Weekly News Bulletin – 2nd March 2018

This week we shared news that construction has begun on the latest phase of Birmingham’s Paradise development. The new phase of work sees constructor BAM begin work on the second largest building on the site, Two Chamberlain Square, where construction had stalled since the collapse of Carillion on January 25th 2018.

Express & Star revealed that the latest stage of the Midlands Engine Investment Fund, worth £100,000, has been signed off by Sajid Javid. The funding, distributed by the British Business Bank (BBB) is financed by the EU and uses funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). With its aim to support the economy and growth of 780,000 smaller businesses, will you be applying for investment?

We also shared an interesting piece from Product Engineering Solutions that explored what the UK occupation shortage list means for engineers. With claims that there are 20,000 fewer engineers than needed in the UK currently, the challenge is how we can fill this void, especially with the impact of Brexit. Product Engineering Solutions considers how the UK is looking to make it easier for those outside the UK to fill the employment gap.

Construction Enquirer revealed the news that since the Grenfell Tower disaster in June 2017 where the tower block fire was accelerated by poor quality cladding, only seven condemned social housing tower blocks have had their cladding replaced. We’ll keep you updated as we know more.

Specification Online revealed that a new BIM specification has been launched by the BSI, the business standards company, for sharing health and safety information. Whilst until this point health and safety risk management in the construction industry was largely paper-based, this new specification will encourage collaborative sharing between those working on any stage of a construction project, with an emphasis on the perspective of the end user. Here at Metsec, we take health and safety extremely seriously so are encouraged to see steps taken to ensure a safer working environment for all.

Finally, we shared an article from Builders Merchant Journal that apprentices decreased by more than a third in November 2017 compared to November 2016 according to statistics from the Department for Education’s apprenticeship and levy statistics for November 2017. The Federation of Mater Builders (FMB) has responded with calls for reform to the apprenticeship levy to halt the downturn in apprenticeship starts. Do you think that a reform to the apprenticeship levy will help increase the number of apprenticeships?

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Construction begins on latest phase of Paradise

New construction work is set to start at Birmingham’s Paradise development – more than a month after the collapse of Carillion.
http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2015040-construction-begins-latest-phase-paradise?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WestMidlands_27th_Feb_2018_Daily

Sajid Javid: Midlands Engine is not lagging behind the Northern Powerhouse

Sajid Javid has insisted that the Midlands Engine is not playing catch up with the Northern Powerhouse – despite a lengthy delay in the distribution of a £250 million funding pot.
www.expressandstar.com/news/business/2018/02/26/sajid-javid-midlands-engine-is-not-lagging-behind-the-northern-powerhouse/#qfk6AsJrqSyeBQDm.99

What the UK occupation shortage list means for engineers

Damon Culbert from the Immigration Advice Service explains what the occupation shortage list means for the skills gap within the UK manufacturing industry and engineers.
https://www.pesmedia.com/uk-occupation-shortage-list-means-engineers/?platform=hootsuite

Just seven tower blocks reclad after Grenfell

Condemned cladding systems on just seven social housing tower blocks have been replaced after the Grenfell tower tragedy – four more than a month ago
http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/02/28/just-seven-tower-blocks-reclad-after-grenfell/?platform=hootsuite

New BIM specification for sharing health and safety info during construction projects

BSI, the business standards company, has launched a specification for the sharing of health and safety information through a project or asset-life cycle.
http://www.specificationonline.co.uk/articles/2018-02-27/bsi/new-bim-specification-for-sharing-health-and-safety-info-during-construction-projects?platform=hootsuite

Apprenticeship starts have decreased by a more than third in November 2017 compared with November 2016, highlighting the need to reform the apprenticeship levy system, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
http://www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net/drop-in-apprenticeship-starts-shows-need-to-reform-levy-says-fmb