UK Construction Week 3-5 May
3-5 May ExCel London: UK Construction Week returns this year with a focus on sustainable construction. Highlights include:
- ZERO Hub: Demonstration combining low embodied-carbon materials with modern construction methods
● Engineering Hub: Day 1: Indoor Air Quality and Vent Hygiene; Day 2: Building and Fire Safety and Competence and Compliance; Day 3: Installing & Regulations around Heat Pumps, Boilers and F-Gas.
● Culture Change Hub: Wellbeing and mental health, and professional development. Daily programmes will be delivered by The National Federation of Builders, Building People and The Women in Construction Awards
Register free www.ukcw-london-2023.reg.buzz/cab-campaign-pr
£200m New BBC Birmingham
The BBC is redeveloping the old 10 acre Typhoo tea factory & precinct in Digbeth into new studios. The BBC will move from The Mailbox where it is currently to the new area in 2025.
The new studios will include an 84,000 sq ft of office space. Over the next 10 years the surrounding 10-acre precinct will be developed into residential, office and hospitality accommodation and include a new tram stop.
£100M Manchester highways framework
Manchester City Council is looking for bidders for its £100m highways framework for highways maintenance and work in Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cheshire. The initial period is 2 years followed by a 2 year extension.
The framework will run in 2 lots, up to £40m and up to £60m. The framework says up to 6 bidders will be selected.
Deadline to apply is 11am on 20 February 2023 with winners announced on 7 April.
Interested bidders should register details in the portal here https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=6978df51-2097-ed11-811c-005056b64545&p=e0cc5631-4690-e511-80fb-000c29c9ba21
Kier funds STEM returners programme
Manchester construction company Kier has launched a programme to encourage people to return to the industry after a career break.
It is funding a 12 week programme with permanent placements after the programme and 12 months of mentorship and coaching.
The programme which has been running since 2017 has already placed 310 candidates.
To find out more or apply, check the website here https://www.stemreturners.com/placements/
HS2 celebrates creating over 1,000 apprenticeships
HS2 is more than halfway to its target of creating 2,000 apprenticeships with 1,126 apprentices graduated so far since the project started in 2020.
The HS2 project is the largest infrastructure project in Europe and should complete between 2029 and 2033.
It employs 30,000 people and is now in phase two, with three more phases to go.
A recent report by Construction Skills Network report says that the construction industry in the UK will require 53,000 extra recruits per year over the next four years to meet demand.
National Apprenticeship Week is 6012 February in 2023.
Find out more here https://nationalapprenticeshipweek.co.uk/
94 suppliers to £1bn Medium Works Framework
94 suppliers are listed on the £1bn Medium Works Framework which runs for four years until 2027 and will be used by public sector clients to procure suppliers for works up to £10m. 66% of listed suppliers are classified as SMEs.
There are an additional 50 suppliers to the last iteration with 29 reappointed suppliers. 160 projects have been procured through the framework to date.
Network Rail appoints £2bn Wales and Western rail scheme suppliers
Network Rail has appointed key suppliers to its £2bn rail scheme in Wales and Western Region. Suppliers will repair buildings and structures such as bridges, tunnels, culverts and drainage and electrifications.
The scheme runs from 2024 to 2029 with an optional 8 year extension.
Network Rail has come under fire for inefficient and outdated project schemes in the past. The scheme is part of a goal to make Network Rail more efficient so taxpayers and travellers get better value.