Shh… NO! We Need to Talk About It

Mental health has become a more openly discussed and accepted topic in society. This is also happening in the workplace; however, the construction industry is still plagued by the stigma of disclosing a mental health condition. There is a pervasive machismo in construction, felt by those employees seeking support for what has been previously described as the ‘silent epidemic’ (Stevenson and Farmer 2017).

The finding that the industry was identified as the third most stressful sector in the United Kingdom – with 82% of workers experiencing stress at some point each week – supports the need for positive dialogue and a change of attitude around mental health (Farrell 2018). Even though reporting rates are rising, there remains a reluctance within the workplace to openly discuss mental health (Van Ek and Le Feuvre 2021).  

This sentiment is echoed by Emma Mamo, Head of Workspace Wellbeing at Mind who highlighted that in a male-dominated industry like construction, there is a lack of willingness to discuss mental health. This, in turn, is reflected in the suicide rates among tradesmen in the UK construction sector remaining staggeringly high. The image in this page shows a mural comprising 687 high-vis vests, representing the yearly average of suicide deaths among UK tradespeople in 2021.

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Men working in the construction industry are three times more likely to take their own life than the national average for men, and suicide now kills more construction workers than falls every year, with two people working in this sector losing their lives to suicide every day (APHC 2022). This demonstrates the need for change and open discourse about mental health, as 83% of people in construction have experienced a mental health issue and 91% have felt overwhelmed (APHC 2022). These statistics are not something that we can afford to ignore.  

Another challenge is that current legislation places the emphasis on duty of care towards physical health. Enveloping mental health under the HASAWA 1974, and making work-related mental health issues reportable under RIDDOR, would bring its importance to the forefront and give it parity with physical health. Legislative change would force an overhaul of the current education curriculum to accommodate the changes (Van Ek and Le Feuvre 2021). Education is essential to increase mental health awareness for both employers and employees, and not only in the workplace, but also through teaching in the classroom, which will foster a culture of social acceptance and understanding, supporting the current subculture shift that is beginning to emerge (Van Ek and Le Feuvre 2021).  

Change is on the horizon, as attitudes and perception are evolving, but at a slow pace – and there are still barriers to overcome: fear of stigma, embarrassment and employees’ preference for self-reliance (Van Ek and Le Feuvre 2021). It is fair to say that there has been a plethora of campaigns aiming to raise the profile of mental health and create a much more open environment that encourages a culture of support and discourse. Equally, there are numerous organisations that help construction workers in all manner of positive ways and offer a range of helpful services. We need to raise the profile of mental health and the work of these organisations among learners, as they are the grassroots and can take forth a positive message, as well as fostering the seeds of change to support the innovations already emerging.  

It is fair to say that transforming the culture of an entire industry will take time, but with a multifaceted approach and continued support, change is possible. We have the momentum, so let us use it as a force for positive long-lasting improvement.  

Samaritans Contact Number: 116 123
Samaritans Website: www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ 
Mind Contact Number: 0300 123 3393
Mind Website: www.mind.org.uk/need-urgent-help/using-this-tool/
The Construction Industry Helpline: 0345 605 1956
Text: HARDHAT to 85258
The Construction Industry Helpline App: Search: Construction Industry Helpline
The Construction Industry Website: www.constructionindustryhelpline.com

Photo: Ironmongery direct

A More Diverse Construction Industry Is a Stronger Construction Industry  

Being more inclusive and promoting diversity may help to close the skills gap  

The construction sector plays a crucial role in the UK economy, contributing £110 billion per year – 7% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) – and providing work for approximately 3.1 million individuals, accounting for around 9% of total UK employment. Alas, this industry is facing a significant and well-documented crisis: the ‘skills gap’.  A staggering 22% of the current workforce are over 50 and 15% are in their 60s. At the same time, in the current labour market, the industry is also losing younger workers to competing sectors where work is perceived as more stable or appealing and pay is more competitive (constructionmaguk.co.uk 2023). Equally, Minett (2021) explained that the younger generations’ prevailing perception is that working in construction is undesirable. Polls indicate that a mere 5% of learners actively contemplate pursuing roles within the sector.  

Evans (RICS 2019) reminded us that there is a challenge to be overcome in terms of explaining to young people what is attractive about construction. Minett (2021) further suggested that Brexit has introduced new complexities for EU nationals seeking employment in the UK, requiring them to undergo an expensive and convoluted visa application process.  

Other challenges faced by the industry have been highlighted by RICS (2019). For example, as mentioned before, there is a perception that jobs are not necessarily as secure as in other industries. If not addressed, this skills gap could cause project delays, an increased risk of safety incidents, due to the need to use inexperienced employees, and pressure on the current already-thin margins and tight timelines (On-Site Magazine 2022).  

