It is the season of goodwill and the announcement last week that the UK Government is allocating £5 billion capital investment in infrastructure is the injection of adrenalin the construction industry desperately needed and it comes just when presents are needed most. 

The Welsh Government has also acknowledged the importance of construction in the economic recovery when confirming its final budget.

Are site waste management plans a help or hindrance to construction best practice and minimising waste?

If you've never thought about your construction waste, then think again. CEW confidently predicts that the consultation on the Welsh Government’s policy regarding Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) will be live in the New Year. Whilst they have not been compulsory in Wales, organisations that have applied the idea of a site waste management plan have seen some significant benefits in terms time, money, minimising waste, cutting out landfill and improving of carbon footprint.

The SE Wales Best Practice Club hosted an event at the Wales Millennium Centre to explore potential funding models to support the development of infrastructure projects across Wales. The event that took place on the 6th December was well attended by people across public and private sectors. Altogether 52 delegates from financial, legal and construction backgrounds followed the presentations with detailed information about the funding models that we need to support and grow the economy in Wales.

Make sure construction has a voice in the Sustainable Development Bill consultation.

Construction is the means that Wales can deliver a sustainable economy and provide long lasting benefits to the communities affected by capital projects. So, last week’s Welsh Government White Paper setting out its proposals to bring forward legislation to make sustainable development the central organising principle of the Welsh Government and Welsh public service organisations in Wales is crucial to our industry.

The G4C Charity Christmas event took place on the 6th December. The G4C Club managed to raise £400 to Construction Youth Trust, a registered charity working with young people to help them access employment opportunities in the construction industry. The charity’s Trustees all have strong links with the construction industry at a national and senior level. They are drawn from a spectrum of professions across the industry, reflecting the diversity its employment has to offer. The Trust relies on the financial support of companies and individuals who wish to ensure that young people continue to enter into construction.

Construction needs to react and add detail to the Welsh Procurement Policy. 

Jane Hutt, AM, Minister for Finance and Leader of the House issued the Wales Procurement Policy Statement last week, clearly setting out the practices and the specific actions that will be required of every public sector organisation in Wales - namely Local Authorities, the NHS, Education, Fire and Rescue and Welsh Government Sponsored Bodies.

The sixth annual Constructing Excellence National Awards took place on the 30th November in London. The awards were attended by over 450 people from across the UK, celebrating achievements in the built environment sector.

CEW Awards winners went on to represent Wales at the national CE Awards. Throughout the year similar regional Constructing Excellence Awards have been held across the country and the winners from the East Midlands, London and South East, North East, North West, South West, Wales, West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber then went forward to the short list for the national awards.

The Minster for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage Huw Lewis has launched a consultation on a proposed new regeneration framework – “Vibrant and Viable Places”.

This consultation document is the result of a policy review of approaches to regeneration instigated by the Minister in February 2012. The suggested approach going forward will be much more holistic than previously undertaken, and will be ensuring all sectors of Welsh society, the key mainstream areas, to consider regeneration in both their spend and approach.

The Modern Built Environment Knowledge Transfer Network (MBEKTN) Showcase Group is a sub-group providing information and a dedicated networking space on the MBEKTN's Innovation Showcase Group.

The Modern Built Environment KTN has set up this group in order to facilitate effective engagement of their members, leading to an increase in new collaborations and partnerships to develop, promote or exploit innovation.