues,” he said.

Source: Pinsent Masons

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32% of UK builders are exposed to asbestos every single week

New research has found that 32% of UK builders are exposed to asbestos every single week.
Ahead of Mesothelioma Awareness Day (26th September), an event aiming to bring more attention to the dangers of asbestos, ElectricalDirect surveyed trade workers from across the nation to see how often they encounter it, and the impact this has on their health.
The study found that 79% of builders have come across asbestos – the fibre-like material once used for insulation – in their working lives.
This has serious consequences, with 45% having had symptoms of an asbestos-related disease, or knowing a colleague who has.
Tradespeople are amongst the most at-risk workers of asbestos-related diseases, and across all industries, the majority are exposed to the potentially lethal material on a regular basis. Three in five (60%) find it every year, over a third (35%) say every month, and one in 12 (8%) come face to face with asbestos every day.
Tragically, one in 20 (5%) know someone who has died of such a condition, and every week, 20 tradespeople deaths are attributed to asbestos.
Some trades are more likely to be exposed than others, and so should be particularly cautious. Almost every carpenter (95%) questioned had some history with asbestos, and bricklayers (88%) are a close second.
The trades that are most likely to encounter asbestos are: 
With such severe consequences, it’s important that tradespeople know the warning signs of the diseases, and consult a doctor straight away if any appear. Dr Rhianna McClymont, Lead GP at Livi, the digital healthcare provider, says that asbestosis causes a range of symptoms, including:
  • Persistent cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Wheezing
  • Pain in the chest or shoulder
  • Tiredness
  • Swollen or ‘clubbed’ fingertips
However, ElectricalDirect’s research found that the majority of UK tradespeople are unaware of these symptoms. When asked to identify the signs of asbestosis, almost two-thirds (64%) failed to select a persistent cough, and over half (55%) didn’t pick out shortness of breath.
Dr Rhianna explains more about the condition:
What is abestosis?
“Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease caused by breathing in large amounts of asbestos dust for a long time. The asbestos gets lodged in the lungs causing scarring around the air sacs (alveoli), which means oxygen can’t reach the bloodstream easily. The scarring leads to the lungs hardening, making it more difficult to breathe because the lungs cannot hold as much air as they used to.”
What causes it? 
“The condition is caused by long-term exposure to asbestos, a material used in the past for cement, insulation, car parts, and some roof and floor tiles. The fibres in asbestos break down into little pieces when they’re damaged, released into the air and then breathed in. These fibres get stuck in the lungs, and over a long time, can cause permanent lung damage.”
Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at ElectricalDirect, said: “Despite being banned in the UK in 1999, asbestos is a still a real issue in the industry, and it’s awful that so many tradespeople die from related diseases every year.
“Some people might not experience symptoms for decades after their exposure to the material, so it’s important that individuals remain vigilant, and see a doctor immediately if they spot any signs.”
to read ElectricalDirect’s full Asbestos and the Trades: 2022 report, including what
to do if you encounter asbestos at work, and the treatment options for those who spot symptoms.
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Mini Budget – Mixed Messages, Industry Response

We have a scenario where the government are trying to turbo charge the economy with huge tax cuts while the Bank of England are trying to put the brakes on with high interest rate rises.  I think many of us will find this scenario very confusing.

Are the measures announced in the mini-budget by the government today sending mixed messages? Does the left hand know what the right is doing?

The measures announced will help put more money into the economy in the short term. However, it does not solve the main issue for many of us which is soaring interest rates and a cost of living crisis. If interest rates continue to rise quickly, many borrowers will have far less disposable income and there will be many who may be unable to pay their mortgages.

The Stamp Duty cut will be welcomed by home buyers as everybody purchasing a new home will benefit. The announcement is especially good for first time buyers and those living within London and the South East who can claim a discount (relief) on purchases up to £625,000.”

Adrian Anderson, Director, Anderson Harris

“The government has gambled on growth and if this brings confidence to the those operating in our sector then it is good news, but I remain to be convinced with much of the detail yet to be revealed. The announcement on investment zones and cuts in stamp duty is to be welcomed. However, many of the planned tax cuts are merely a continuation of current policy or a reversion to where we were last year – the corporation tax rise they have reversed is not even in force yet, and National Insurance only rose in July. So how will more of the same bring about change and boost growth? Energy, materials, and labour are the main challenges for our sector, and as far as those operating in it are concerned this is a sticking plaster budget when the patient needed major surgery.

