Weekly News Bulletin – 8th September 2017

This week, we shared news from Scottish Construction Now that Kier is pledging 1% of its workforce to encourage new talent into the industry. The Irish News seems to share the same concern regarding interest in the construction industry by announcing a new £1.2 million grant scheme launched to help train and upskill construction workers in Northern Ireland. At Metsec, we are committed to bridging the skills gap we are seeing in sector and actively recruit apprentices.

Edie released news that a purchasing consortium for higher education facilities in London has become the first in the global education sector to be assessed to the ISO 20400 standard for sustainable procurement, in what’s believed to be the first such assessment in the UK public sector. We hope this is the first of many!

We shared news from Business Insider UK about the ‘choppier conditions’ retailers are facing, despite the positive news that British business is growing steadily. It was reported that this growth in British business is due to strong activity for manufacturers. This is supported by an article from CITYA.M. that Britain’s manufacturers are riding the wave of a weaker pound this summer, with exports lifting order books to a record high. On the other hand, we also saw PoundSterling LIVE release data about the slower-than-forecast rate in August for the construction industry.

We also saw an insightful piece from Investing.com on 5 key things to watch on the economic calendar, including UK PMIs.

Finally, we shared TNW’s thought piece on how technology is disrupting the construction industry. We agree that technology is disrupting the construction industry, but for all the right reasons. Since 1989, we have been able to develop our services for our customers through using technology. To read more about our technology, click here.

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Kier devotes 1% of workforce to tackle sector’s ‘recruitment crisis’

Kier is pledging 1% of its workforce to act as career ambassadors in schools and colleges over the next 12 months to help attract new talent into the industry.
https://www.scottishconstructionnow.com/21095/kier-devotes-1-of-workforce-to-tackle-sectors-recruitment-crisis/

New £1.2m grants scheme ‘will help address construction skills shortage’

A NEW £1.2 million grant scheme has been launched to help train and upskill construction workers in Northern Ireland.
http://www.irishnews.com/business/2017/09/06/news/new-1-2m-grants-scheme-will-help-address-construction-skills-shortage–1128665/

First ISO 20400 sustainable procurement assessment issued in the UK public sector

A purchasing consortium for higher education facilities in London has become the first in the global education sector to be assessed to the ISO 20400 standard for sustainable procurement, in what’s believed to be the first such assessment in the UK public sector
https://www.edie.net/news/7/First-ISO-20400-sustainable-procurement-assessment-issued-in-the-UK-public-sector/

British businesses are growing steadily — but retailers face ‘choppier conditions’

British businesses grew steadily over the last three months, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI)’s latest survey.
http://uk.businessinsider.com/cbi-quarterly-growth-monitor-steady-growth-in-august-2017-9?

Britain’s manufacturers ride the wave of a weaker pound

The UK’s top manufacturing trade body says the sector is “making hay while the sun shines as exports go from strength to strength”.
http://www.cityam.com/271365/britains-manufacturers-ride-wave-weaker-pound

Construction Data Disappoints, Pound Sterling Seen Edging Lower Against Dollar and Euro

UK construction activity grew at a slower-than-forecast rate in August, adding to the soft sentiment besetting the British Pound at the start of the new week.
https://www.poundsterlinglive.com/gbp-live-today/7464-uk-construction-activity-seen-picking-up-in-august

The week ahead: 5 things to watch on the economic calendar

Investing.com – Global financial markets will focus on this week’s European Central Bank meeting for fresh clues on when the central bank will shift away from its ultra-easy policy.
https://uk.investing.com/news/economy-news/the-week-ahead-5-things-to-watch-on-the-economic-calendar-510556?

How technology is disrupting the construction industry

Like just about every other industry today, the construction industry is changing and being shaped as a result of new technologies.
https://thenextweb.com/contributors/2017/09/01/how-technology-is-disrupting-the-construction-industry/