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East Midlands Construction Environmental Improvement Club
With Government Funding (Envirowise) support, the EMCBE and Responsible Solutions founded and ran the REC (Resource Efficiency Club) for 2 years, specifically to address the challenge of site waste minimisation.
In those 2 years, and through collaborative working between the REC Members and their selected pilot project teams, circa £490K was demonstrably saved or otherwise not spent on, for example, waste disposal.
The work of the REC was applauded by Envirowise, but Funding has subsequently been withdrawn.
Nevertheless, the success of the REC demonstrated the value to be achieved from collaborative working amongst the regional supply chain, and the potential for further success in a more generic ‘Construction Environmental Improvement Club’, which would address issues other than just site waste minimisation.
On the 19 December 2008, the potential was explored and tested with an audience of 30 stakeholders, who enthusiastically participated in an exercise to shape the possible structure and agenda for the CEI Club.
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Constructing Excellence Clubs in the East Midlands
To become an industry of first choice, the East Midlands construction supply chain must invest in training, in new skills and in research and development to make the best of new materials and new technologies. Even more importantly, it must change its culture and the way it does business, by working more effectively in partnership to meet and exceed its client expectations. We should therefore work together to ensure we can be proud of what we build.
East Midlands Constructing Excellence Regional Clubs concentrate on:
- Collaborative working
- Sustainability
- Key Performance Indicators
- Off-site manufacturing
- Respect for People
- Image of the Industry
- Lean Construction
- Focus on the Customer
- Corporate Social Responsibility
If you would like to receive more information on the Constructing Excellence agenda or have any queries regarding the East Midlands Regional Centre, please send your details to Terry Everett at info@emcbe.com or 01509 225809
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East Midlands Property Alliance
Speaking with a Single Voice – Stakeholder Conference – Friday 30th January, 2009-02-03
Over 50 delegates from East Midlands Local Authorities attended an East Midlands Property Alliance (empa) stakeholder Conference on Friday, 30th January 2009 at the Yew Lodge Hotel in Kegworth.
Organised by Scape System Build, the managing agent for empa, the event was opened by Councillor Trevor Pendleton of North West Leicestershire District Council and John Leney, Head of Property for Charnwood Borough Council.
John Leney fully endorsed empa saying: “I encourage other Local Authorities and especially those from other Boroughs to join the Alliance.”
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Cathie Clarke Joins EMCBE
In January this year, EMCBE welcomed a new member to their team.
Before joining EMCBE, Cathie Clarke was the Project Coordinator for College of the Peak (COTP); a Heritage Skills Training Centre in Derbyshire. COTP was one of six experimental projects that formed the LEADER+ programme for the Peak, Dales & Moorlands which she also managed from 2004 until 2006.
Cathie is particularly hoping to encourage more representatives from construction companies to join some of the groups that are currently getting together to address skills training across the region, saying that “Input from employers is the most effective way of ensuring there is a workforce with the right skills available for future contracts”.
Follow the link to find out how you can get involved or if you would like to contact Cathie about any matters relating to skills training across the East Midlands.
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We are now Actively Recruiting Demonstration Projects in the East Midlands:
Demonstration Projects are live construction projects that are innovating or applying an element of best practice that will lead to a step-change in performance for the participating organisations.
Project participants commit to learning and sharing from, and with, each other and must also agree to measure their performance with Key Performance Indicators in order to prove the business case for change.
They are able to take part in communities of best practice which bring together like-minded individuals from across various different Demonstrations and are given the opportunity to present at events on a regular basis.
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constructionsite
constructionsite, is a regional construction repository developed by Leap Ahead and Skills for Sustainable Communities, the Lifelong Learning Networks for the East Midlands working in partnership with CHEA and fdf.
constructionsite is a collection of short, focused, interactive web-based, five credit learning resources which have been developed in line with industry needs. Providers can use these modules as CPD or to customise higher level learning for example from Foundation Degree level up to Masters.
