2008 Feedback
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Designing out Waste is a Waste of Time Wednesday, 30th January 2008 Designing out waste is not a waste of time. This was the general conclusion of the debate of over 90 industry representatives interested in solving this problem. However the debate clearly identified some barriers and obstacles that need to be overcome, to start to correctly address and improve this problem in the East Midlands. It is clearly no single organisations responsibility. The industry will only address these obstacles effectively in collaborative environments, where disciplines can work together to mitigate through innovative practices and working through problems. EMCBE recognise ‘the clients’ have a responsibility because they hold the budgets but there is an element of everyone taking responsibility for this important agenda. We will work with partners to the problems. EMCBE needs the support and commitment of industry and we urge you to take part in EMCBE activities to progress these recommendations. EMCBE has a very important role in the region. Key stakeholders in the construction industry formed EMCBE in 2004 to act as the East Midlands Industry voice. The strategic role of EMCBE is an important position for the industry. Its prime function is to be the facilitator between the regional construction industry and work with National, Regional and Local Government to coordinate important industry issues. Over 300 networks operate across the region with good intentions to, share best practice, network and work with industry. EMCBE works with major stakeholders in these networks to disseminate information but also collect intelligence and work with the relevant Government departments to shape the support provided to the East Midlands Construction Industry. EMCBE has a range of mechanisms to work with relevant Policy organisation such as East Midlands Development Agency. The Sector Implementation Plan is an important regional document outlining the current strategic issues faced by industry, in its desire to improve. The document then identifies areas were investment is required to change and over come barriers to improve the performance of the Construction Sector. The recommendations listed above clearly identify the areas EMCBE brings forward into the Sector Implementation Plan. Finally I would like to thank all those who participated in the debate, the panelists who set the agenda and position of the, policy makers and enforcers, clients supply chain representatives who are often put under pressure to solve the situation. The best practice shared by these presenters was very informative. I certainly enjoyed the evening and will keep you informed as we take the specific agenda and wider agenda forward. EMCBE main mechanism for doing this at this stage will be through its monthly newsletter; BE Constructive. Signup www.emcbe.com David J Walker MBE |
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This conference was support by:
Envirowise The Panelists were:
John Nicholls, Leicester Regeneration Company Chairman Organisations attending were:
The debate Celebrated two years of hard work of over 15 main contractors who have been involved in an East Midlands Construction Resource Efficiency Club sponsored by Envirowise. The Contractors in the two years have done there bit and saved thousands of pounds through applying resource efficiency principles and practices. More information on the East Midlands Construction Resource Efficiency Club: http://www.emcbe.com/resource-efficiency.html The Aim of the Debate
The debates mission was to provide the environment for an interesting and stimulating debate where best practice can be shared, issues identified and recommendations can be brought forward to support the development of the East Midlands Construction Industry. The Agenda for the Debate
The following agenda items were outlined by key representatives responsible for the debate:
Chairman’s Opening Statement
The Question for this debate is Designing Out Waste is a Waste of time? Minimising waste in the construction process is an imperative for a variety of reasons.
The aim of the debate is to raise the issues in the design community, to share information and best practice but more importantly to brief EMCBE about the Regional Actions where support is required by the industry to remove the barriers and obstacles faced. Outcomes could be further training events, support for industry and communication with Government on the issues and how they can support change. Six people on the Panel for the Debate were asked to set the scene and their position through a five minute presentation. Presenter 1:
Presenter 2
Presenter 3
Presenter 4
Presenter 5
Presenter 6
EMCBE Statement In September 2005 I spoke on ‘Sustainable Construction’ at a conference, at which time it was alleged that only 34% of people in our industry had heard of sustainable development and construction. If that was indeed true then, although the statistic implied that over 1.5 million people in the industry had not heard of the issues – which I found very difficult to believe, then it surely cannot be true now, 2 years on. In 2005, I also suggested that, as with many other construction change and improvement movements, the theorists – experts, consultants, advisors, et al – had ‘hijacked’ the sustainability agenda and made it a mystery, a business opportunity in itself, when it is in fact pretty straightforward. If that was true then, then it is certainly even more so the case now, with ‘initiative overload’. Just spend a few minutes on the internet. In September 2005, I concluded that: “We know what needs to be done, let’s just get on and do it”. For the past 16 months, the EMCBE has been endeavouring to eliminate the ‘bullshit’ – green anaerobic bullshit, of course – from the language and some of the issues – through its ‘Sustainability Speak’ section of the electronic newsletter, EMCBEConstructive, which reaches an audience of 8,000 on a monthly basis. We shall continue to provide that approach, which readers say is very straightforward and helpful, for as long as we can. We are also about to embark on a project to understand and map exactly what is happening throughout the Region in respect of the sustainable construction agenda, including : products, methods, solutions, processes, innovations and so on, and to share that intelligence with everybody. Waste minimisation and ideally elimination is just one but important part of the Triple Bottom Line challenge of People–Planet–Profit, or social-environmental-financial. There is much that the construction industry is doing to improve itself, despite what the critics might say, but so much more that needs to be done. Your attendance and participation at this event, which I hope you enjoyed, would indicate that you are taking the challenges seriously. Thanks for coming, and please be ready to help the EMCBE with its work if called upon, starting with input to the regional mapping exercise. We shall be in touch. The UK construction industry consists of over 250 000 firms employing 2.1 million people in a multitude of roles. The sector is defined as one which embraces the construction materials and products; suppliers and producers; building services manufacturers, providers and installers; contractors, sub-contractors, professionals, advisors and construction clients and those organisations that are relevant to the design, build, operation and refurbishment of buildings. The UK construction output is the second largest in the EU and contributes 8.2% of the nations GVA (Gross Value Added). UK designers, civil engineers, contractors, component & product manufacturers have a worldwide reputation for working overseas, providing high-tech solutions to environmental, transport & building projects. (Statistics on the sector are available from the BERR Construction Statistics and Economics pages.)
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