So, what are the solutions to this issue? How do we attract the next generation of talent into our industry so they can replace our ageing workforce? When considering the growing demands of the UK’s construction sector, it is estimated that as many as 266,000 extra workers are required by 2026 to sufficiently meet this quota (Maggiaini 2022). There are the well-used tropes of education and raising awareness. These are well-known, as they do work, but there needs to be greater presence in educational settings. Collaborating with institutions and offering programmes that introduce construction-related subjects can spark an interest and provide practical experiences, as well as promoting the positive impact of construction, such as creating iconic structures and contributing to local communities – all this will help to instil a sense of purpose and pride among aspiring professionals (Approach Personnel 2023). 

Another avenue is to address the lack of diversity within construction. Overcoming the industry’s historically male-dominated image is a significant objective, as the perception of construction as a career path may not be appealing to women due to preconceived notions, such as the long hours and the prevalence of older white males. Women account for just under half of the total UK workforce but only 11% of the construction workforce and just 1% of workers on site (Construction Industry Council 2023). The construction industry overall has a diversity problem, with only 5.4% of its workers from Black, Asian, Minority Ethnics backgrounds. Current UK law protects minority groups from discrimination, but neither is it a legal requirement to monitor workplace diversity nor is it compulsory to undertake diversity training or anti-discriminatory policies.  

With a considerable proportion of the construction industry made up of white males, there is a significant risk of unconscious bias in decision-making, and a tendency for cultures to be shaped around the majority view (Chartered Institute of Building 2023). This can lead to a workplace culture where inappropriate behaviour and language are seen as ‘normal’ practice, leaving those on the receiving end of it with the impression that construction is not the career path for them. The skills gap is a real-time issue that needs to be addressed, and becoming more diverse and inclusive could go a long way to shore up our industry. 

Construction Industry Council (2023) have suggested that cultural change is therefore needed; businesses should be supported to invest in training and become educated about the benefits of a diverse workforce. There has been a noticeable and much-needed shift within construction in recent years towards greater understanding and acceptance of the benefits of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in the workplace and wider society. Research has shown this to be the case repeatedly: gender-diverse companies are 14% more likely to perform better than non-diverse companies, with ethnically diverse workplaces 35% more likely to perform better (NCFD 2016).  

With these clear and tangible measured improvements in outcomes, the construction industry needs to act quickly to reap these benefits. The CIOB (2023) explained that if the industry is to realise its ambitions to become more inclusive and more diverse, change needs to start with leadership. Leaders have enormous potential to influence others through their own inclusive, supportive and respectful attitudes. Increased training and awareness for EDI has been linked with positive behaviour and cultural change. Furthermore, EDI programmes should set the expectations and standards, the implications of several types of bias, and the impact that organisations’ systems, processes and cultures play in either creating or discouraging inclusion (CIOB 2023).  

As a sector with a looming skills shortage, construction companies should be considering ways to encourage more people than ever to pursue a career in the industry. Opening opportunities up to diverse candidates who previously may have felt excluded or unwelcome in construction could be the solution to the skills shortage and to improving workplace diversity (Minett 2021).  

Encouraging diverse groups to enter the construction industry, though, is only half of the job. Perhaps the most motivational incentive for tackling this skills gap is seeing diversity succeed in action. Widening the talent pool plays a significant role in achieving this, as it enables previously unreached workers of vast experience – as well as fresh talent with modish skills and innovative perspectives – to fuel productivity, empower creativity and enhance commercial performance (Maggiaini 2022). The circular effect is observed as the diversification of the construction workforce leads to increased encouragement for Black, Asian, Minority Ethnics and women to enter the industry. Consequently, a continuous commitment is needed to foster an inclusive culture that motivates diverse individuals to pursue careers in construction. 

Construction remains vitally important to the creation and upkeep of our built environment; we live in diverse, inclusive societies and construction needs to mirror this. As so much knowledge and experience are being siphoned off from our industry through an ageing working population, there is a ‘excellent opportunity’ to undertake a cultural shift towards a more diverse and inclusive industry that attracts people from a cross-section of society, and values their perspectives, experiences and ideas.  

Building the future of UK construction entails collaboration among the government, industry leaders and educational institutions. Joint initiatives that support underrepresented groups and remove entry barriers can foster equal opportunities, raise awareness of construction careers, and highlight the industry’s potential for growth and innovation. 

Supporting the ColegauCymru conference as Headline Sponsor: Addressing the issues and opportunities facing skills development in Wales

This year’s annual ColegauCymru Conference took place on the 12 October at the Hilton Hotel in Cardiff and City & Guilds was honoured to be the headline sponsor at the event which brought together educators and industry leaders to discuss the key issues facing Welsh further education. 