Events across the East Midlands will provide the opportunity for attendees to explore these materials further showcasing content, access and flexibility.
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New Report Reveals UK Cities most Exposed to Recession
Centre for Cities has released a new report that reveals the cities most exposed to recession - and least well placed to ride out job losses and business closures over the coming months. In 2009 all cities will feel recession bite but they will also be leading the upturn as the economy recovers.
While job losses in London banks dominated the headlines in 2008, this new report finds it is cities outside the South East that are likely to be hit hardest. In order to avoid a longer, more painful fight-back from recession, city-by-city front line solutions are needed now to tackle their problems head on - and lead UK PLC to recovery.
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New Guidance Report to Save Money and Boost Business Confidence
Small businesses will get a one stop shop for guidance on health and safety and employment legislation, that will help make sure they comply with the law and save them time and money – approximately £90 million for East Midlands businesses - under new recommendations announced today.
An independent review, undertaken by small business person Sarah Anderson, has recommended a range of innovative solutions to improve the quality of guidance government gives to business. The recommendations are designed to increase compliance with the law, boost business confidence in government advice and cut costs for small businesses nationally by more than £800 million a year. They include:
- a telephone advice service, free to SMEs for the first year, providing tailored and “insured advice” to make sure they comply with employment and health and safety law;
- Government taking responsibility for its guidance, removing disclaimers and encouraging discretion over prosecution of “reasonable” businesses; and
- creating a single access point for all government guidance.
The announcement comes in the week when a team of red-tape cutting experts come to the East Midlands to talk to local businesses, to find out about how regulation affects them and how the team can help to lessen the burden.
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£10 million Competition for Companies to Make Buildings Greener
Prime Minister to announce low carbon challenge at Expo showcasing industries building the Britain of the future.
A competition for companies to improve the green credentials of buildings across the UK will be announced later today (29th January) at an Expo underlining the vital role of science and innovation to the economy.
The Prime Minister will announce the national challenge 'Retrofit for the Future' in a speech to business leaders and young entrepreneurs at the event.
Run by the Technology Strategy Board, the competition will encourage companies to bid for a share of £10m in government funding to develop innovative solutions to improve the environmental sustainability of existing buildings, dramatically increase performance and reduce costs.
The competition will consider what works and could be used effectively to 'retrofit' buildings including homes to create a minimum of 50 new prototype technologies. Those that are successful could then be adopted by the Government through public procurement to help meet climate change goals..
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RICS Affiliate Scheme
The new RICS Affiliate Scheme will enable like-minded professionals involved in land, property or construction to gain access to the knowledge, research, services and facilities that RICS has to offer. Signing up to the scheme will also provide information and discounts for RICS events - local, regional and national. Further details and an application form can be found at: www.ricsaffiliate.org
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Lord Stafford Awards 2009 Now Seeking Applications
Following the success of the previous year's awards the Lord Stafford Awards are calling for applications for their 2009 competitions with a prize of £5,000 available.
The Lord Stafford Awards are a chance to be recognised as one of the region’s innovators. By bringing together the wealth of excellent research and development work produced by Universities and diverse business enterprises, the Awards seek to generate increased competitiveness, knowledge, support, growth and economic prosperity for the region.
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CompeteFor
Latest Opportunities
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Sustainability ‘Speak’
Carbon Footprint
- Not a legal requirement.
- No common or widely accepted contents/scope for a ‘carbon footprint’, so making business to business comparisons is inequitable.
- Main reason for calculating a ‘carbon footprint’ is to REDUCE IT.
- Set challenging but achievable reduction targets.
- Keep the chosen contents/scope consistent.
- Be honest with measurement, and use publicised conversion statistics.
- Measure and Reduce :-
* Direct Emissions : the responsibility of the business/enterprise in respect of fuels burnt on site or emissions from company vehicles, air travel, etc.
* Emissions from electricity and gas usage : are technically controlled by the power station, but are influenced by how much a business/enterprise uses on site through the use of equipment, lighting, heating and cooling.
