50 CONSTRUCTION


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The government says the changes are an important step towards a “cleaner greener built environment”, paving the way for the ‘Future Homes and Buildings Standard’ in 2025, which will mean all future homes are net zero ready and will not need retrofitting.


Housing minister Eddie Hughes said: “The changes will significantly improve the energy efficiency of the buildings where we live, work and spend our free time and are an important step on our country’s journey towards a cleaner, greener built environment.”


Latest figures show 46 per cent of the homes in England are now rated C or above for energy efficiency, compared to just 14 per cent in 2010.


However, there are challenges ahead posed by the new rules. Paul McNeill, director at Preston based building control professionals Ball & Berry spells them out.


He says: “When the changed rules come into effect, the main issue will be a lack of sufficiently trained people to specify and install the technologies that the government says will make new homes more sustainable and carbon efficient.


“Right now, there isn’t the widespread capability to install photovoltaic panels, air source heat pumps and electric car charging points, so the government, and our industry, must ensure we’re investing into training as well as the mass production of these products.”


Paul adds: “Additionally, the government should be looking at the realities of new build housing and the challenges they present.


“These measures may work for detached and semi-detached homes, with ample ground space and off-road parking, but the density housing required to meet demand for our growing population isn’t designed to accommodate sustainable technologies as easily.


The changes will significantly improve the energy efficiency of the buildings


“Alternative strategies will be required for new build apartments and social housing, for example, to ensure the updated and amended regulations are fit for purpose for all types of living.”


Work to meet the skills challenge in Lancashire is already underway as the county’s construction sector gets ready to respond to the low carbon agenda.


In December, it was announced that Preston College would lead a new collaboration between Lancashire-based partner colleges, construction sector employers and wider stakeholders as ‘specialist low carbon skills centres’ are created across the county.


The skills accelerator project is a direct response to the ten-point ‘Green Industrial


Revolution’ plan outlined by the Prime Minister in November 2020 and is being funded by the Department of Education.


Creating ten new courses by 2026, enabling 2,224 people to gain new low carbon skills, the project is a collaboration between eight of the county’s FE establishments.


It includes the creation of ‘Building Services Skills Zones’ at Preston College, a new ‘Plumbing Technology Centre’ at Blackburn College, and an ‘Insulation Technologies Zone’ at Lancaster and Morecambe College.


West Lancashire College will host a ‘Green Initiative Centre’ and existing building services provision and curriculum resources will be updated at Blackpool and the Fylde and Burnley Colleges.


Nelson and Colne College Group and Runshaw College are also engaged in supporting the project.


The aim is to support Lancashire-based employers as the construction sector transitions to air source and ground source heat pumps and associated smart technologies.


Mick Noblett, Preston College vice principal, says: “This project is a highly exciting collaboration, not just between Further Education colleges but sector specialists across Lancashire.


“Addressing a recognised industry need, in the context of the Lancashire region, the project allows us to deliver the skills, qualifications and competences needed to support the meeting of ambitious targets.”


BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE


According to the Office for National Statistics, the value of new construction work experienced a fall of 16.3 per cent in 2020 after a record high in 2019, as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic took hold.


The sector has also had to battle with changes in legislation such as IR35, VAT domestic reverse charge, the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) and of course Brexit - each making a significant impact.


One construction business that Brown & Co has helped navigate through these challenges is Archbell Greenwood, a steel erection company based in Fleetwood.


The company boasts an impressive portfolio of work, mainly in and around London, including the Walkie Talkie building, V&A Museum and, more recently, Battersea Power Station.


David Norman, managing director of Archbell Greenwood, shared his insights into the challenges and outlook of the industry.


What recent changes have you seen in your sector?


Since our company was formed over 25 years ago, we have invested heavily in training with both apprentices and enhancing the skills of our workforce.


It has always been the case that a proportion of those trained and the apprentices leave for


various reasons, but in construction the need to work away from home is something that is a lot more difficult to cope with for the younger generation than was previously the case.


In other sectors this loss of labour has been mitigated by robotics and machinery, but in the case of steel erecting these options are very limited and make it all the harder to fill the void.


What opportunities and challenges lay ahead?


The good news is that investor confidence and government-funded projects are helping to ensure the availability of a healthy forward workload throughout the New Year and beyond.


Securing a share of this work demands that we respond to, meet and anticipate our clients’ expectations particularly when constructing, as we do, for international organisations who require compliance, and more on matters such as recycling, sustainability, and employee welfare - all of which is a laudable goal which we share with them, but being able to secure the additional cost burden in our tender prices and subsequent orders is most certainly difficult.


What will be the key to future success?


As a result of our commitment to apprentice training, a substantial portion of our senior management started with us as apprentices.


www.brownandco.uk | www.archbell.uk


With a view to securing our long-term future we have taken advantage of the Enterprise Management Incentive scheme, designed to motivate and encourage our team in the years ahead.


Brown & Co is a fast-growing and dynamic firm of chartered accountants. We support and provide growth strategies to many large clients in the construction sector. Talk to us for no-nonsense, straight-talking advice about taking your organisation to the next level.


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