Competition for the CEW Awards is always tough because the industry wants to showcase its talent at the premier ceremony.  Every year we receive more entrants and despite the difficult operating environment facing the industry in recent years, each year the standard increases.  So, we’re challenging the Welsh engineers, designers, builders and everyone else in the supply chain to step up and enter our awards.  This year there are ten CEW Award categories and along with the SME and Achiever of the Year Award we are introducing an Award focusing on Community Benefits as well as a Young Achiever Award to spotlight new talent in the sector.

DCLG yesterday launched their consultation on changes to the Building Regulations regime.  This includes a package of potential changes to support the Green Deal.  In summary, this includes new requirements for additional ‘consequential’ energy efficiency improvements where work (such as an extension or replacement windows or boilers) is already planned to an existing building and Green Deal funding is available as an option to meet the up-front costs.   Given DCLG estimate there are 200,000 extensions per year, 1.4 million boilers replacements and 1 million window replacements, this could be a significant demand driver for the Green Deal. 

In detail the proposals are:

• From October 2012 (to coincide with the introduction of the Green Deal framework) DCLG are proposing that extensions and increases in habitable space (i.e. loft or integral garage conversions) in existing homes would trigger a requirement to carry out consequential energy efficiency improvements where these were technically, economically and functionally feasible.
• From April 2014, the same requirement in existing non-domestic buildings would come into effect.
• From April 2014 there is also the possibility of further regulation so that the replacement of a domestic boiler or the replacement of multiple domestic windows would also trigger a requirement for consequential improvements.  This would be restricted to a set list of lower cost measures (e.g. draught proofing or loft insulation).

If you wish to consider responding to the consultation, the deadline for comments related to the Green Deal is 27 March 2012. Further information can be found on the DCLG website.

Audience: Professional groups: Commercial Property, Building Surveying, Planning & Development, Quantity Surveying and Construction

This conference will examine what challenges there have been in ensuring public sector procurement contributes to the Welsh economy, and how this needs to be addressed in the future.

Topics and speakers

• Procurement: the key to economic growth, innovation, skills and job creation in Wales – Wyn Prichard, Construction Skills
• Procurement throughout Wales: can social factors be taken into account in the process? – Huw Vaughan Thomas, Audtior General for Wales
• The local authority perspective – Aled Roberts AM
• The SME experience/view of the public sector procurement process – Richard Jenkins, FMB
• Valuing public sector procurement – Vince Hanly, Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC
• The EU perspective – Joanna Szychowska, European Commission
• The surveyor’s perspective – Neil Brierley, Davis Langdon
• Keynote address - Jane Hutt AM, Minister for Finance and Leader of the House

How to Book: Please quote event no. 11153
Contact RICS Events – Telephone:  +44 (0)20 7695 1600  or email  events@rics.org

For further information – General Enquiries:
Contact Emma Georgiades  – Telephone:  +44 (0)29 2022 4414 or email egeorgiades@rics.org

Fifth Meeting of 2011/12 Programme 

Venue: Village Hotel, Coryton, Cardiff
Date: Monday 6th February 2012
Time: 5.30pm for 6pm
Topic: Carbon Trust Issues

This technical session will be presented by Lee Evans from the Carbon Trust who will give an update on the work of the Carbon Trust Wales, including Local Authority Carbon Management Review in Wales.

In addition Lee will cover the forthcoming Green Deal and the recent changes in feed in tariffs.

Please note that the views expressed during technical meetings may not form part of official policy held by the Institution or the regional officers

Buffet provided
Please make every effort to attend and support the region

Asbestos is the single greatest cause of work-related deaths in the UK.

The consequences of not being ‘asbestos aware’ can devastate the lives of tradesmen and their families. HSE estimates that on average, 20 tradesmen die from asbestos-related diseases each week.

When these fibres are inhaled they can cause serious diseases. The four main ones are: mesothelioma (which is always fatal), lung cancer (almost always fatal), asbestosis (not always fatal, but it can be very debilitating) and diffuse pleural thickening (not fatal).