With the landscape of education in Wales expected to transform significantly following the announcement of plans to overhaul the delivery and governance of post-16 skills development, there was plenty to be discussed by the attendees and speakers present. With these conversations occurring throughout what is a vital event on the Wales education calendar, we were pleased to have Angharad Lloyd-Beynon, Sian Beddis and Eric Oliver attending the conference as representatives of City & Guilds. 

Pre-event networking opportunity 

As a precursor to the conference on 11 October Angharad attended a dinner with the college principals and CEOs invited to the event at the Y Dosbarth training restaurant at Cardiff and Vale College. As well as providing an opportunity for her to speak directly to key decision makers, this also offered a chance to see City & Guilds’ skills development in action with the food at the restaurant prepared and served by learners studying for City & Guilds qualifications. 

The guests at the dinner also heard from the speaker for the evening, Rhun ap Iorwerth the leader of Plaid Cymru. Rhun shared his thoughts on the importance of Further Education colleges in Wales and the opportunities that they can offer for young people to develop crucial skills to secure employment.  

Insights from the ColegauCymru conference 2023 

The conference opened the next day with an atmosphere of enthusiasm amongst attendees. With this being the first in person ColegauCymru conference since 2019, this was a fantastic chance for those working in education in Wales to get together and share their experiences and their expectations for the coming years in Welsh education. 

Following the first of the panel discussion, attendees were addressed by Jeremy Miles MS, the Minister for Education and Welsh Language. In this keynote speech he emphasised his continued support of the further education sector in Wales, recognising the value it brings in supporting learners and communities and in helping to develop a strong Welsh economy for the future. This is a vital vote of confidence for the work that the training providers and employers we work with throughout Wales, showing the importance of training and skills development to Wales’ future. 

Angharad was next up on stage where she was able to offer insights into the work  
City & Guilds is doing in Wales to the 150 people in attendance. This included highlighting the range of qualifications that have been made available for Welsh learners and particularly the work being done as part of the City & Guilds Foundation to fund a variety of projects in Wales. 

This speech was also a chance to congratulate the Princess Royal Training Award recipients that were in attendance, celebrating the Welsh organisations that have implemented outstanding training and skills development that lead to organisational benefits. Angharad also spoke about everything that City & Guilds is currently doing to support Welsh Governments target of One Million Welsh Speakers by 2050.   

Angharad commented “As you can imagine, I was nervous to be speaking to such a large audience that included colleagues from the Welsh Government, Qualifications Wales and representatives from all the Colleges in Wales including Principals, CEOs and many other key stakeholders.”   

After these initial speeches, attendees then heard from a range of guest speakers who provided interesting and thought-provoking dialogue on future skills needs in Wales, the learner experience, and how the new Commission will support the FE sector going forward. With representatives from Wales TUC Cymru, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Learning & Work Institute Wales all demonstrating their knowledge and experience of learning and development in Wales, there was a wide range of valuable expertise on show. 

In summary: vital insights and preparations for the future 

A particular highlight of the conference for everyone in attendance was the vibrant discussions that took place across all eight workshops, with topics including a VET strategy for Wales, implementing a bilingual future for FE, and navigating the opportunities and challenges of AI. The value of these discussions underscores the fantastic opportunity that this event provides for some of the most influential people in Welsh education to come together and work through the issues facing learners and providers in Wales. 

The ColegauCymru Conference 2023 highlighted the strong commitment of those in every part of the training ecosystem in Wales to supporting learners at all levels. By providing a platform to discuss the challenges facing training and skills development in Wales, the conference also gave attendees the chance to talk about solutions and continue to work together to create a bright future for Wales. 

Find out more about our work in Wales

Level 2 CBSE Progression unit 202 resources

The Level 2 Progression in Construction and Building Services Engineering unit 202 resources are available.

Unit 202: Changing practices over time includes 

Resources for Outcomes 1, 3 and 4 are relevant to all trades and specialisms. For Outcome 2 of this unit, please refer to the resources relevant to your learners’ chosen trade. 

Visit the Level 2 Progression in Construction and Building Services Engineering qualification pages on the website and via the link below.

Level 2 Progression in Construction and Building Services Engineering >

We are also developing resources for Outcome 2 ‘Tiling trade’ and aim to have this available by November 2023. As always we will let you know once it is available.

Foundation and Core – Version B Practical Projects are live

We are pleased to announce that version B of the practical projects for the Foundation and Core in Construction and Building Services Engineering qualification are available to download from the Skills for Wales website. 

