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BSEE


Pagabo to sponsor Social Value Pavillion at new UK infrastructure event


RAMEWORK provider Pagabo will be sponsoring the Social Value Pavilion at the first UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF).


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With the generation of social value being more important than ever – and central to the post- pandemic bounce back – Pagabo is committed to delivering positive social impact for individuals, communities, and businesses up and down the country, Pagabo has generated more than £3.5 billion in social value since 2017 and continues to prioritise positive social impact through its range of frameworks. Pagabo has established itself as an industry leader in delivering social value by maximising the amount delivered during the procurement process and encouraging clients and suppliers to put social value at the core of their business culture.


Simon Toplass, chief executive officer at Pagabo, said: “The opportunity to be a part of UKREiiF is great from a business point of view, but even more so knowing that we can help supply chains understand the many ways social value can be enabled and to continue important conversations which will make a difference


beyond the pavilion we’ll be occupying at the event. We want to showcase innovation in relation to social value and see what else is being done to support growth across supply chains.


“For example, we use Social Profit Calculator to accurately calculate social, economic and environmental impact, and the financial value of that impact, which is something we’re also looking to promote to any sceptics. Most organisations will already be delivering some form of social value through their employment of staff, skills development programmes and through working with local supply chains. The important next step is knowing how to measure these things and how they equate to true benefit for local communities.”


The event aims to enable the UK to Build Back Better by


connecting investors, developers, the public sector, funders and end-users.


Several key themes will guide conversations throughout the three-day event, including the UK’s net zero target, social value and inclusive growth, the future of real estate, building better communities and a focus on inward investment.


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NEWS & QUOTES Quote, unquote


SCA welcomes Expert Group statement on building safety The Smoke Control Association (SCA) has welcomed a statement from a group of independent experts on building safety in medium and lower-rise blocks of flats in which they highlight “cost effective risk mitigations” such as smoke control systems.


The Expert Group is made up of individuals with broad experience in this field and includes:


• Dame Judith Hackitt, Chair of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety


• Sir Ken Knight, Chair of the Independent Expert Advisory Panel on building safety following the Grenfell Tower Fire • Ron Dobson, former London Fire Commissioner • Roy Wilsher, Advisor on fire reform, former Chief Fire Officer The experts were asked, by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, to consider issues of proportionality in relation to building safety in medium and lower-rise blocks of flats, the impact on the housing market, and what more government could do to ensure approaches that are proportionate to the level of risk.


Keith Griffiths, founder of UKREiiF, said: “There is now real momentum growing behind UKREiiF. Having Pagabo sign up to sponsor the Social Value Pavilion at next May’s inaugural UKREiiF conference is a massive vote of confidence in the event, and I am thrilled that such a brilliant private sector business will be so prominent at UKREiiF.” Led by property events company Built Environment Networking and supported by some of the biggest UK property and infrastructure companies, the first annual UKREiiF event will be held in Leeds on 17-19 May 2022.


Spirotech named as Great Place To Work camaraderie. S


he UK’s top construction trainees will battle it out 16-18 November at CITB’s SkillBuild National Finals. SkillBuild, the largest multi- trade construction competition in the country, will see more than 50 finalists from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland compete in their specialist skills.


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The competitors will be set an 18-hour project to complete across the three days of the competition, which is set to take place at the National Construction College in Bircham Newton, Norfolk. A series of remotely-delivered qualifiers ran across the UK during May and June, with nearly 100 colleges and training facilities supporting 250 competitors in their respective skills – bricklaying, carpentry, Foundation Skills: woodworking, furniture and cabinetmaking, joinery, painting and decorating, plastering, plastering and drywall systems, stonemasonry and wall and floor tiling. In addition to their physical tasks, competitors were set a new online assessment, which tested their


Great Place To work is a global organisation that recognises exceptional work environments. The organisation applies data and insights from approximately 10,000 businesses across the world to benchmark individual performance and advise employers on how to continuously improve employee engagement.


