Politics has all but taken over our lives right now. Last week we had local elections and we are all in the midst of a general election campaign. Are the politicians talking about our infrastructure, homes, schools and hospitals? Yes and no. Yes, because some of these totems represent touch points for the campaign in terms of policy and spending. What they do not do is scratch beneath the surface and examine the detail behind the energy efficiency of homes and the construction of our roads, offices, and the systems that support our lives. What can we do about it? Keep the campaign for the business of improving our construction process alive. That means advocating the principles of the circular economy; it means championing the example set by schemes inspiring people to choose construction as a career such as Cyfle Building Skills and it means supporting each other. How do we do that? We stand together. That is what representative bodies such as the National Federation of Builders are all about – who are looking to recruit a membership executive for Wales (Visit the web site to find out more).

CEW aims to bind these groups together; to gather ideas and learning and share best practice but also research and develop new ways of building better.

Last week’s event launching the report into the opportunities for all of us from the circular economy and our challenge to consider how to invest in recruitment, retention and training of people is central to our work. CEW’s advocacy for best practice; our curation of ideas and innovative methods of construction, design and business management is what will take our industry forward. This was also captured this week at the event showcasing our latest Exemplar at the Menai Science Park.

What we do at CEW delivers results. It exerts influence. It serves to improve the business of construction in Wales. That’s why we want to continue. It is why we issued a challenge last week: how to fund best practice and take it further. What we do delivers results. It saves money, it drives community benefits and energy savings – all of which can be monetised. But what is it worth to you?