The new versions of the Practical Projects include: 

  • new project briefs for each trade area
  • new tasks and marking grids
  • a reduction in overall size and material requirements to improve the manageability of the practical projects.

You can access and download the latest versions on the qualification page for both the Foundation’ and ‘Core under ‘Live Assessment Materials’. Previous versions are no longer available. 

Digital learning resources – New resources for progression unit 201

An additional tutor resource is available and covers the following:  

This resource is for the Progression in Construction and Building Services Engineering qualification and is available on the Skills for Wales website. 

The resource includes: 

View Progression in Construction unit 201 resource >

View Progression in Building Services Engineering unit 201 resource >

We are also developing – Unit 202 covering ‘Changing practices over time’ which will be available during September 2023. 

Navigation tests 

As a reminder in addition to the sample assessments that are available, you can also access a ‘Navigation test’ that supports learners with using the testing platform for the City & Guilds Construction qualifications only.  

These are available for you to access on the Construction qualification webpages under ‘Sample assessment materials’.

All materials are available in English and Welsh using the toggle feature in the top right of each webpage.


 

Going Green – A Spotlight on Green and Sustainability in Construction

Sustainability, Green, What Is It All About?

Construction has a duty of care to the environment. We use copious amounts of natural resources with bespoke projects seeking niche products to satisfy clients’ requirements with minimal thought given to their impact. Equally, society consumes vast swathes of land to meet the needs of the ‘housing crisis’, but at what cost to the environment? Our industry is responsible for addressing this issue, but this begs the question of how. As soon as someone mentions sustainability or green technology in relation to construction, everyone has an opinion – especially as climate change has become more topical and the terms green and sustainable have become interchangeable. So, to understand this key differential, PECB (2021) described going green as using environmentally friendly products and services. Sustainability means using products or services in a way that does not damage future generations’ resources. Hence, while a final product may be green, its manufacturing or production process may not be sustainable at all. For example, producing products that require a lot of energy cannot be considered sustainable. If the same products are made from renewable resources, they can be regarded as green (PECB, 2021). Now then, applying this to construction, there is a need to differentiate between sustainable and green developments.  

The main difference between sustainable development and green development is that sustainable development focuses on society, environment, culture and economy, while green development strictly focuses on the environment. For example, sustainable buildings consider all three sustainability pillars (people, planet and profit) during construction, while green buildings concentrate solely on the environment (British Assessment Bureau, 2021, Pediaa.Com, 2021). Now that the key differences are highlighted, it still needs to address the many terms associated with both green and sustainable construction. This jargon can seem like a minefield to navigate; the Green Spec website (click on the link below) has created a glossary of terms used in this construction area to help you unpick the range of commonly used terms. The second link from the Designing Buildings website gives an overview of sustainable construction in the UK (United Kingdom). By understanding the language used in this ever-developing field, we stand a chance of sending our learners out conversant in this terminology, enabling them to have a head start and address the challenges met with an open and enquiring mind.  

Useful Links  

Welsh Building Regulations Updates

As we know, the Welsh Government has devolved autonomy over the Building Regulations 2010, following the devolution of powers to the Welsh Government in 2011. Before 2011, the Building Regulations applied across England and Wales. In Wales, we are still subject to the Building Act of 1984 and the Subsequent 2010 Building Regulations. The building regulations and approved documents, both English and Welsh versions are subject to constant revision. This has made the current building regulatory standards synonymous with Welsh building standards.  

This includes, in 2014, the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems that were made compulsory in Wales for all converted and newly built residential properties. This is just one example of where the building regulations approved documents being subject to constant evolution to meet our built environment’s ever-changing needs. Fast forward to November 2022, and we saw the latest incantation of a range of approved documents under the Building Regulations 2010. These new standards will ensure that building work moving forward will deliver a better standard of living in relation to energy efficiency, which is very timely the climate and energy crises. The Welsh Part L closely follows changes in England and describes that there will be a 37% reduction in carbon emissions in new homes under the new standards compared with Welsh Part L 2014 standards. This compares to a 31% reduction in carbon emissions set out in the England update, but other changes largely align with the English standards. There is also a new minimum energy efficiency standard introduced for new builds, set at a minimum energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of B. Alongside this, there is now a requirement for mandatory airtightness testing to be introduced for all new homes (Elmhurst Energy, 2022, Ideal Heating, 2022). Furthermore, there has been an addition to the Approved Documents, where overheating risk in buildings has been addressed in its own approved document (Part O) and is no longer featured in Part L.  

