• 12th May 2010
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Expert Comment

Editorial: The industry can do better for the Averages

Elaine Knutt, CM Editor

Looking at the industry through the eyes of Mr & Mrs Average is never going to be a fulfilling exercise. Walking past a building site, the general public will either register the inconvenience and disruption, or nothing very much at all. And when the Averages invite a builder into their homes, they feel they’re inviting trouble and expense – and too often they’re right.

But the good opinion of Mr & Mrs Average would be a significant asset to the industry in the future. The market for providing an efficient service to retrofit 6 million average homes hasn’t yet emerged, but stimulating it into life, then delivering on its expectations, could be a new business stream for many contractors, particularly those with Decent Homes experience.

And whether we’re living in the “stakeholder society” or the “big society”, the rights of the public to be involved in decision-making are being promoted at every level. Contractors and consultants that can communicate integrity, expertise in sustainability and connection to local communities will be in a stronger position both to foster a pro-development mindset, and to win work.

Putting together this issue, CM sought suggestions on how to improve the sector’s image from CIOB members, PR professionals and a variety of industry organisations. The ideas came in thick and fast – suggesting that there is both a widespread awareness of the problem, and a willingness to deal with it.

One area that has to be a priority is improving Mr & Mrs Average’s chances of a successful outcome when they embark on home improvements. Many suggestions related to the provision of clear, technical guides on projects, outlining steps, pitfalls and costs. The Which? website does this in a small way – surely the industry could take the idea and develop it?

But it’s also impossible to avoid the conclusion that TrustMark isn’t working. With only 16,000 member firms, it isn’t providing national coverage, or generating the funds it needs for self-promotion. While it does give consumers a sense of reassurance, there’s little to back it up when things go wrong.

TrustMark is the industry’s creation and its responsibility, but risks becoming its fig leaf. Now there’s a new kid on the block – approved trader schemes run by local councils’ Trading Standards departments. Separately, neither can build national coverage and critical mass. But if they agreed common standards and assessments, Mr & Mrs Average might just have a better chance.

Spring in the air

These are undoubtedly challenging times, but with the election over and the arrival of spring, there’s also a sense of new beginnings. If you feel ready for the next personal challenge, have a look at the vacancies posted on ciobjobs.com. As companies start to adapt to the three Rs of the new economic reality – Refurbishment, Renewables and Residential – there will be increasing opportunities for CIOB members. 

Elaine Knutt, editor

 

Standardise PQQs

Julia Evans, chief executive, National Federation of Builders

I read your leader last month on localism with great interest. I agree completely with your assertion that “local patchworks of policies risk confusion and inefficiency”. One area where this is especially true is when local authorities differ in their approach towards running tender contests.

In particular, the use of a variety of different pre-qualification questionnaires (PQQs) when just one will do, wastes a huge amount of time and money for both contractors and clients. In the very worst cases, different departments of the same authority issue their own PQQs or use different systems. As we reported in our own general election manifesto, the total cost of pre-qualifying to our 1,300 strong membership alone is £1.5m annually.

What the industry and indeed the public sector needs, as it drives to create billions of pounds in efficiency savings, is for the use of a single PQQ to be mandated. This should also go further to cover the standardisation of desktop-based health and safety assessments.

By the time this letter is printed I hope that we have a government in place that is in tune with the industry’s needs – especially as it is its biggest single client.

Still a two-horse race

David Stockdale, MBA, CEnv, FCIOB

Having visited both the Ecobuild and SustainabilityLive! exhibitions, I am struck by the pace of innovation within the green supply chain, driven by innovative new technologies and market demand. Clients now expect to interface with professionals who demonstrate and understand the risks, opportunities and technological aspirations. 

The CIOB must, therefore, realign its training and professional development strategies to equip members with the knowledge and expertise to take advantage of the opportunities arising in the low-carbon economy. That is, understanding and coming to grips with new technologies – not just managing the process.

This low-carbon economy will be technology-led. The old Institute of Building Final Part 1 syllabus and exam paper, Materials & Environmental Science, is more relevant now than when I passed in 1977.

In addition, refer to any government consultation document, including The UK Low-Carbon Transition Plan and you will see “building technologies” listed and acknowledged as being  “key drivers” in reaching government targets.

