This week we showcased our latest Exemplar case study, the Menai Science Park (M-Sparc) team set our their aspirations and aims for the project at the design stage event. As with our other Exemplar projects it is a great example of just what can be achieved by pursuing the collaborative working ideals of integrated teams, procurement with a focus on outcomes and value and an engaged client and focussed supply chain – even at the design stage. 

But the whole Exemplar programme goes further than that. You just need to consider how the projects are delivered and detailed commitment of each and everyone involved. 

Projects pursuing the best practice principles advocated by CEW and the Rethinking Construction agenda invoke, collaboration, inclusivity and diversity. On the one hand this means the creation of opportunities for local employment and driving community benefits from each scheme. On the other it also means inspiring anyone to consider construction as a career and to see what specific benefit they might gain from a scheme and the process of building itself. As an industry, we need to reach out to all aspects of the community no matter their physical or mental condition, their faith background or ethnicity. Construction should embrace everyone because it is the great enabler: what we do is for everyone in our entire community. 

Exemplar projects think beyond this. Drilling down, driving and delivering more specific benefits because of this inclusive, best practice approach. Looking at delivering better for less, such as our recent exemplar at Pentrehafod school (link to case study to add) where the value and savings made in these times of austerity allows the education team to hire a new staff member or purchase much required resources. 

As we move forward we have our first housing Exemplars coming forward looking at delivering to a higher level of energy performance reducing or fully removing the long-term energy costs for the occupier – watch this space. 

All of this is captured in our Exemplar case studies. You can learn about the programme at the CEW web site and you can read about the specific success of the project at M-Sparc.

See what can be achieved and please, contact us to find out if you can become involved and reap the rewards and share the benefits.

Congratulations to those of you who have made it to the SME shortlist! We have received many outstanding SME entries, giving our judges a real headache. Year on year your entries demonstrate real performance improvement in the Welsh construction industry.
SME shortlist in alphabetical order:

Category 1 - 50 

Cass Hayward LLP
Lawray Architects
Rio Architects Ltd
Wynne Construction

Category 51 - 250

Contract Services Group
Jistcourt South Wales Ltd
Lloyd & Gravell Ltd
Solar Plants Ltd

We are pleased to announce that Costain & ABC Electrification are the headline sponsors for this year’s awards.

Think about how else you can get involved. Apart from booking a table and enjoying the fun why not become a sponsor? The CEW Awards dinner is the biggest night of the year for construction in Wales – if you want to be noticed, or you want to remind stakeholders what your organisation does for the industry in Wales, then talk to Sue Selkirk about becoming a CEW Awards 2017 sponsor.

A new app that aims to build on wales’ landfill reduction success.

A free iPhone app has been launched by Constructing Excellence in Wales (CEW) to help divert waste from landfill when builders and trades people carry out renovation and repairs for homeowners.

Called Skip Advisor, the app gives advice on what their responsibilities are, estimates how much waste each project will generate and highlights where to find Green Compass waste management companies across Wales.

“Much of the waste from building projects is classified as ‘mixed waste’ and we recognised that we could do more to help people take reasonable steps to ensure that it is managed properly. Wales has made great strides in reducing landfill and we’ve created Skip Advisor as a useful tool for the building trade as it locates your nearest Green Compass waste management company, which set out clear and accurate data on how much waste is being kept out of landfill” explains Paul Jennings of CEW.

The app also has a useful project estimator which lets users assess how much waste a renovation / new build is likely to generate so that skip disposal can be allowed for before work begins. Best practice guidance is also available on the app. 

Download Skip Advisor today at iTunes - https://appsto.re/gb/ZmQH_.i

The NHBC’s latest research: ‘Small house builders and developers: current challenges to growth’ provides an update to the NHBC Foundation’s 2014 report ‘Improving the prospects for small house builders and developers’.

A £1 million community solar farm thought to be the first of its kind in Wales has been unveiled in Swansea.

There are now 3,568 solar panels at the 1 megawatt site in Dunvant, which will generate enough clean electricity to power more than 300 houses in its first year.

All profits from the scheme will be ploughed into regenerating the local area, building education and skills to “make the rural economy more vibrant”.

Swansea people will be able to invest a minimum of £100 into the scheme, and those living outside Swansea will be able to invest upwards of £300, in a bid to raise more than £500,000 - or up to £1.085 million - towards development and construction costs.

