The UK’s leading tax experts RIFT Research and Development Tax Credits is offering a 5% discount on claims made by Build UK members.

Build UK partner RIFT Research and Development Tax Credits helps thousands of UK construction companies claim tax relief on money spent developing innovative products, services and processes. RIFT specialises in providing guidance throughout the claim process, helping companies to identify the projects that qualify for R&D tax relief, gather supporting documentation and submit claims to HMRC.

Construction is a progressive industry that continues to embrace innovation and new technologies, meaning that R&D Tax Credits are increasingly important. The average R&D tax credit claim for small and medium-sized construction companies comes to £40,000, equating to 26% of qualifying costs going back into the business. Despite the huge value in making a claim, many eligible firms do not claim the tax relief that they qualify for and miss out on making the most of their innovative products and services.

Together with Build UK, RIFT is promoting the value in R&D Tax Credits and bringing it to the forefront of industry thinking, planning and practice, and is offering a 5% discount in their fee for all clients who are referred via Build UK.

For more information on making an R&D Tax Credits claim and a free consultation, visit the RIFT website or call 01233 653 008.
 

It was another successful evening for Build UK and its members at the Construction News Specialists Awards 2016 with members winning awards across a wide range of specialist fields.

The annual black-tie awards dinner at the London Hilton on Park Lane, which Build UK has supported since its inception 12 years ago, was attended by over 900 clients, contractors and leading industry figures. The awards are the only awards dedicated to recognising the essential contribution of Specialist Contractors within the construction industry, providing the ideal platform for Build UK members to showcase their achievements.

Build UK members were short-listed in a remarkable 17 out of the 18 award categories, taking home the winner’s trophy in 8 of them. Build UK Chairman Kevin Louch presented the Apprentice of the Year Award to David Miles from NG Bailey.

Congratulations to the following members who won awards on the night:

Congratulations also go to the following companies who were Highly Commended:

• Chris Sedgeman Scaffolding (NASC) – Access & Scaffolding Specialist of the Year
• D-Drill (DSA) – Business Innovation of the Year
• Erith Contractors (NFDC) – Demolition Specialist of the Year
• Fast-Form Systems (CONSTRUCT) – Equipment Supplier of the Year
• AR Demolition (NFDC) – Health & Safety Excellence
• Van Elle (ASUC, BDA, FPS) – Specialist Contractor of the Year (turnover over £25m)
• Abbey Pynford Geo Structures (ASUC) – Training Excellence.

Build UK Chief Executive Suzannah Nichol MBE who addressed guests at the event said:

“There have been quite a few changes in our industry over the last year, not least the coming together of the contracting supply chain within Build UK. Construction News continues to recognise the major role played by Specialist Contractors in construction and it was fantastic to see so many Build UK members short-listed and going home with awards.”

The full list of winners is available on the Specialists Awards website.
 

Build UK and its members celebrated a hugely successful evening at the Construction News Specialists Awards 2017, with members winning awards across a wide range of categories.

The annual black-tie awards dinner at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, was attended by the industry’s leading figures, clients and contractors. Supported by Build UK since its inception 13 years ago, the Specialists Awards are the only national awards designed to celebrate the essential contribution of Specialist Contractors in the construction industry.

Build UK members were short-listed in a superb 17 of 18 award categories, taking home the winner’s trophy in 12 of them. The number of awards and highly commended accolades given to our members at this year’s event further demonstrates the outstanding work that Build UK Specialist Contractors continue to be a part of.

Congratulations to the following members who won awards on the night:

Congratulations also go to the following companies who were Highly Commended in their categories:

• Severfield (IPAF, BCSA) – BIM Excellence
• Keltbray (ARCA) – Demolition Specialist of the Year
• CA Roofing Services (NFRC) – Roofing Specialist of the Year
• Severfield (IPAF, BCSA) – Specialist Contractor of the Year (turnover over £25m).

Build UK Chief Executive Suzannah Nichol MBE said:

“The Construction News Specialists Awards are hugely prestigious in our industry and recognise the continued high level of work completed by Specialist Contractors in construction. It was fantastic to see so many Build UK members on the short-list and taking away awards on the night, and we’d like to congratulate them all on their achievements.”

The full list of winners is available on the Construction News website.
 

The Plantworx Construction Machinery exhibition is offering free entry to Build UK members for this year’s event, which takes place from Tuesday 6 – Thursday 8 June 2017.

Partnered by Build UK, the exhibition is now in its third biennial year and over 320 exhibitors have signed up for the event which takes place at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground in Leicestershire.

Visitors can see machines and tools of all shapes and sizes being put through their paces in one of the many demonstration areas around the show, and those carrying the correct operators’ licences and PPE can operate the machinery and test earthmoving equipment in working site conditions.