Are CIOB members to become “shapers of this new low-carbon economic landscape” or just to be part of the landscape? Does “construction management” complement “energy management, supply and conservation”, or should there be more than one descriptor for our corporate membership, for instance chartered construction manager and chartered building technologist?

Let us provide leadership to help shape the future – a future that lies in energy management, supply and conservation and not just solely in construction management.

For the full text of , see the CM website.

Head in the Cloud

Alan Redmond, MRICS MCIOB

I found your article on construction IT (CM April) very interesting, as Cloud computing is part of my PhD for the past year and a half.  ‘Cloud’ is not an invention, but more of a practical innovation, combining several earlier inventions into something new and compelling. It’s web-based model has the ability to promote collaboration between all construction disciplines.

I’d be interested in researching enterprises such as Woobius for case studies in my PhD on developing Cloud apps for the construction industry. My work is based on both vendors and consumers, so anyone who has experience of using Cloud apps on construction projects can contact me at aredmond@cita.ie.

History in the making

Janet Wood MCIOB

Many types of historic research depend on surviving records from  previous years. Your March 2008 issue, celebrating the 175th anniversary of the CIOB, explored a variety of historical records.

When an architectural practice closes, its records are often deposited at the RIBA or a relevant local record office, allowing students and researchers of architectural history access to information on its oeuvre. Builders’ records have no such coherence; they contain a hotchpotch of jobs, clients, and locations, plus the interrelated business records, accounts, statutory books. Culled from busy people in various departments, they are rarely in a nice tidy format.

The article used some items from the archive of J W Falkner & Sons, a London-based contractor that operated from the mid-19th to late 20th century, working over the years with several leading architects on many well known buildings.

In a small contribution to tomorrow’s history, the London Metropolitan Archive (LMA) has agreed to accept most of the Falkner archive, so that it may be available to future historians. The LMA first took deposit of some early 20th century ledgers, letter books and plans in 1998 and 2001. Now, they have taken the bulk of the remaining job records for sorting and selection of work of major interest for long-term preservation.

The catalogue is available to be searched at http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Leisure_and_culture/Records_and_archives/ 

Barring small errors

Graham Robinson, Global Perspectives

I’ve just read the article on emerging markets (CM April), in which you draw on the findings of our report. It is great and well balanced, and I’m sure it will attract interest.

But I noticed that unfortunately, the bar graph showing emerging markets versus developed markets is wrong for the year 2020. It has become transposed, ie emerging markets should be the larger share by 2020. It should also be noted that Global Construction 2020 is also the source for the 2009 and 2020 pie charts.  

 

Vox pop

If you were Mr & Mrs Average, would you feel confident enough to undertake a major project on your house?

Definitely not. I’ve just had some work done on my house and it was problematic even with my construction background. The guys doing the plastering put up normal plasterboard in the bathroom instead of moisture resistant, I had to get them to rip it out.

I’m confident the project will get finished, because I know how to manage and legislate for any risk, but there are thousands of homeowners who get the wool pulled over their eyes because they don’t understand the technical details.

Often bad work isn’t done intentionally, it’s just that builders have been trained wrongly. Commercial contractors don’t accept lower standards. If I was Joe Public, my first step would be to get someone experienced and independent to project-manage the work. It’s a shame that home owners are pretty much on their own when it comes to this sort of work.

Canute Simpson MCIOB, Smart Objectives

 

No. The public’s negative image of construction is caused by the small-scale domestic builder. I could buy a van and paint “Roberts Builders” on the side and there’s nothing to stop me, it’s effectively an unlicensed industry. The public tend to choose a builder from the Yellow Pages, almost anyone could turn up, and if a guy ends up ripping down half your house and making it structurally unsound there’s really nothing you can do. One of reasons the UK has such a massive DIY industry is because people don’t want the hassle of trying to find a competent builder and they have no confidence the work will be done correctly.

The government should take measures to ensure domestic-scale builders are brought more in line with larger contractors so they are commercially viable, environmentally sound, and do the job properly. We need industry-wide licensing, and builders should pay small annual insurance contributions into a fund, which Joe Public can access if building work goes wrong.