We needed to see investment in retrofitting existing building as a long-term aim to save energy, more tax breaks for training, and a relaxation of immigration rules for specialist trades to help expand an industry that is approaching 250,000 vacancies. I appreciate that this was only a holding statement from a new government, but I don’t believe it will inject the confidence we need.  Ironically, with sterling recently at a 37 year low, there has never been a better time for foreign capital to invest in Britain.”

Graham Harle is CEO of Gleeds

“The property market is undoubtedly integral to the UK economy, and its value extends far beyond SDLT tax receipts for the Government, given what it means for developers, investors, agents and service providers. Once again, as turbulence has struck, the Government has reacted quickly to support the market, just as they did with the Covid-19 stamp duty holiday.

“It will be interesting to see what impact this has from an investment perspective. For instance, we have seen retail investors deterred from buy-to-let purchases due to higher tax bills, but will this SDLT cut offer enough incentive to reverse that trend? I am not sure – the complexity and high cost of traditional property investment continues to alienate many, so we could see more people go down alternate routes, like fractional investing in real estate.”

Jatin Ondhia, CEO, Shojin

“One of Whitehall’s worst kept secrets this week, the confirmation of the stamp duty cut, is nonetheless significant. Like Johnson and Sunak’s actions during the pandemic, today’s mini budget underlines the new-look Government’s determination to maintain a buoyant property market.

“But the true impact of this move remains to be seen. One common theme of the stamp duty holiday in 2020-21 was that sellers inflated asking prices to account for buyers’ stamp duty savings. Will we see the same again? It is likely, to an extent at least. But this time around we have rising interest rates impacting the amount buyers can borrow, so that will also shape the way that house prices move.

“I think more action should have been taken to incentivise developers, investors and homeowners to improve properties’ sustainability. Buyers and renters want greener homes, while the energy price crisis has demonstrated the need to improve how energy efficient buildings are. So, further financial incentives to encourage owners to lower the carbon footprint of their property would have made perfect sense at this time. We should expect this to be a recurring theme in the months to come.”

Paresh Raja, CEO MFS

“This is a triple miss by the Chancellor – a missed opportunity to reduce our dependency on expensive gas, to create hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country and to cut our carbon emissions. It is a shame that the Chancellor has not targeted stamp duty reductions for those who make their homes more energy efficient.”

Ashden’s position is that:

* The Fiscal statement does not include any new support for the energy efficient retrofit of buildings. Without this, our dependence on expensive gas will continue and the government will face an open-ended commitment to support energy suppliers, with the bill footed by tax payers. The UK has the leakiest buildings in Western Europe and a retrofit revolution will slash carbon emissions, make energy cheaper and provide an economic boost, creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs across the country.

Cara Jenkinson, Cities Manager at climate solutions charity Ashden

“What does today’s mini-budget mean for local government? Like every other sector, local government is deeply invested in the nation’s prosperity. Both in relation to its own finances but also in the extent to which it needs to provide support to residents and the general well being of the populations it serves.

The Chancellor set out a very clear statement of intent this morning: lower taxes, streamline regulation and get government out of the way for growth to follow.

For local government, the most striking manifestation of this approach is the focus on new investment zones. It’s reassuring to see that these are being developed in consultation with local authorities but many questions remain. What will the governance arrangements for these zones look like and how will local democratic control be maintained? Is this really a locally driven process or is it the Government picking winners in place of developing a national growth strategy? Will the promised “expression of interest process” really be open and transparent? What are the assessment criteria?

Many in the sector will feel that they have seen elements of this approach before and will worry that it’s just another set of funding hoops to jump through.

It’s also striking that, to an even greater degree than the devolution measures proposed in the Levelling Up Bill, the focus is on growth, infrastructure and investment incentives. All are important. But there’s nothing here about public service reform or democratic engagement and we know from the devolution deals of 2014/15 that if that’s not there from the beginning you end up needing to retrofit it later. What is the government’s vision for these?

More fundamentally, local government will be worrying about its immediate financial viability. Councils are in crisis right now and a promise of future growth does not alleviate that. For more than a decade councils have taken on massive financial pain in the name of balancing the national books and reducing the deficit. These principles no longer seem to hold at a national level but councils still need to balance their books each and every year. Many are worried about their ability to do this and will be looking at today’s announcement and worrying that once again they have been left out and left behind.”

Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive, Local Government Information Unit (LGIU)

 said: “Today’s announcement to accelerate infrastructure delivery and introduce investment zones along with stamp duty changes are all factors that will boost the construction industry. However, with a quarter of a million workers already forecast to be needed by 2026, it is more important than ever to see investment in skills and training and continued collaboration between CITB, industry, and government to meet construction’s skills needs.”