Rental companies looking to expand their fleet, owner-operators looking for a single machine and housebuilders looking to invest in the latest machine technologies can experience the latest in cranes, generators, excavators, site security technology and more.  New machinery and innovations will also feature at the event, with many exhibitors using Plantworx as a launch platform for new products and services.

For a full exhibitor list and more information, visit the Plantworx website. Visitor registration is free and available by clicking here.

The finalists for the 2017 Construction News Awards have been announced and Build UK members are represented in all but one of the 18 categories!

This year’s finalists have made the short list in the face of fierce competition and the inclusion of so many Build UK members is testament to their outstanding work. The full short list is available on the Construction News Awards website.

All the finalists will now give a face-to-face presentation to the judging panel, which includes the UK’s leading clients and industry experts, to demonstrate why they deserve to win.

The Construction News Awards are amongst the most coveted awards in the industry and this year’s awards ceremony on Thursday 13 July at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, which will bring together the biggest names in the industry to celebrate the UK’s leading contractors, will be extra special.

Construction News Editor Tom Fitzpatrick said:

“This year’s Construction News Awards shortlist showcases the best that UK construction has to offer, both for the economy and for communities across the UK and internationally.

In uncertain economic times ahead of Brexit, construction businesses are getting on with keeping the UK moving. They are building the infrastructure, homes and workplaces this country desperately needs and we’re proud to recognise those companies striving to create an ever more productive, diverse and talented industry.”

Table and individual packages for the awards ceremony can be booked online via the Construction News Awards website or by contacting George Thornton on 020 7391 4530 or via George.Thornton@emap.com.

Large companies are required to report their gender pay and bonus pay gaps from April 2017, as the Government seeks to establish fair rates and improve gender equality across society.

The Government has made gender pay gap reporting mandatory for all larger employers in order to increase transparency over where gaps exist in the labour market. 

From 5 April 2017, all employers with legal entities in the UK that employ 250 or more employees must report against six reporting requirements:

1. The difference between mean pay of men and women
2. The difference between the median pay of men and women
3. The difference between the mean bonus pay of men and women
4. The proportion of men and women who receive bonus pay
5. The proportion of men and women in each pay band.

Employers also have the option to publish a supporting narrative explaining their gender pay and bonus pay gaps on a voluntary basis.

Employers are required to collect a first ‘snapshot’ of the data on which they will report on 5 April 2017. They then have a maximum of one year to report the data in line with statutory requirements. Therefore, employers must provide their first report by no later than 4 April 2018.

This annual cycle of data collection and reporting will continue with employers required to publish the data on their website for at least three years. The data will need to be accompanied by a written statement of accuracy signed by a director within the organisation.

Employers are also required to publish their data on a designated Government website which is likely to be used to compare the gender pay gap by sector or region.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has published a guide to gender pay gap reporting, which provides helpful information about how to calculate your organisation’s gender pay and bonus pay gaps.
 

Build UK presents a single voice for the UK construction industry and we are committed to inspiring young people to take a look at the fantastic opportunities in construction and attract those looking for a career change, whilst also retaining and developing our existing workforce.

Open Doors, which is delivered by Build UK in partnership with CITB, supported by the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS), Construction News and Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS), sees our members open their construction projects and offices to the public to go ‘behind the scenes’ and showcase the huge variety of careers available in the industry. By showing what really goes on behind the hoardings and allowing people to experience the buzz and excitement of a working site we hope to capture the imagination of the next generation of construction workers and encourage them to seek out an exciting career in our industry.

Running from Monday 27 March to Saturday 1 April, there are currently more than 180 sites registered to open their gates. Members of the public can book their place on a fantastic project near them, including Lendlease’s International Quarter in London, Kier’s EALC Kilmarnock Campus in Scotland, Seddon’s Branston High School in Burton-on-Trent, and Willmott Dixon’s Menai Science Park in Wales. 

By joining in, you can experience how construction is changing your community by building the homes, schools, hospitals, roads and office buildings that we all need to live full and happy lives. You will also have the opportunity to see how construction could offer you, or your children an interesting and vibrant career.

Why don't you also take a look at the sites currently registered and take your friends and family along to show them what is being built near you. Whatever you do today, get involved in Open Doors 2017.
 

During October, CITB will be consulting with industry on the Training Standards which will be eligible for grant support from April 2018.

The first consultation period, featuring 54 Training Standards, is currently running until 20 October 2017.

CITB are asking for employers to confirm whether the proposed Training Standards which have been developed meet their needs. Employers wishing to contribute should feedback via the consultation form.

