Weekly News Bulletin – 23rd March 2018

This week we saw news that work is finally underway to remove cladding from three tower blocks in the London Borough of Newham. Following the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017, Newham Council has been conducting fire safety tests on all of its tower blocks to ensure tenants are safe. With work expected to be completed in 2019, we’ll keep you updated as we know more.

Construction Global released an informative piece surrounding the digital opportunities in construction. Whilst previously the sector has been slow to invest in research and development, with Industry 4.0 it’s important that the sector looks at the opportunities that may arise from investment in digital. What are your opinions about the digital age?

We also shared a thought piece from our very own sales director for Framing, discussing the importance of site visits. Often overlooked, site visits are an important element that contributes to a successful build, mitigating risk and controlling costs for all parities concerned. Here at Metsec, we offer site visits to all projects as an independent ‘second pair of eyes’.

BIM Today released a helpful article looking at BIM Level 2 Certification and how your business can achieve this. We would recommend reading this if you would like to know a little bit more about what BIM Level 2 is, the advantages of achieving it, and what steps to take to implement it in your own business.

On a topical subject, Shropshire Star reported that 53 per cent of West Midlands firms are struggling to recruit staff. Based on research conducted by Lloyds Banking Group and London business membership organisation, London First, 57 per cent of those asked commented that it has made it harder to respond to customer needs. We are facing a skills shortage across the UK, with the biggest skills gap reported in the manufacturing sector. What are your opinions? Are you struggling to recruit?

We saw positive news from Construction Global that £10bn worth of construction projects are set for the West Midlands. With 20 different projects planned at sites such as Wolverhampton’s city centre, and a manufacturing facility in Nuneaton, we’ll keep you updated as we learn more.

Finally, British Plastics & Rubber shared a in-depth piece on the UK manufacturing industry being seen as an economic ‘bright spot’. Following a time of uncertainty and upheaval, it is brilliant news that the EEF annual conference hailed the manufacturing sector as one of change, resilience and opportunity.

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Engie starts to strip cladding from Newham towers

Work on removing cladding from three tower blocks in the London Borough of Newham is finally set to start within the next month following the appointment of a contractor.
http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/engie-starts-to-strip-cladding-from-newham-towers

Understanding the digital opportunities in construction

Digital technologies provide new tools and techniques that are set to fundamentally reshape the industry for years to come. Is now the time to look again at R&D programs to embrace valuable digital opportunities?
http://www.constructionglobal.com/equipment-and-it/understanding-digital-opportunities-construction

The Importance of Site Visits

Often overlooked in the planning of a project, site visits are important in both mitigating risk and controlling costs for installers,
https://www.metsec.com/blog/the-importance-of-site-visits/

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/

Two fifths of West Midlands firms struggling to recruit skilled staff

Forty three per cent of West Midlands firms are reporting difficulty recruiting skilled staff, a new study has found.
https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/business/2018/03/21/two-fifths-of-west-midlands-firms-struggling-to-recruit-skilled-staff/#6Ugk678HyZUuYRW9.99

£10bn construction projects set for the UK’s West Midlands

20 different construction projects have been planned for the West Midlands region of the UK, cost a total of approximately £10bn (US$14bn).
http://www.constructionglobal.com/infrastructure/ps10bn-construction-projects-set-uks-west-midlands

EEF 2018: UK Manufacturing industry is an economic “bright spot”

Following an unprecedented year of UK political upheaval, the EEF annual conference painted a picture of a sector preparing for change, looking to capitalise on opportunity and facing up the challenges ahead. Leanne Taylor reports.
https://www.britishplastics.co.uk/News/eef-2018-uk-manufacturing-industry-is-an-economic-bright-spot/