These measures will help Wales reach its aim of getting to net zero. Looking to the future, the Building Regulations Advisory Committee for Wales (BRACW) must ensure that they stay abreast of developments not only from our industry but also as technology evolves to ensure that the approved documents keep currency and keep leading the way towards our collective goal of net zero by 2050. We educators must remain aware of these changes as we are responsible for ensuring our learners are given the most up-to-date information.  

Useful Links 

Retrofitting Our Housing Stock for Net Zero 2050

The 30 million homes in the UK account for more than 21% of the country’s total carbon emissions, with three-quarters of this coming from heating systems. 85% of UK homes are on the gas network, using fossil fuels and producing copious quantities of carbon emissions (Lily. Glover-Wright, 2021). This does not address the issue of the current housing stock. Alas, a solution is being offered in the form of retrofit, but what is it? Retrofit is the process of making changes to existing buildings so that energy consumption and emissions are reduced. It involves a significant improvement in the thermal performance and comfort of your home and improves the fabric of the building. These changes should also provide the benefit of a more comfortable and healthier home with lower fuel bills (Trustmark.org.uk, 2019, Woodfield, 2021). As a nation, we will not succeed in fighting the Climate Emergency if we don’t effectively cut carbon emissions from every one of our homes. Retrofitting our homes to use low-carbon heating systems is a major challenge we must address to reach net zero emissions by 2050 (Lily. Glover-Wright, 2021, Sero, 2022). However, to achieve all of this, work needs to be carried out properly with a bespoke plan and design and installed by competent, skilled tradespeople who work to exacting standards of technical competence (Trustmark.org.uk). 

To ensure the UK is on track to reach net zero by 2050, all homes must achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of ‘C’ or above. Most homes, however, currently fall within band ‘D’. As proposed, moving up a single banding will have a marked improvement for the inhabitants and the vicarious environmental impact of using less heating and energy. So, what are the options? There are many ways to retrofit a house, varying from single-room improvements to whole-house retrofits, but each process is ultimately designed to increase your energy efficiency. This focus on efficiency is why retrofitting differs from renovating a house or making home improvements designed to make a home more aesthetic. Retrofitting measures include installing loft insulation and double glazing or assessing and refurbishing the entire house with several insulation measures to reduce heat loss. Retrofitting may also include installing a heat pump or similar low-carbon technology to reduce reliance on gas boilers (Lily. Glover-Wright, 2021, Woodfield, 2021). Currently, the social housing sector, with government funding, is undertaking projects to retrofit homes across the UK with various low-carbon technologies and upgrading the building fabric to improve thermal resistance. This allows social landlords to retrofit large swathes of housing stock to be more thermally efficient and lower emissions. All these actions help reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and are key to working our way to the net zero target for 2050.  

Useful Links 

City & Guilds CPD (Continual Professional Development) Opportunities  

Level 3 Qualifications  

City & Guilds are running several workshops and CPD sessions around the level 3 qualification during February and March – keep an eye on your inbox for further details. 

Industry Specific Opportunities 

Below is a list of shows that may interest you as a construction professional or an opportunity to take your learners to too:  

The Partnership of Bridgend College and Persimmon Homes in Wales Case study

City & Guilds and EAL’s new suite of construction and building services engineering qualifications in Wales have been developed by working closely with leading experts to ensure they offer a simple, clear progression route that equips learners for further study and advancement. At the same time, they help learners gain industry-standard skills and experience, supporting career development and creating future employment opportunities.

The qualifications are being delivered at Bridgend College based in Wales, in collaboration with developer, Persimmon Homes Wales. Students who have completed the Level 2 Foundation in Construction and Building Services Engineering have progressed onto the Level 3 apprenticeship with the developer.

Good for learners, employers and providers

Discussing the reforms, Angharad Lloyd Beynon, Policy, Stakeholder and Partnerships Manager at City & Guilds shared her thoughts on the value of the updated qualifications:

“Together with EAL, we are empowering people with the skills needed to gain opportunities in the construction industry. These new qualifications will allow people to forge a career in construction with clear progression routes.”

The collaboration between Bridgend College and Persimmon Homes started in 2017 with an initial intake of 10 learners and over the years that number has expanded to include carpentry and bricklaying apprenticeships. The Head of Curriculum STEM at Bridgend College Rachel Edmonds-Naish spoke about how the reform can ensure learners get even more from their studies:

“These new qualifications give learners a much broader scope of opportunities than what has gone before covering construction, building services and engineering sector. Instead of just learning their trade, they learn two trades initially, and about the wider context of what it means to be working in the construction sector.”

Carl Davey, Regional Quality Director at Persimmon Homes Wales has seen first-hand how Building and Construction Services Engineering qualifications have helped to home-grow the talented workers their business needs, ensuring a sustainable business model and retaining talent in this pivotal sector.