The confirmed Training Standards from the October consultation period will be published in November.

CITB expects to develop 200 Training Standards before 30 April 2018 and a number of consultation periods will take place within that time.

Once confirmed Training Standards are available, CITB will set out how training providers can apply to have their courses mapped to the relevant Standard. This will provide employers with the confidence that the training they deliver meets the industry-approved Standard and will be supported by CITB grant.

Detail of all Standards and training providers with courses mapped to those standards will be available via CITB’s new Training Directory and National Register, which are expected to be available in April 2018.

More information can be found on the CITB website.

Build UK and Collab Group’s ‘Bridge into Construction’ programme has launched at Sheffield College, with the one year further education course beginning in October 2017.

Research by CITB and IFF Research shows that at present at least one third of young people completing a construction further education course do not continue into employment within the industry.

As part of Inspiring Construction, the industry’s recruitment campaign, the Bridge into Construction course aims to ensure that young people have the training and skills the industry needs, and employers have access to the next generation of talent.

The newly designed course, which was developed with strong employer input, allows construction and the further education sectors to implement a construction vocational route at least four years ahead of Government timetable set out in the Post-16 Skills Plan.

The format of the course will be a project-based teaching style which allows the participating students to understand the lifecycle of a construction project – from the tendering stage, through to design, construction and post-construction. It will also provide students with qualifications including the Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment, and provide a strong foundation for a future career in the industry.

There are currently 25 students signed up to the course, with Berkeley Group supporting the course by offering work experience to these students.

Employment co-ordinators Rachel Hall & Danielle Buckley at St James and St William said:

“As part of the Berkeley Group, St James and St William are passionate about supporting people who wish to embark on a career in construction. Bridge into Construction is a new and exciting project that will present our business with candidates who are keen to learn more about the construction industry. We are privileged to be a part of this programme and look forward to supporting the candidates and offering invaluable work placement opportunities.”

Students are expected to complete the course by July 2018. For more information please contact Matt Harvey.

Andrew Wolstenholme, joint chair of the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), recently hosted an Industry Leaders’ Briefing Day.

A number of key announcements were made during the day including:

• The launch of the Technology Roadmap for UK Construction and National Infrastructure, in a development led by Infrastructure Industry Innovation Platform (i3P);
• Confirmation that Innovate UK has provided £250,000 of match funding for collaborative innovation in the sector, backing a similar level of pooled investment by 20 i3P members;
• A presentation of a joint submission to the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund seeking £250 million of funding for a range of capital facilities and R&D programmes to drive industry innovation;
• Confirmation the Government and the CLC will support a reformed CITB;
• Confirmation of £300,000 funding from Innovate UK for the development of digital skills training plans in line with proposals developed by MTC and Digital Built Britain (DBB).

These developments highlight the collaborative efforts made by the construction industry to respond to the UK’s wider skills and productivity challenge.

Andrew Wolstenholme described how the CLC’s vision for industry change remains focused on three strategic outcomes – digital, manufacturing and performance. These outcomes will help to deliver more houses, cheaper energy and better public services and will be developed by three enablers which form the focus of the Industry Sector Deal:

• Procure for Better Value
• Industry-led Innovation
• Skills for the future.

Presentations were also given by Mike Chaldecott of Saint-Gobain, Nick Sumption of i3P, Mark Bew of Digital Built Britain, Neil Rawlinson of MTC and Sarah Beale of CITB demonstrating the extent of progress that has been made in these areas.

The CLC will continue to work with government and industry during the Autumn to develop the detail of the sector deal.

More information on the meeting can be found here.

CITB has set out its priorities in its presentation ‘Our Role – Your Feedback’.

The presentation outlines CITB’s three core workstreams:

• Careers
• Standards and Qualifications
• Training and Development.

The presentation is a positive response to calls for reform and the priorities are in line with a Build UK proposal to CITB presented in late 2016. As a result, Build UK has written to its members and have recommended that they support the continuation of the CITB levy as set out in the consensus question.

A high-level timeline outlined within the presentation sets out the implementation dates for major new projects including a new grant scheme and a National Register which will track employees’ completed training and automate grant payments.

As a consensus federation, Build UK must submit a response to the CITB Levy Consensus question by the end of September 2017. Members who paid the CITB Levy during 2015 will be asked whether they support the proposed Levy rates for 2018 – 2020. The information on CITB’s priorities identify where the proposed Levy will be spent over the term of the next Levy order. Further detail on those priorities is expected within the next month.  
 

CITB and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are launching the Build Your Future campaign for 2017.

Build Your Future will be held from 9 – 20 October 2017 and aims to raise awareness of construction careers among DWP staff and members of the public who are interested in a career in the industry.