Matthew Roberts ACIOB, director, Swift Horsman Group

 

I would not feel confident without considerable assistance from a professional team. Mr & Mrs Average tend to think they can go it alone but this often leads to botched work – Corniche frequently has to rectify faulty work by builders. There is too much conflicting information for domestic clients on the internet. My advice is use a chartered building company and employ a qualified architect or surveyor.

Mike Smith MCIOB, managing director, Corniche Builders

 

Many people will be keen to undertake extensions to their homes following the relaxation of planning rules in 2008. The government website www.planningportal.gov.uk provides useful info on procedures, but it lacks detail. I think the CIOB should set up a one-stop-shop website for home owners, including detailed information on the entire process of carrying out work on a property. This should incorporate advice from project managers on managing a build, tips on shortcuts and reducing costs, and comments from users. People are still falling prey to firms that charge over the odds.

Emma Nicholson FCIOB, senior project manager, Stace Project Management

[Apologies for mistakenly identifiying Nicholson as ICIOB in the April issue – Ed]

 

Disputes on domestic projects often arise when clients try to “go it alone” and in the process don’t provide a clear brief, draft a proper contract, or understand the implications of changing their minds - all things you take  for granted on commercial projects. As anyone who has watched Grand Designs knows, the projectsthat run smoothly tend to be the ones that employ an architect or a project manager to co-ordinate them. However, our industry is so fragmented that it’s not immediately apparent where clients should go to for advice in the first palce, often relying on world of mouth recommendation. Maybe there’s scope for the professional bodies and the trade associations to offer a  one-sto-shop advisory service to domestic clients, promoted via the media?

Paul Nash FCIOB, Cyril Sweett

 

Online opinion: Your reaction to the stories in last month’s CM

Volcanic ash fall-out worries the industry

In this age of instant electronic messaging, video conferencing etc I hardly think this temporary situation will affect too many people with regard to meetings and documents to sign. Yes, there may be an issue with spare parts for machines but there are other means to get deliveries other than by air. If people being “stuck” rather at their work place is having a major effect, then a rethink of the organisation is required. No one is indispensable. A reality check is needed, this is a minor hiccup.

Gordon McLeod

I must confess, this is an eye opener. I never thought of the ash clouds affecting the industry. Thank you for this insight.

Adelaja Abidemi

 

Keep child labour out of supply chain

Labourers in developing countries have little job security and are paid a low wage. Far from being able to afford schooling, the children must contribute to the family income in order to survive. Banning children from the quarries will not solve the problem. A fair-trade-type initiative offering a fair local pay rate and the provision of schools is the answer. Indians recognise the value of education, but in general this is not provided by the state and many cannot afford the fees.

Ian Walker


Panels in the frame for thermal efficiency

Insulation in SIPs (structural insulated panels) has high embodied carbon. Crop-based panels are a better choice, for example ModCell’s structural panels and Lime Technology’s hemp lime products. There are some great, truly sustainable products out there. Let’s get braver and specify them instead of industry giants’ products which fall drastically short of the mark.

Beverley Love

 

Capturing the image of the industry

This is indeed a good idea to share the best and appreciate the best of what people keep capturing and have not been able show or share with others.

Mukesh Kashyap

 

Construction takes legal advice as Bribery Act kicks in

I have worked in the construction industry for 50 years in ENGLAND (now retired) and I have never been made aware of corruption in the ENGLISH industry. Our forced introduction into Europe seems to have been an enormous mistake.

Eddie Monk

The construction sector may be better placed than some because of its compliance training in relation to the Competition Act 1998. For the Bribery Act we await the “adequate procedures”, which hopefully will be drafted by the Autumn. But others are not so squeaky clean. Showers all round will be needed.

Susan Singleton

 

Top five stories in April

One

Water wings –going behind the hoardings at the Olympics to watch the engineering acrobatics at Zaha Hadid’s Aquatic Centre

Two

It’s not the world as we know it – as UK construction output dips, why not go  for growth in lesser-known corners of the globe

Three

Learning the lessons on green education – why training is lagging behind demand for sustainability skillls

Four

A ballot for building – construction voters in Northampton view politics through a industry prism

Five

Fragile growth recorded, but job losses mount – a web-only story from our weekly news round-up  

 

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