“We have built a successful relationship with Bridgend College over recent years engaging with students from full time programmes and offering the opportunity to advance into the industry through our apprenticeship programme.”

Betty Lee, an Apprentice Carpenter at Bridgend College added:

“I would recommend the foundation course to others because it’s a good way to get into construction and it’s also a starting block for you if you want to progress. You can go on to do level two, level three, or even go on to do a management course afterwards. I’m thinking about doing the management course, or even starting my own business.”

It’s fair to say that the future of Construction and Building Services Engineering qualifications in Wales is now in the very skilled and ambitious hands of its apprentices, laying not only the foundations for industry-standard construction but also better pathways for their own bright futures.

Queen Elizabeth II – 1926-2022

Everyone at City & Guilds and EAL would like to express their deepest condolences to The Royal Family at this difficult time. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was an inspiration to us all and the finest example of public service, personal dedication and steadfastness that we have known. City & Guilds is proud to be a Royal Chartered organisation we are infinitely grateful for the support we, and many of our learners, have enjoyed through the commitment shown to the importance of skills and our charitable objectives recognised by this chartership. Her loss will be keenly felt across the nation and across the world. Our critical work continues, we will be updating our centres, learners and other stakeholders as further information becomes available.

Construction Newsletter – A round up of Continued Professional Development

Emerging Technology in Construction

Welcome to our second newsletter from City & Guilds and EAL. The newsletter will be issued quarterly and will include:

Newsletter themes

The theme of this Newsletter is Emerging Technologies in Construction. If there are other themes you would like us to cover in this quarterly industry update let us know by sending an email to Charlie.evans@cityandguilds.com

Using Technology to CONVERT Construction Education

Construction Wales Innovation Centre (CWIC) is re-launching a sector leading CITB funded project known as CONVERT (Construction Virtual Environment Resource Training).  This autumn CONVERT is preparing to offer immersive learning opportunities using industry leading Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality hardware and software to students in further and higher Education.  

CONVERT learning opportunities are being delivered through its unique partnership created between educational institutions across the UK, which includes Bridgewater & Taunton College, Coleg Cambria, Construction Scotland Innovation Centre, Leeds College, University of Wales Trinity St David’s Construction Wales Innovation Centre and Waltham Forest Construction Innovation Centre. 

The project aims to create a test bed where Immersive Learning is used alongside traditional teaching and learning methods to contextualise classroom-based delivery.  Additionally, embedding learners into our simulated virtual environments across four key industry vocations increase their familiarisation and skills upon specialist equipment, in turn reducing errors, accidents, time, and costs.  All this made possible through targeted and informed use of Immersive Learning. 

CONVERT’s solutions are as follows:

Gareth Wyn Evans, Head of The Construction Wales Innovation Centre, said:

“CWIC’s innovative CONVERT solutions aim to drive forward construction education and further promote the use of sector leading technologies with education.”

“For both education and the construction industry, immersive and remote training is engaging, cost-effective, safe, and provides trainees with the true-to-life experience not always available in educational facilities.

CONVERT does this by allowing learners to explore, gain familiarity, and practice in our simulated environment.  In turn, learners can develop knowledge, skills, and experience without the interruption of real-world consequences. 

Whilst Covid-19 has limited our access to live working environments, VR, particularly through the CONVERT project, has enabled learners to test ideas, components, and features before committing them for construction, where previously they may have only encountered the subject in textbooks and online presentations. This is effectively digitising the delivery and aspiring to change perceptions of the evolving construction sector. With the pilot now complete, we can’t wait to roll out access to our solutions further.” 

CWIC have already piloted its ‘virtual hands-on’ opportunities in partnership with the CIOB. A programme was piloted with learners in further education, where our gamified software was used. The pilot allowed the learners to explore and experience the construction process by constructing a variety of different buildings virtually.  On completion the learners were able to compare the performance, sustainability and cost measures built into the completed building. For further information about how your learners and students can benefit from these exciting experiences please contact Julie Evans (julie.evans@uwtsd.ac.uk).

Building Information Management (BIM)

No newsletter about emerging technology would be complete without mentioning BIM. This fascinating article was written by Nigel Robins. Nigel is currently the lead data analyst on the Restoration and Repair Programme for the Palace of Westminster (UK Parliament). He has a background in heritage and conservation, particularly industrial buildings.

BIM, the new opportunities for heritage conservation

A digital view of the Palace of Westminster showing all the chimneys and fireplaces (coloured blue). We use digital models to estimate all the work we intend to carry out.)

A small screw hand-made in their thousands in the 1840s with a dimpled finish. BIM allows us to understand the large to the very small. We need to calculate how many screws we need to refurbish all the doors!)