Tim Balcon, CITB’s Chief Executive

 

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ACCELERATING THE ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION WORKFORCE

A new strategy to support growth in engineering construction, pledging more than £87 million to boost the number of skilled workers to help deliver key projects in areas including Scotland, has been unveiled.

The employer-led board of the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) has lifted the curtain on the three-year plan, spanning 2023 to 2025 inclusive, aiming to help bring talented new entrants with foundation skills into industry plus support ongoing training and the reskilling of workers moving from other sectors.

The strategy was developed following extensive consultation with industry, training-providers and UK, Scottish and Welsh governments, and builds on measures enacted by the ECITB to secure skills during the pandemic. The focus now is helping to address industry recruitment and retention challenges, as employers look to expand the workforce to deliver a growing number of projects on the horizon, the organisation added.

These encompass sectors such as nuclear new build and decommissioning, renewables, oil and gas, water treatment and food and drink, and hydrogen and carbon capture projects linked to the decarbonisation of the industrial clusters.

The ECITB flags a “looming” workforce and skills crisis, forecasting that 25,000 additional workers are needed by 2026 for major projects, including those related to net zero, placing employers in direct competition for labour from £650 billion of infrastructure projects in the wider UK economy.

The ECITB flags a “looming” workforce and skills crisis, forecasting that 25,000 additional workers are needed by 2026 for major projects, including those related to net zero, placing employers in direct competition for labour from £650 billion of infrastructure projects in the wider UK economy.

The organisation added that the UK Government’s Energy Security Strategy is placing greater pressure on industry and the engineering construction supply chain to expand to meet new energy-generating capacity targets.

The ECITB, which earlier this year saw the launch of its scholarship in Aberdeen aiming to prepare the next generation of engineers for the energy transition, is funded by a levy on engineering construction industry employers, and steered by a board comprising senior leaders from industry, including Daniel Gear, Shetland business manager for energy logistics firm Peterson.

It will allocate £73m towards training grants over the next strategy period, with 52 per cent to fund ongoing training, upskilling and reskilling, while the rest will support new entrants to start careers in industry via various pathways.

Chris Claydon, chief executive of the ECITB, said: “The engineering construction industry and its supply chain companies design, deliver and decommission many of England, Scotland and Wales’s critical infrastructure projects, and therefore is central to the nation’s energy security and energy transition ambitions.

“The ECITB’s new strategy is designed to help address the main workforce challenges facing this critical industry over the next three years. We have prioritised support for new entrants and new pathways to industry in anticipation of the forecast labour shortages, and will fund training to bridge skills gaps through support for new training around net-zero projects, including digital skills.

“In developing the strategy, [we have] listened closely to employers, training providers, government representatives and other key stakeholders. We aim to deliver what industry has said it needs – a focus on attracting and developing new talent and the provision of high-quality training across Britain. For the ECITB, our mission to lead industry learning has never been more important than it is now.”

 

Source: The Scotsman

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New RIBA-approved CPD for specifying render for MMC solutions

Architects and specifiers can access a new CPD on selecting the correct render system for MMC solutions.

 

The CPD, titled Modern Render Systems for Framed Construction and Other MMC Solutions, has been created by Saint-Gobain Weber to help specifiers understand what they should be looking for from a technical perspective to ensure the render systems they choose deliver the required performance.

As well as covering fire safety and sustainability performance, the CPD provides an overview of common MMC options and the aesthetic considerations of these types of projects. It also details the practicalities of installing the render system as well as maintenance.

Kelvin Green, Senior Product Marketing Manager, said:

“Render is a popular finish and it’s important to understand the different options depending on the type of construction. With MMC being less carbon intensive, this CPD also explains how render makes a genuine contribution to sustainability goals as well as the health and well-being of the occupants of the building.”

 

Weber’s commitment to training is widely recognised in the construction industry. This new CPD joins a growing library of resources available to help understand the benefits of the type of systems and solutions that Weber’s technical teams can deliver to specifiers.

CLICK HERE For more information

or CLICK HERE to book the CPD

www.uk.weber

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RICS: Demand for sustainable commercial property rises in the UK, but built environment must progress on decarbonisation

RICS Sustainability Report 2022 – UK

 

  • Occupier and investor demand for green buildings continues to rise in the UK as nearly half of respondents report lower rents and sale prices for non-sustainable buildings.
  • 55% note a rise in climate risk assessments by investors on their built assets, suggesting that climate issues could be influencing the behaviour of key market players.
  • Lack of tools, databases, established standards, and benchmarks identified as key obstacles.
  • Industry must, however, help drive the establishment of standards by adopting and utilising those that are available*
  • Contributors also highlight high costs or low availability of low carbon materials and skill shortages as a challenge.