To help raise awareness, a free half day event is being held on 31 January 2012 at Christchurch Centre, BT Compound, Malpas Road, Newport  NP20 5PP. It will run from 9am – 12pm and will include refreshments. The event will cover asbestos surveys, HSE’s requirements under the Asbestos Regulations and the view of the contractor.

This event provides health and safety advice and guidance so that those who may be exposed to asbestos at work know what to do to protect themselves and others. It is a MUST for all small construction companies and self employed involved in refurbishment and those in trades such as plumbers, carpenters etc. 

Due to limited spaces, this event is for trades people only who work for companies with less than 40 employees. A maximum of 4 delegates per company. Bookings will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.  To book your place, send your details to Constructing Excellence in Wales via email cewalesevents@cewales.org.uk or fax 029 2046 3233.   For any other enquiries, please contact Anne.redman@hse.gsi.gov.uk or sharon.holmes@hse.gsi.gov.uk  

To see why you should attend, visit  http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/hiddenkiller/real-life-stories.htm

The South Wales Working Well Together Group is running the event and has members from across the industry spectrum, including representatives from major contractors, training organisations, councils and HSE.

To become involved in the change agenda in our industry come along to our latest networking event on 26th January where CEW is launching “G4C Wales (Generation for Change).  

G4C Wales is going to be the new name for the CEW -40C Club, our vibrant networking and development group for young professionals working in all sectors of the Welsh built environment. The focus of the group remains the same, but the name is changing to reflect our close working relationship with the CE national group for young people in construction, the Generation for Change.

Just as when we launched -40C in 2009, we are holding an exciting networking event hosted by Canute Simpson. His unique approach to collaboration and team building is sure to make the evening one to remember.

Everyone in the group, no matter how old they are, will be able to share experiences, ideas and best practice to help and encourage fellow professionals.  The overall aim is to promote the core goals of Constructing Excellence in Wales – collaborative working, sustainability and integrated teams – amongst recent graduates, newcomers to the industry and anyone interested in all aspects of the Welsh built environment.

To help break the ice, the evening will include an informal session on “The power of the net” – the how’s and why’s of good networking.

If you think you’re too old then pass on to someone younger!

How to Book: This event is free of charge but you must register in advance. To reserve your place please email cewalesevents@cewales.org.uk stating your full contact details and the names of all delegates wishing to attend.

Non attendance by any registered delegate will be charged £40 unless you have informed us by Monday 23^rd January 2012

In order to reduce wastage at our events CEW operates a policy of only notifying venue details when issuing registration confirmation. This ensures we only cater for delegates who have registered and don’t over order for individuals who may or may not turn up on the day.

Download: Agenda
Download: Existing Dwellings – David Ross
Download: Development Viability – Glen Dyke
Download: Non Domestic Compliance Slides – David Ross
Download: Stakeholder Event Domestic New Build – Tom Lelyveld and Jessica Hogg
Download: LZCH Progress Report – Sally Sudworth

2nd Wider Engagement Event: New Build & Existing Dwellings 

At this event Welsh Government and their consultants will update stakeholders on work completed to date, outline future programmes and provide you with an opportunity to give your feedback. An update on new-build modeling will include new data on housing characteristics in Wales, approach to identifying impact on other parts of Building Regulations, Learning Rates, CBA and Development Viability Study together with an update on approach to existing dwellings to include modelling for existing dwellings and proposed standards for Part L 2013.  There are many issues to consider and these will all be discussed in the session.

How to Book:  This event is free of charge but you must register in advance. To reserve your place please email cewalesevents@cewales.org.uk stating your full contact details and the names of all delegates wishing to attend.