When I was first introduced to the world of Building Information Modelling (BIM), many years ago,  my training instructor opened with “the construction industry has been doing things the same way for thousands of years…concrete is poured, bricks are stacked, timber is used for frames and fittings and systems for heating and water are designed”. Modern construction is changing those techniques, but equally, many traditional building techniques are being re-evaluated and understood from a sustainability perspective. Modern IT and data techniques allow me to trace supply chains for timber and other materials and understand impact of building and restoration on local and national environments and resources.

My current work is in applying new technology to the restoration and repair of the Palace of Westminster. The restoration programme is a complex mix of traditional stone repair, conservation of stained glass, plaster, and thousands of fixtures and fittings in brass, iron, and glass. Objects for repair or restoration can now be scanned in 3D and their condition assessed in advance of any dismantling or work commencement. Using modern laser scanning techniques allows us to record in great detail problem stonework or windows that may need replacement. I now have access to a 3D digital model of the rooms I am planning to restore, and I can understand and plan for restoration of wallpaper, flooring, plaster, doors, and windows in levels of detail that were impossible barely 5 years ago. I can create a digital model of a whole building and relate all my information to precise locations on the digital ‘twin’ of the actual building. This is already having a benefit as we record the precise geological details of every stone repair we complete.

Understanding my building in the new world of BIM means I can predict how much traditional repair I’ll need and whether I’ll have opportunities to use new methods and techniques. I know that some of my old sliding sash windows cast in an obscure alloy of bronze and lead may have to be 3D printed as we can’t reproduce the alloy or the delicate castings of the 1840s. Other scans of oak doors from the 1850s help me understand that I need 120 small brass screws for each door refurbished, important to know when you have three thousand doors to plan for!

So, my digital world is now being used to bring together modern construction and fabrication techniques and combine them with traditional methods of repair and assess sustainability impacts and footprints. I can simulate the energy performance of the repairs and experiment with different methods of restoration.

Everything we create can be easily brought up on phone screens, so a conservator or craftsman has all the essential information available at the right place and the right time, an incredible time and money saving benefit!

Perhaps the nicest thing in all this is being able to blend traditional building skills with cutting edge IT technology, which is already transforming the way we care for our built environment.

SPECIFIC Innovation and Knowledge Centre

Here in Wales, SPECIFIC, based in the College of Engineering at Swansea University is leading the way in research into energy technologies and systems for buildings. The project has pioneered a concept called ‘Active Buildings’ in which buildings are designed to generate, store and release their own renewable energy. Their goal is to develop affordable technologies that can be manufactured in volume and re-used or recycled at the end of their life.

SPECIFIC’s demonstrator buildings are used to test and validate new ideas. These buildings include a classroom, an office and a warehouse. They are also supporting Pobl Group in the development of 16 homes for social housing tenants.

Improving the energy performance of buildings will be a critical part of efforts to tackle climate change. A core part of SPECIFIC’s work is to share learning and support for others to adopt and improve low-carbon building design. Through proactive engagement with the construction industry and business, they’ve helped over 200 organisations to run more sustainably or to develop low-carbon products and processes. They also support outreach with schools and colleges to encourage the development of relevant skills for the construction industry of the future.

You can find out more about this ground-breaking work see case studies and information relating to the new technologies that have been used such as organic photovoltaics and solar heat storage.

Visit the SPECIFIC website

The B1M- collection of educational and inspiring videos.

If you are looking for resources to inspire, engage and motivate your learners then look no further than The B1M. The B1M’s website states ‘we love construction, and we want the whole world to love it too’. The website offers high quality short videos on a wide range of construction topics including emerging technologies. The good news is they are all free to view!

You can find videos on topics ranging from BIM, Construction Robotics, Smart Cities and Micro living to name but a few.

Highlights include:

Why this 3-D printed house will change the world: This video demonstrates the progress being made in the technology for 3-D printed buildings and discusses the savings and efficiencies that this can bring.

View the video

Why all buildings should be timber: This video shows how innovative processing methods have resurrected timber as the building material of choice moving into the future.

View the video

How buildings can power our world: This video examines how we can generate energy, save energy and improve the energy efficiency of old buildings using new technology.

View the video

Innovative materials in construction: This is a fascinating short clip that explains self-healing concrete, energy generating floor tiles and 4-d printing methods that could lead to huge advances in plumbing and other areas of construction.

View the video

Off-site construction

Factory-made ‘modular’ housing is an option to quickly increase the number of high-quality social and affordable homes being built across Wales.  

As modular homes can be manufactured to exacting standards in a controlled factory environment, they overcome the challenge of trying to build in all weathers and open the possibility to embrace technology to introduce further efficiencies to the production process.