* Indirect Emissions : arise from the products, materials and services associates with a business /enterprise – this can be almost limitless, so define and stick with the chosen definition.
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Career Chain
The Career Chain Project has been established to support companies in the East Midlands area who may have to make redundancies of their employees, this across the Construction Industry that also includes plumbing, electrical and other associated areas. The size of the company doesn’t matter and the employees may not be redundant but may be facing it. If it’s redundancy on the large scale we can initially give a presentation to the work force to introduce the project and bring along Job Centre Plus staff to discuss benefits etc. If it’s only a few individuals then we can either see them in the work place or for local people they can come to our offices in Sherwood.
The CWeb Vacancy Database is for companies to register live vacancies and individuals to promote their skills and experience to potential employers.
In addition it is possible to organise and fund a variety of relevant training courses, i.e. Interview coaching, job search, NVQ's or IT.
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New Academy Boosts Vital Skills
Derby College are launching one of the first Careers Academies in the East Midlands and leading the way in boosting construction and civil engineering skills which will be vital to the economy’s future recovery.
About ten of the 40 students expected to start on the new National Diplomas in Construction and Civil Engineering at the College’s new flagship Roundhouse vocational campus in September will be earmarked to join the Careers Academy – giving them access to an enhanced programme running alongside their Diploma.
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Business Turnaround Grant
Business Link, funded by emda, has introduced a Turnaround Grant to help firms to develop a revised strategy for their business in order to cope with profound change. This grant is intended to help companies experiencing temporary financial difficulty directly attributed to the current economic climate but who have the potential for turnaround and recovery.
The grant is intended to wholly or partly fund the cost of specialist support to address financial, and/or legal and/or personnel and/or strategic issues identified by the business link diagnostic or by in depth analysis by a specialist.
Access to the Turnaround Grant is via a Business Link health check carried out by a Business Support Adviser.
Contact Business Link on 0845 058 6644 email info@businesslinkem.co.uk
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Heritage Conservation in East Derbyshire
Codnor Castle, a Scheduled Monument, and the Jessop Monument, comprised of two Grade11 listed buildings, all in the East Derbyshire coalfield, have been repaired and consolidated by a private coal-mining company, as a requirement of a planning permission for the extraction of coal by open-casting.
As a result a planning obligation backed by a Section 106 Agreement, has been used effectively to achieve permanent repairs to historic structures which have little if any prospect of economically viable new uses, entirely at the expense of the beneficiary of the planning permission. All three structures have been removed from the English Heritage “Heritage at Risk” Register and the Derbyshire County Council’s Buildings-at-Risk Register.
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National Heritage Training Group
The National Heritage Training Group has launched a major new website providing for the first time a centralised source of information on skills and training for the UK built heritage sector.
The development of the new site, funded by ConstructionSkills and English Heritage, has involved broad consultation, drawing on the expertise of many NHTG partners, including employers, training providers, heritage bodies and representatives of regional initiatives.
The site has a unique structure that enables content generated within dedicated sections for the English regions, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to populate the national pages, making it a truly collaborative web presence for heritage skills across the UK. It also features a sophisticated built heritage training provider search facility and an online newsletter.
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Fund to Help Small Charities Bid for Public Contracts
A £220,000 grant fund to help small voluntary organisations tender for public sector contracts has been launched by Futurebuilders England and the National Programme for Third Sector Commissioning.
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Events to help increase resource efficiency and profits
Business Link is running a series of 10 half day, free of charge workshops across the East Midlands, offering practical advice for businesses on how to reduce costs in the tough economic climate.
The events, entitled ‘Survival of the Fittest’, are taking place across the East Midlands during January and February and are aimed at reducing energy consumption and increasing resource efficiency.
The ‘Survival of the Fittest’ workshops are funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and delivered by Business Link in partnership with Envirowise and The Carbon Trust
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Newslink
Localised News, articles and information on events for existing businesses:
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