Download: Agenda
Download: Existing Dwellings – David Ross
Download: Development Viability – Glen Dyke
Download: Non Domestic Compliance Slides – David Ross
Download: Stakeholder Event Domestic New Build – Tom Lelyveld and Jessica Hogg
Download: LZCH Progress Report – Sally Sudworth

2nd Wider Engagement Event: New Build & Existing Dwellings

At this event Welsh Government and their consultants will update stakeholders on work completed to date, outline future programmes and provide you with an opportunity to give your feedback. An update on new-build modeling will include new data on housing characteristics in Wales, approach to identifying impact on other parts of Building Regulations, Learning Rates, CBA and Development Viability Study together with an update on approach to existing dwellings to include modeling for existing dwellings and proposed standards for Part L 2013.  There are many issues to consider and these will all be discussed in the session.

How to Book: This event is free of charge but you must register in advance. To reserve your place please email cewalesevents@cewales.org.uk stating your full contact details and the names of all delegates wishing to attend.

Wales is leading the way in the development and implementation of policies and programmes to deliver lower carbon consumption in the housing, built environment and construction sectors.

As the low carbon agenda becomes more developed and the reasons for seeking better carbon performance become more pressing, professionals practicing in a wide range of fields will be at the leading edge of innovation in the development and implementation of low carbon technologies. In research conducted by CREW and Construction Skills we have identified the full range of skills sets that professionals will require in this changing context and have developed a training programme: Developing Carbon Leadership.

The first module: Influencing Change is being delivered in four locations in Wales during February and March and we are making places available for practicing professionals in the relevant sectors in Wales to attend this first presentation of the short course. This is the first roll out of the initial stage of the extended programme and we will welcome your participation and contribution to the development of the module. Our offer of free places reflects this and later instances of the training will be charged at nearer commercial training rates.

Why should you attend?
It is inevitable in all professions that you will need to engage with the low carbon agenda both to secure future employment and to comply with conditions expected by leading contractors and commissioners of services. Perhaps more importantly, as professional people you will be required increasingly to provide leadership and influence to bring other partners to the development and implementation of low carbon approaches in a wide range of built environment applications. This course will provide you with the concepts, theories and practice to fulfil that leadership role and to ensure that you are able to comply with low carbon specification work in the immediate and medium term future.

The three day course is presented with Day One and Two delivered consecutively and Day Three following at a month’s interval to allow reflection on and evaluation of any changes in practice that you have implemented. The course has two routes and provides different skills dependent on your specific occupational role.

Option A is for professionals who are advising and working with businesses
Option B is for professionals advising and working with individuals & communities. 

Download:  Module 1 – Influencing Change Flyer

Speakers: Gordon Brown, GBSPM and Nigel Bosanko, Excel Industries Ltd

Gordon Brown, the Director of GBSPM, Award winning BREEAM Assessor, Committee member of the Wales Low/ Zero Carbon Hub and Chair of the CIOB Cardiff centre, is to provide a talk on what we need to be doing in order to comply with BREEAM and the growing sustainability agenda.

Why should I attend?
With the current move towards Planning requirements and government agendas requiring certification of Schemes under BREEAM this evening will explain the implementation of BREEAM as it currently stands and provide information on where the Assessment Scheme will require the teams involved in the delivery of projects to understand and thereby, better implement BREEAM in future schemes.

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) continuing professional development (CPD) workshops are practical, interactive training events that aim to develop attendees’ capabilities in a specific area. They are designed to increase participants’ value to their companies, progress their careers and increase opportunities.

What can I expect?
This seminar will provide information on the BREEAM 2011 update and discuss BREEAM for small buildings and refurbishment standard schemes that are being developed for implementation. It will be followed by a short talk on delivery of the current standard and some pointers to the elements necessary to put in place to cover the new schemes and updates.

Who should attend?
Clients, Designers and contractors and anyone who wants information on the BREEAM 2011 update, that came into effect on the 1^st July 2011; BREEAM for small buildings and refurb standard schemes that are being developed for implementation and a talk on delivery of the current 2008 standard and providing some pointers of the elements to put in place to cover the new schemes and updates….

CIOB CPD events are open to members and non-members who want to understand the current schemes and gain an understanding of the future incarnations of the Worldwide Assessment Model 

How to Book: This event is free of charge but you must register in advance. To reserve your place please email vshelton@ciob.org.uk – Contact Vicky Shelton (Tel: 0845 0706141).