Spirotech was the first company in the Netherlands to develop air and dirt separators for system water in heating and cooling installations, over 50 years ago. What started as a small family-run business in


pirotech is celebrating being named a Great Place To Work, following an employee survey that rated the company on five core values; credibility, respect, honesty, pride and


Helmond is now an international market leader with offices in England, Germany, Belgium and China. Despite this huge growth, Spirotech was praised by Great Place To Work for still fostering a family-style environment, where people work with and for each other, look out for each other, and celebrate successes together.


Rob Jacques, UK Business Director at Spirotech, commented: “We’re absolutely thrilled that Spirotech has been recognised by this global organisation as being a supportive and welcoming employer by our employees. When the Brabant family first started the business, trust, pride and enjoyment were all crucial values and it’s great to see that these still stand firm within the business today.”


CITB to host SkillBuild finals at National Construction College


understanding of employability aspects such as Health & Safety.


Those competitors who will progress through to the SkillBuild 2021 National Finals will be announced, by WorldSkills UK, in mid-September. Sarah Beale, CITB Chief Executive, said: “SkillBuild is a terrific opportunity for young talent in the construction industry to shine, and I wish all participants the very best of luck. We’re delighted to be hosting the National Finals at Bircham Newton, it’s great that even with so much uncertainty during the past year the competition continues to proceed, albeit with significant safety restrictions.” Long-term sponsors of SkillBuild who will be involved again in November include BAL, British Gypsum and Crown, with Michelmersh joining to support bricklaying competitions. The Stone Federation GB is also supporting the event. CITB is extremely grateful to all organisations and agencies helping to showcase the quality and potential of the next generation of tradespeople


6 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2021


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Following the latest Build UK figures that found nearly a third of major contractors are paying faster than 30 days, we have comment from construction firm, Beard.


Mark Beard, chairman at Beard Construction said: “It has probably never been more important to ensure fair treatment of suppliers and subcontractors including prompt payment of invoices, as the industry continues to bounce back from the economic shock of the pandemic.


“So, it is encouraging to see that average payment times improved over the last six months, even by just one day, particularly as we are faced with the real challenge of the materials shortage at the moment.


“In fact, it seems clear to me that one of the ways to mitigate the risk of projects running late due to supply chain issues, is to ensure prompt payment as that will inevitably mean better working relationships with those suppliers and subcontractors. “We are all aware that construction sites generate a significant amount of work for smaller suppliers and subcontractors. So, if we choose to work with them, we have a responsibility to support them through prompt payment of invoices.


“The figures from Build UK show that average contractors paid subcontractors within 34 days, which is 11 days quicker than in July 2018 when they first started collecting data. That is commendable progress but we can and should do more to adhere to the principles of the Prompt Payment Code.”


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Following the government’s announcement of the hydrogen strategy, Vaillant comments:


Mark Wilkins, Technologies and Training Director comments on the Government’s release of the Hydrogen Strategy, “Today’s long- awaited Hydrogen Strategy is welcomed by the heating industry, with green gas playing an important role in decarbonising heat in buildings and achieving the UK's net zero targets. The introduction of up to 20% hydrogen gas into the wider natural gas network is a positive first step to begin the UK’s hydrogen journey and this strategy provides key milestones to build the network progressively up to 100% hydrogen. Currently, there are 26 million homes in the UK, so during this decade trials and testing are fundamental to achieve our decarbonisation goals. The 2030s will begin wider roll outs and further trials but as outlined in the strategy the hydrogen transition may take several decades. At Vaillant we fully support hydrogen as a heating solution and are developing hydrogen-ready appliances ahead of the Government’s strategic decision on the role of hydrogen for home heating to be taken by 2026.


“The fact remains that climate change is happening now, and at Vaillant, we believe there will be no silver bullet solution and there will be a mix of technologies needed to help reduce emissions. Heat pumps are a tried and tested alternative low carbon heating solution that is available today. Whilst we are working with the industry to bring hydrogen solutions for home heating, homeowners, installers and housebuilders should look to start their decarbonisation journey with heat pumps. We are eager to see more clarity on heat pump funding and hydrogen within the long-awaited Heat and Buildings Strategy in September. We look forward to continuing to support the Government in achieving the UK’s ambitious net zero targets.”


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