Are you covered for when things go wrong during a project? Do you know what the best models might be for you and your projects?

This week Kevin Thomas, one of the creators of the Integrated Project Insurance (IPI) Model, spoke at one of our breakfast events in Cardiff and explained about the differences that led to IPI being one of three new models of procurement endorsed in the UK Government construction strategy. 

Kevin, who is a founding director of IPInitiatives Ltd, the delivery organisation for the IPI Model, told his audience about how the model is being applied to Dudley College's Advance II project, including the challenges and successes to date.  Advance II is a new teaching facility for advanced building technologies at further education level including apprenticeships.

Don Ward, Chief Executive of Constructing Excellence also provided an update on progress with other work by Constructing Excellence to develop and promote collaborative working, in particular the Cabinet Office programme to promote the three new models of procurement which facilitate early involvement: IPI, Two-stage open book, and Cost-led procurement.

The Welsh Government is committed to ensuring workers are treated fairly and with respect. They are developing a ‘Code of Practice on Ethical Employment in Supply Chains’ to help ensure workers in public sector supply chains in Wales are employed in a legal, fair and ethical way.

The Code of Practice, due to be launched in October 2016, covers the following employment issues:

•          Modern Slavery;
•          Blacklisting;
•          False self-employment;
•          Unfair use of umbrella schemes and zero hours’ contracts; and
•          Payment of the Living Wage     

Welsh Government are keen to receive feedback on the proposed Code of Practice and this consultation provides an opportunity for you to contribute your views to help inform its development - attached is a copy of the draft Code (available in English only). You will need to refer to it to answer the questions.

If you would like to provide feedback on the Code of Practice, please complete and submit the online form by 01/07/16. You can access the form by clicking here https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ethical-supply-chains

Do you know how far the Construction Wales Innovation Centre (CWIC) centre has come to offer state-of-the-art facilities and world-class training for individuals and construction companies.

Gerald Naylor, Project Director, UWTSD and Anthony Rees, Regional Manager, Cyfle Building Skills gave an update on the Construction Wales Innovation Centre and the Cyfle shared apprenticeship scheme at a recent South West Wales Best Practice Club event.

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and a consortium led by The University of Wales Trinity Saint David, will establish the Construction Wales Innovation Centre (CWIC) to offer state-of-the-art facilities and world-class training for individuals and construction companies. With its proposed headquarters at the Swansea Waterfront Innovation Quarter, the CWIC will also have sites at colleges across Wales, including Coleg Sir Gâr and Coleg Ceredigion, which are part of the UWTSD Group, and Coleg Cambria in North Wales and Coleg y Cymoedd in South East Wales. Construction is due to begin towards the end of 2016 with the CWIC's opening targeted for September 2018.

Cyfle Building Skills is a Multi Award Winner Regional Shared Apprenticeship Scheme, that currently employs over 140 apprentices. It is a Shared Apprenticeship Scheme that was launched by South West Wales Regional Shared Apprenticeship Ltd (SWWRSAL) and CITB in 2013 which is currently the largest Shared Apprenticeship Scheme in the UK. The aim is to provide a service which supports young adults into sustainable employment within the construction industry. This will help young people further their careers and their chances of gaining employment. They will have the opportunity to gain an NVQ level 2 & 3.

Public sector organisations in Wales are invited to apply for Green Growth Wales repayable funding for projects in the financial year 2016-17: deadline is 5th July.

Welsh Government, through its Green Growth Wales initiative is making investments in projects delivering energy efficiency, renewable energy and resource efficiency across Wales, with the overall aim of saving 2.5m tonnes of CO₂ as well as helping public bodies to make revenue savings.

Their first call for projects to be funded during 2016-17 closes on 5^th July 2016. Projects are delivered on an invest-to-save basis, with funding repaid from within the savings made or revenues generated. 

This call covers both the Salix and Invest to Save – Green Growth finance vehicles.  Finance is available now for projects sufficiently well defined.  However, they also want to hear about developing projects, where the intent is to draw down funds later in the financial year. A second ‘expressions of interest’ form is available and should be submitted in this case.   

They are keen to support all eligible projects that might otherwise not proceed, however, there is likely to be significant demand and early sight of projects will help. Terms and conditions for the two finance routes have been aligned and are now accessed through a single website. 

A number of rounds of investment decisions will take place during the course of the year:

5^th July 2016
5^th October 2016
5^th December 2016
1^st March 2017 

How to apply

Applications and expressions of interest for Green Growth Wales projects are made via the application portal http://salixfinance.co.uk/loans/welsh-loans

As part of that process, projects will need to demonstrate how they are contributing to the achievement of the Well-being goals defined in the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, the nature of the investment and the projected savings (cash and CO₂) to be made, and a repayment profile.  Projects will be assessed by technical specialists, and bespoke funding offers will be made depending on the nature of the project and the public body.

All public bodies are strongly encouraged to seek the support of the Green Growth Wales / Resource Efficient Wales team to develop proposals for investments:

Green Growth Wales – Commercial support: Mike Williams -  mike.williams@local.gov.uk

Resource Efficient Wales Client Manager - Opportunity Identification & Technical Support: David Reilly - david.reilly@CarbonTrust.com 

Re:fit Cymru - Energy Performance Contracting: Glyn Mountford - glynm@gepenv.co.uk

Salix funding application support contact: Judith Britnell - judith.britnell@salixfinance.co.uk