 

Progress is being seen in some aspects of the built environment on the drive to be more sustainable, according to the latest annual sustainability report produced by RICS, however the rate of advancement needs to accelerate significantly and become more widespread.

 

The 2022 RICS Sustainability Report, which collated sentiment from almost 4,000 chartered surveyor contributors, around 1200 of which are from the UK, across commercial and construction sectors globally, shows that some improvement in the push for sustainability has been made in the past year, notably in the commercial real estate sector as demand for green buildings continues to rise.

However, the data also shows there has been little or no change in some important areas in the past 12 months. Indeed, in construction, a significant share of professionals say they do not measure carbon emissions on projects.

Commercial Property: While the appetite to seek green buildings in the commercial property sector continues to rise in the UK, the change is modest.

Looking at investors and occupiers separately in the UK, around 65% of contributors note that occupier demand for green/sustainable buildings has risen over the past 12 months, however the UK is falling behind Europe as a whole, with Europe leading the way with around 52% of contributors across the region seeing a modest increase in demand, and just under one-quarter stating that occupier interest in green/sustainable buildings has increased significantly.

 

On the investment side around 45% of survey contributors in the UK report a modest increase in investor appetite for green/sustainable buildings over the past 12 months, which is 5% higher than the global average. A further 21% suggest there has been a more significant increase in demand. Comparing the UK to the rest of Europe where the pick-up in investor demand is again stronger, around 80% of those surveyed across the whole of Europe see an increase in investor demand for green/sustainable real estate in the past year.

 

As demand for sustainable buildings continues to increase not just in the UK but on a global scale, it is impacting both rents and prices, with a significant share of contributors seeing a market premium for sustainable buildings, and citing that non-green real estate assets are subject to a ‘brown discount’. For those buildings that aren’t classed as green or sustainable, 48% of respondents noted a reduction in rents, and around half also cited a reduction in sale prices in the UK, with both figures lower than as can be seen in the whole of Europe, with 57% of respondents noting ‘brown discount’ for rental properties, and 60% noting a ‘brown discount’ in prices.

 

In another signal that people in the UK are placing more focus on sustainable property, the majority of respondents (55%) note a rise in climate risk assessments by investors on their built assets, suggesting that climate issues are now rising up the agenda and could be influencing the behaviour of key market players.

The figures suggest Europe is seeing stronger progress on sustainability in the built environment due to the spotlight being turned on green buildings by the European Commission’s ambitious Green Deal. Policymakers in other regions turning their attention towards sustainable real estate will lead to market shifts elsewhere, the report notes.

Construction:

Survey respondents report that Construction professionals in the UK are beginning to embrace digital tools and technologies to complete sustainability-related analysis for construction projects, predominantly to assess energy needs and costs, but they are less likely to utilise these tools to reduce embodied carbon or to measure the impact on biodiversity. 47% of respondents in the UK report that digital tools and processes are used to complete sustainability assessments on less than half or none of their projects. By comparison, Europe’s figure is lower with 40% of respondents reporting that digital tools and processes are used to complete sustainability assessments on less than half or none of their projects, indicating that the UK is falling behind the rest of the region.

This year’s results also show that there is much room for improvement in measuring carbon emissions. 76% of professionals in the UK state that they make no operational measurement of carbon emissions on projects, which is in line with the whole of Europe, but slightly higher when compared globally (72%). With more than half of the UK respondents also saying that they don’t measure embodied carbon, even for those that do, less than 14% use it to select the materials they use in their project.

When probed on the barriers to reducing carbon emissions, around 38% of contributors identified both the lack of established / adopted standards, guidance and tools and high costs or low availability of low-carbon products as the most fundamental issues. Alongside this, contributors also highlight cultural issues and established practices as a challenge.

Kisa Zehra, RICS Sustainability Analyst, commented: “It is of benefit to all to embrace climate strategy, and we must reduce our impact as the built environment. Behaviour change is happening, with higher rents and prices being seen for the more desirable sustainable properties, and climate risk assessments by investors on their built assets rising across the globe. But, measuring all forms of carbon, is also critical to the changes we need to see from the built environment.

“Barriers to progress cited in the report have included a lack of established standards, guidance and tools. However, it is equally fair to say that industry must adopt these tools and standards where they are available and should make carbon assessment and management an integral part of business practice. Industry needs to work in collaboration to succeed. The work RICS is leading with partners, for example the ICMS coalition in developing a cost measurement standard that combines cost and carbon reporting, is a key example.