CITB is currently seeking employers to support the campaign by offering opportunities for both DWP staff and job seekers to see first-hand the benefits of a construction career. Possible opportunities include;

• Site visits
• Work placements
• Workshops
• Industry taster sessions
• Mock interviews and CV critique
• Responding to DWP staff queries by email  
• Employability workshops.

DWP staff within JobCentre Plus are responsible for advising job seekers on appropriate careers. With the challenges recruiting new people into construction, it is important that the industry focuses on educating influencers about the wide range of career opportunities available. In addition, by supporting Build Your Future employers can directly access job seekers with an interest in construction as part of their recruitment campaigns.

Further ideas for activities are available on Go Construct and to express your interest in supporting Build Your Future, please contact Janette Welton-Pai at CITB.

Build UK and Collab Group continue to engage with industry and the education sector as the next stages of the Bridge into Construction further education course take shape.

The one year course, which will be facilitated by Build UK and Collab Group and piloted by seven colleges across England, will provide a consistent level of training and competence and equip students with the introductory skills they need to undertake an apprenticeship in construction.

Over 50 representatives from the industry and education sectors participated in a collaborative workshop to discuss content for the course and the key deliverables required to prepare students for the next stages of their career, as well as ensuring that the course is successful and sustainable.

Arming students with an understanding of all the stages involved in delivering a construction project alongside health and safety, customer service, information on the career paths available and practical work experience will provide the building blocks for their career.

Participants agreed that embedding these skills as early as possible would benefit the student, and the quality of future construction output. The feedback gathered from the event will be used to design the course framework as Build UK and Collab Group develop a model that is based on Government recommendations made in the Post-16 Skills Plan and meets the needs of industry, further education and students.

With construction set to create an estimated 31,000 new jobs every year for the next five years and the issue of skills and recruiting the next generation of workers high on the agenda, the Bridge into Construction course is a fantastic opportunity to implement a joined-up approach to targeting young people and attracting them to the industry, while ensuring that they leave with the skills they need to embark on a construction career.

Suzannah Nichol MBE, Chief Executive of Build UK said:

“The Bridge into Construction course has the potential to change the game in terms of attracting young people into the industry, getting them ready for work, and linking them with local employers to encourage more apprenticeships within the industry. It was fantastic to capitalise on the expertise of so many industry and further education representatives, and use their insight to better understand what we need to do to create a course that works for all.  This could become the ‘T’ level for our industry.”

Build UK hosted the biggest Open Doors event to date, with 200 member sites opening their gates to over 5,000 visitors to inspire them to find out more about construction and the extensive range of careers that the industry has to offer.

The event, which took place from 27 March – 1 April and was delivered in partnership with CITB, with support from the Considerate Constructors Scheme, CSCS and Go Construct, featured fantastic involvement as Build UK members and non-members joined together to open a range of high profile and locally significant sites, as well as company offices, to showcase what the industry is all about.

A record number of sites from across England, Scotland and Wales were involved in the initiative including London’s Battersea Power Station, a whiskey distillery in Scotland and the Colwyn Bay Promenade Enhancement which will transform 1km of waterfront in Wales. Also taking part in the event for the first time was a boat tour, hosted by Tideway, which gave visitors the opportunity to learn about the major new sewer being installed along the River Thames.

Former Premier League footballer and painter and decorator Jimmy Bullard launched the event at Willmott Dixon’s Alexandra Palace site in London, and media partner Construction News provided in-depth coverage of Open Doors activities throughout the week from sites across the UK.

Open Doors is an exclusive opportunity for those considering a career in construction or looking for something new to go behind the scenes of some of the most innovative and engaging projects currently in development, and have a closer look at the inner workings of a ‘live’ construction site. With the issue of skills and recruiting, training and retaining future construction workers high on the industry agenda, the event was the perfect platform for Build UK to promote the diverse and exciting nature of construction and encourage visitors of all ages to explore the vast range of career options that are available to them.

For more information about the opportunities that are available in construction, visit the Go Construct website.
 

Members can access the Construction Industry Joint Taxation Committee’s (JTC) monthly tax guidance newsletter as a key benefit of Build UK membership.

Members often register the difficulties they face in complying with changes to taxation rules and regulations, and can now access the JTC newsletter which is publicised monthly on Newsline and includes guidance on challenging issues and direct responses to taxation queries.

The March edition includes:

• Updated information regarding HMRC’s ‘Making Tax Digital’ proposal
• A reminder that CIS verifications by phone will stop at the end of March, and notification that online verifications are now fully functional
• Information on PAYE payrolling benefits.

The full newsletter is available to view on the Build UK website.