Weekly News Bulletin – 15th June 2018

This week, we saw news from The Independent that manufacturing experienced its worst monthly performance since October 2012. With the ONS believing that there is ‘widespread weakness’ in the sector due to nine of the 12 sub-sectors showing a decline, it is thought that GDP growth will spring back in the second quarter of this year. Have you experienced a decline in business performance in the past month?

The Business Desk announced that England’s eight directly-elected mayors have joined together to demand action on the apprenticeship levy from the Government. The apprenticeship levy, which was introduced early 2017, has received increased criticism from small- and medium-sized businesses that view the levy as another tax to their company. The mayors are demanding that they should have control of the apprenticeship levy funding in their region, but also for additional funding to improve quality of apprenticeships and training providers. What are your opinions on the apprenticeship levy?

Tes released an article from the AoC chief executive, David Hughes, also on the topic of the apprenticeship levy. In the piece, Hughes discusses the four issues he believes needs to be tackled in order to try and reach the Government’s target of three million apprenticeship places filled by 2020. Click below to read more about how fair access, strategy, supply side issues and defining apprenticeships are Hughes’ recommendation to improve the levy.

We shared an interesting piece from our Sales Director of Metsec Framing. We would recommend reading this to find out how timing is crucial to ensure a successful deployment of Building Information Modelling (BIM).

In similar news, BIMTODAY released a piece on whether your business is ready for BIM Level 2 certification. With information on the advantages of being BIM Level 2 certified through a  third party, and how you can ensure that you are ready for the certification, this is an informative piece and we would recommend reading it if you’re looking for more information. Here at Metsec, we are BIM Level 2 and value the benefits that BIM can bring to a project, for example both cost and time savings. Do you use BIM in your company?

We shared news that Metsec has been awarded the BSI Kitemark BS8641 for library objects for architecture, engineering and construction from the British Standards Institution (BSI).  We’re proud to be the first cold roll-forming company globally to be awarded both Kitemarks as an example of our commitment to help meet our customer’s standards.

Finally, the Construction Enquirer revealed that industry experts have estimated that construction training is considered to be 20 years behind the industry and is lacking the right tutors. According to training insiders, the majority of those teaching construction in colleges have no real-life experience with developing features in the industry such as BIM.  Do you think that construction training currently offered is outdated?

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Manufacturing suffers worst month for more than five years, official data shows

UK manufacturing had its worst month in more than five years in April, flying in the face of hopes that the first quarter’s GDP slump was a snow-induced blip.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/uk-manufacturing-latest-april-worst-five-years-office-national-statistics-gdp-bank-england-a8392891.html

Mayors call for combined action on apprenticeship levy

England’s eight directly-elected mayors are combining together again to press the Government for greater devolution of powers and funding over skills.

Mayors call for combined action on apprenticeship levy

BIM: Timing is everything

Sales Director of Metsec Framing, explores how time is a crucial element in the successful deployment of BIM.

https://www.metsec.com/blog/bim-timing-everything/

Are You Ready for BIM Level 2 Certification?

Building Information Modelling, or BIM, has already made a huge impact in the way we build.

https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/bim-news/are-you-ready-for-bim-level-2-certification/39471/

Metsec Awarded new kitemark for BIM objects

The UK’s largest specialist cold roll-forming company, voestalpine Metsec plc, has been awarded the BSI Kitemark BS8541 for library objects for architecture, engineering and construction from the British Standards Institution (BSI).

https://www.metsec.com/metsec-awared-new-kitemark-bim-objects/

Construction training “20 years out of date” warn insiders

Construction training in London has been branded an “embarrassment” by worried industry experts.

http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/06/11/construction-training-20-years-out-of-date-warn-insiders/

‘Let’s abandon the 3m apprenticeships target’

Apprenticeships have lost their way, says AoC chief executive David Hughes – and there are four issues we need to tackle

https://www.tes.com/news/lets-abandon-3m-apprenticeships-target