To find out more about the facts, fiction, and the future of modular buildings, you may find this recorded webinar useful. The webinar is delivered by Ben Wernick , Managing director of Wernick Construction and the event was supported by The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).

View the webinar

CPD Opportunities – Trade shows

If you’re looking for opportunities for Continued Professional Development UK Construction Week is the UK’s largest built environment event and is staged in Birmingham 5-7 October 2021 and London 3-5 May 2022.

There is has a huge range of interesting topics including emerging technologies in construction. If you can’t make it to the events, there is an online platform that you can sign up to.

Visit the UK Construction Week website

In Wales, The Welsh Construction Show has been postponed until 2022 but will offer information on new and innovative products and services, construction industry developments and informative seminars by UK Experts.

Visit the website

Qualification Wales – CBSE transitional arrangements

Qualifications Wales contacted centres in February to let them know that due to the disruption that lockdown has caused to teaching and training across Wales they have now revised the Construction and Building Services Engineering qualification arrangements that will be in place for September 2021 and September 2022.

Qualification arrangements in summary:

While Qualifications Wales will allow for the extension of designation of the current qualifications, they will be encouraging providers to start learners on the new qualifications as early as possible.

Read the letter from Qualification Wales

View the infographic from Qualification Wales

Skills for Wales newsletter – Spring 2021 issue

Welcome to our first Skills for Wales newsletter, the theme is Heritage Construction and includes:

The theme of this initial Newsletter is Heritage Construction.
Please get in touch to let us know what other themes that you would like to see included in this quarterly industry update.

Fantastic and Free! – On-line learning resources

If you are looking for interactive resources to help your learners understand old buildings- look no further!

Three modules have been developed thanks to CITB funded Heritage Construction in Wales (HECW) Project.

The modules are:

Each module is available in both Welsh and English and is aimed at an introductory level of understanding. These resources are free for you to use by clicking on the headings above.

Rare Roman remains

What happens if you discover rare Roman remains on the site of your new housing development?

To find out more about how archaeologists and developers work together to protect our heritage, read the full story.

Training for the Trainers

Tutors from Pembrokeshire College have joined the Tywi Centre team for the first in a series of five heritage training sessions. The tutors are all highly skilled and experienced but wanted to brush up on their heritage construction skills in preparation for the changes in the curriculum.

From September 2021 all new Construction and Built Environment students will be taught about the importance of historic buildings in Wales. They will learn about how their care and repair differs from modern construction methods. 

Topics in this series of CPD training include:

The courses are half day sessions delivered on-line. The Tywi Centre are also developing resources for the Tutors to use with their learners. If you would like to find out more about the Tywi Centre and their Train the Trainer courses, find out more on the dedicated webpage.

Short films to support heritage construction training

A series of short films have been produced by the Welsh Traditional Buildings Forum to support training providers with their delivery. Click on the links above to view the films.

The short films include:

Climate change and building restoration- what is the link?

There are many reasons for caring appropriately for our old buildings. These include cultural reasons as old buildings hold links to the people that once lived or worked there. They are the source of local character and a sense of place. They have economic value as they attract tourists and offer character and warmth to business premises. 

Early research also shows that appropriate reuse and upgrading of our stock of old buildings can make substantial carbon savings. Find out more on the dedicated webpage.

Specialist Heritage Training in Wales

Please use the links below to help you source the Heritage Construction Training and advice that you need.

The Welsh National Roofing Training Group is a non-profit organisation, funded by a grant from CITB.  It is in place for the purpose of supporting, organising and co-ordinating roof training at all levels for its members. This includes accredited heritage roofing training. 

The Tywi Centre is a CITB Accredited Training Organisation. It delivers a range of heritage construction courses. For details of their practical lime plastering, masonry and carpentry courses, find out more on the dedicated document.

Historic England Website offers huge bank of training resources from general heritage management, technical buildings conservation and climate and heritage series. You can also explore in-depth e-learning modules or learn about project management for heritage.

Building Services Engineering

For anyone who is involved in the installation of building services in Traditional Buildings, a wealth of advice and guidance is available on the Historic England website.

The Historic England website has a section dedicated to building services engineering.

Here you can find advice on condition surveys and investigations which are the first steps when replacing or installing new building services or planning a maintenance programme. There’s an introduction to the core principles when installing new building services together with advice on good maintenance of building services systems  in historic buildings.

You can also access a series of webinars delivered and recorded by Historic England on the theme of Building Services. These include:

We hope that you enjoy this newsletter, please get in touch to let us know what other themes you would like to see included in this quarterly industry update by emailing: charlie.evans@cityandguilds.com.