Opinion

Rosa Wells is the executive dean of the School of Engineering, Digital and Sustainable Construction at University College Birmingham The UK is still firmly on the roadmap to becoming a net-zero nation by 2050. Despite a recent dramatic overhaul of certain policies by prime minister Rishi Sunak, including relaxed targets…

Toby Mildon is a diversity and inclusion consultant at Mildon Consultancy Change is happening within the construction industry. The sector remains male-dominated, but the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) points to a “much-needed shift within construction in recent years towards greater understanding and acceptance of the benefits that equality, diversity,…

Chris Hallam is a partner at law firm CMS Last week, the Conservative party conference careered into Manchester, and what an adventure it was. Calamitous former PM Liz Truss attempted a relaunch in front of banners declaring she would “Make Britain Grow Again”. Presumably she meant “Groan”. Plenty of delegates…

First asbestos, then combustible cladding, now reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). All have highlighted failures in a system that is meant to ensure buildings are safe for use. “Given that more than 30 years has passed since RAAC was commonly used in building works, many responsible contractors or designers may…

Kirsti Chappell is plant manager at O’Brien Contractors Across all industries, organisations and individuals are making changes to support a positive future for the planet. In particular, the construction industry has made significant improvements in recent years, with the use of repurposed materials, waste reduction and carbon offsetting (both in…

Simon Blake is chief executive of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England According to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), workers in construction are now nearly four times more likely to die by suicide than in any other sector. In 2021, 507 construction workers took their own lives.…

Simon Barlow is the managing director and founder of Rye Demolition In today’s tough economic climate, it might seem strange to some to spend money on hiring new people, but for businesses of all sizes, especially within the built-environment industry, the acquisition of skilled labour is vital, not just for…

Marc Hanson is a partner and William Chung a managing associate at law firm Mishcon De Reya As businesses get to grips with the implications of the newest form of innovation in the shape of artificial intelligence, one technological advancement that does not seem to have delivered on its initial…

Dave Evans is chief executive of Highbourne Group The construction industry employs more than 2.9 million workers and contributes 9 per cent of the UK’s GDP, and with that influence comes a real responsibility to help build a better future for our country. From contractors to merchants, we all feel…

Colin Blatchford-Brown is a Building Safety Act specialist advisor at Assent and until recently was operational policy lead for gateways & building control at the Health and Safety Executive Following its introduction after the Grenfell Tower tragedy of 2017, the Building Safety Act (BSA) 2022 aims to give residents confidence…