“RICS will continue to promote research, and demand policy changes while working in collaboration with industry, governments and our professionals to increase the impact of the built environment on positive climate strategy.”

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THE AIMS OF THE PLAYBOOK

The Government’s Construction Playbook, first published on 8 December 2020, sets out how the public sector can get projects and programmes right from the start, building social value into the foundations of the public procurement processes. We are set to see up to £31 billion of contracts across economic and social infrastructure being brought to tender over the next year ranging from building schools, hospitals and prisons to major infrastructure programmes undertaken by the public sector. The Playbook covers all aspects of the public works from preparation and planning to contract implementation which advocates for whole-life carbon approaches to emissions reductions in buildings and infrastructure. The Playbook aims to ensure these projects are right from the get-go by:

  • Improving building and workplace safety
  • Making further commitments towards the 2050 net zero target by using whole life carbon approaches; and
  • Promoting social value through levelling–up local communities and tackling economic inequality.

This month we have seen the Playbook get a further revamp which includes five key themes. The revisions address carbon reporting, digital and offsite manufacturing technologies and the Building Safety Act.

Building safety

The Playbook now refers and implements aspects of the Building Safety Act which came into force in April earlier this year. It includes accountability for safety through the lifecycle of a building, advice on embedding the right behaviours, and guidance for those involved in projects and procuring buildings.

The Playbook advises that projects need to be procured and contracts managed to make sure the right behaviours are embedded from the outset and that safety and quality is valued throughout. It emphasises that this is even more important at the handover between stages, with the seamless transfer of safety critical data and duty holder responsibility, together with a holistic view of risk and assurance.

If construction professionals are working on a project or a higher risk building that is in scope for the building safety regulatory regime, it would be useful to also read Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ guidance on Collaborative Procurement for Design and Construction to Support Building Safety to ensure compliance and commitment to higher safety and quality standards alongside the Playbook.

The new more stringent building control regime will provide rigorous inspection of building regulation requirements, ensuring that building safety is considered at each stage of design and construction.

Contract management

The Playbook advises of the need for early supply chain involvement. Public works projects and programmes should contract for early supply chain involvement in order to achieve more effective designs, reduce changes and potential cost increases downstream.

Early supply chain involvement extends the principle of early contractor involvement by formally engaging the tier 1 contractor alongside tier 2 and 3 sub-contractors and suppliers in the pre-construction phase to input into the design, costing, risk management and structuring of a project or programme.

Sustainability

Sustainability was a key focus of the first version of the Playbook; however, the update emphasises the need for projects and programmes to undertake benchmarking of key project deliverables including cost, schedule, GHG emissions, social value and agreed outcomes at each stage of the business case development. This will be supported by a new data IPA benchmarking hub in 2022 and involves using analysis of information and good practice from past projects and programmes to create data reference points to improve consistency and the overall robustness of cost estimates.

Frameworks and contracts

Construction companies should create and implement ‘Gold Standard’ supply chain frameworks, framework contracts and action plans. The Playbook has published and endorsed the 24 recommendations in ‘Constructing the Gold Standard’ which reviewed the landscape of current frameworks and proposed a new ‘gold standard’ for improving the economic, social and environmental value through framework contracts.

Its aim is to enable contracting authorities to easily identify frameworks which meet best practices and embody the principles and policies set out in the Playbook. There are a number of framework options to ensure competition and flexibility across government and the wider public sector which are contained in the supporting papers to the Playbook.

Digitalisation

To supplement the Playbook, the Government has published a number of additional papers / guidance notes, one being guidance on the modern methods of construction (MMC). MMC is a general term used to describe a range of alternative off-site and on-site manufacturing techniques and the Government has said MMC has “the potential to deliver significant improvements in productivity, efficiency and quality for both the construction industry and public sector”.

The new MMC guide explores when the adoption of MMC or a platform approach would be most appropriate for contracting authorities and contractors and appreciates that it is not a one size fits all method. The problems lie when traditional contracts have developed in a manner that suits traditional methods of construction, where each element of the construction is developed incrementally. MMC and platform approaches require product-led thinking, an increased fixity of design and earlier decision-making associated with manufactured elements.

The guide helpfully provides a table comparing the typical contracting stages against alternative approaches to contracting that could be taken when adopting MMC.

It is worth a reminder that the goal of the Construction Playbook is to create a contracting environment that delivers a sustainable, resilient and effective relationship between contracting authorities and the supply chain, focused on outcomes, and that creates long term value for all.

 

Source: Lexology

 

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