Income from electricity sales give investors a projected five per cent annual rate of interest, along with being able to support exciting local enterprises through profits generated. It means residents will become the solar farm’s owners.

People will be able to find out more at the launch today at Gower Heritage Centre.

The one megawatt solar farm was built by Gower Regeneration Ltd, a community benefit society founded by Gower Power Co-op CIC and Y Felin Ddwr Trust, the charitable body that owns the ever-popular Gower Heritage centre.

Gower Power was also behind the Swansea Community Energy Enterprise Scheme (SCEES), which installed solar panels on nine schools and a care home in the city.

Ant Flanagan, founder of Gower Power and Director of Gower Regeneration Ltd, said: “The SCEES community share offer we co-ordinated was over-subscribed and sold out within two months and we expect this one to be just as popular - so grab shares while you can.”

Chris Small, another of Gower Regeneration’s Directors, added: “Having completed the installation, we’re really pleased to be inviting local people to invest in the scheme.

“Shareholders will be co-owners of the solar farm and have an equal say in how the scheme is run and be part of a growing movement of social enterprises set-up for wider community benefit.

“On top of all that, the scheme promises clean energy for years to come and will help reduce the impact of climate change.”

Mr Flanagan said there will be a series of speakers there on the night along with a kids’ club at the Parkmill attraction from 7pm.

“Everyone is welcome to attend the share offer launch to find out more about the scheme and how to invest,” Mr Flanagan said.

Anyone wishing to attend is asked to register via Eventbrite at http://bit.ly/GowerRegenLaunch or e-mail regen@gowerpower.coop

People can also go to www.regengower.co.uk to find out more about the project.

Gower Regeneration Ltd Share Offer Launch

Date and Time: Fri 12 May 2017 - 7.00pm – 9..00pm
Location: Gower Heritage Centre, Parkmill, Gower Heritage Centre, Swansea, SA3 2EH

Home energy efficiency improvements are having a positive impact on health. New research shows for the first time how Welsh Government funded home energy efficiency improvements, aimed at low income households, are having a positive impact on health.

The Fuel Poverty Health Data Linking report show lower health service use among people who had benefited from the Welsh Government Warm Homes Nest scheme.

The study used NHS data to compare the health service use of people who had benefited from Nest home energy improvements and a control group who were eligible for improvements, but were still waiting for these to be completed. 

The research found GP events for respiratory illness fell by almost 4% for those who had benefited from Nest improvements, while these rose by almost 10% in the control group over the same period. 

A similar pattern was found in relation to asthma events, with a 6.5% decrease in the recipient group and a 12.5% increase in the control group for the same period. 

Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths said:

“These findings show not only is our successful Warm Homes Nest scheme helping to reduce energy bills while reducing emissions, but is also having a positive impact on the health and well-being of some of Wales’ most vulnerable households. 

“This is why I am pleased we are continuing to invest in home energy efficiency improvements for low income houses and have committed £104million over the next four years to improve up to  25,000 more homes through the Welsh Government Warm Homes Programme.”

Minister for Public Health and Social Services, Rebecca Evans added:

“The Well-being of Future Generations Act requires public bodies to work together to improve well-being, and to create a healthier Wales.  This research is encouraging as we work to collaborate with communities to improve health and well-being and think differently about the way we deliver services. Preventing ill-health is much better for the individual than treating it.”

Professor Ronan Lyons, Associate Director of the Administrative Data Research Centre Wales (ADRC-W), based at Swansea University Medical School, said:

"We are delighted that ADRC-W has again been able to assist the Welsh Government in its analysis of how the Warm Homes Nest scheme has affected Welsh homes and the health of the people living in them.” 

The emerging research findings have been used in the development of the new Warm Homes Nest scheme and as a result, eligibility for a package of free home energy efficiency measures has been extended to low income homes with members suffering from respiratory and circulatory conditions. 

ESRC Chief Executive, Professor Jane Elliott, added:

"The project findings demonstrate the power of linked administrative data for research and policy evaluation and provide robust evidence to inform more cost-effective program delivery and services to improve people's health and quality of life in Wales.  The ESRC-funded Administrative Data Research Network is supporting many other important research projects across the UK that provide evidence on a range of social and policy issues that can only be answered by linking government administrative data.”