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News www.thefis.org 7 An innovative skills programme designed and developed by Ryder and Gateshead College has received international recognition. PlanBEE (Built Environment Education), which was launched in 2016, won the further and higher education category at the 2022 Inspire Future Generation Awards. The first programme of its kind, PlanBEE is an industry driven higher apprenticeship scheme designed to help attract and retain talent in the built environment and construction sector and solve the skills shortage the industry is facing. Supported by a growing consortium of over 40 businesses across the UK, the pioneering programme combines study with working for some of the construction industry’s leading companies including Ryder, Sir Robert McAlpine, Bowmer & Kirkland, Cundall, Gleeds and NBS. Apprentices rotate around these employers and get to experience a wide range of roles and disciplines within the sector including architecture, structural and building services engineering and management and project and cost management. The programme has been an overwhelming success, delivering over 300 industry placements with 98% of apprentices progressing into permanent jobs. Building on the success of the scheme in the North East, PlanBEE Manchester was launched in 2020 and there are further plans to launch the programme in other areas of the country. www.gateshead.ac.uk/planbee Fast-growing property business Edison Group buys Glasgow-based maintenance and interior fit-out specialist GDC Design in its latest strategic move Reminder issued to avoid further competency crisis Scottish-based UK and internationally operating construction and property business Edison Group has made the strategic acquisition of project management, interior fit-out and property maintenance business GDC Design in a move that significantly complements the group’s service offering. Glasgow-based GDC Design, which operates throughout Scotland and as far south as Birmingham, is projecting sales of £4 million in 2023 from its premium bespoke joinery, manufacturing, interior fit-out, design and project management to local authorities, NHS, central government, charities, dentists and tier one hospitality, retail and construction clients. Graham Christie, GDC Design’s previous owner and Managing Director who retains a minority shareholding in the business, is remaining as a director and a key person in GDC Design until 2025 after which he will retire. Edison founder and CEO CalumMelville confirmed that the acquisition has safeguarded current jobs and although not all filled yet, created 35 skilled, well-paid jobs for the Glasgow economy. www.edison-group.co.uk The Construction Leadership Council is encouraging and reminding Industry Accreditation card holders to take action to retain their card in light of changes to “grandfather rights” that will be implemented from the end of 2024. All Industry Accreditation (IA) cards issued from 1 January 2020 will expire on 31 December 2024 and cannot be renewed. Guidance has been designed to help cardholders understand the next steps, which will depend on the occupation and what qualifications are held. Further guidance for Industry Accreditation card holders is available at www.cscs.uk.com/ia NHBC’s revisions to its Technical Standards are now live. The latest edition of the organisation’s Technical Standards applies to every new home registered with the new homes warranty and insurance provider where the foundations have been laid on or after 1 January 2023. NHBC said its dedicated Standards team had spent the past year applying its expertise to a thorough review of all its technical content. It has been working with stakeholders across the industry “to ensure the Standards continue to provide trusted support and guidance for builders and developers”. There have been significant changes and updates to several chapters, including: • aligning with British Standards, including BS EN 1992, BS 8666 and BS 8102:2022 • updates to both concrete upper floor design and timber/joist deflection limits and to the weathertightness of windows, doors and glazing • new guidance on the provision of horizontal movement joints on masonry clad buildings and on supporting single leaf garage walls • addressing the low carbon agenda by: – increasing cavity wall widths due to improving thermal performance standards – a focus on renewable and sustainable technologies to reduce carbon footprint and provide alternative heating sources. NHBC said its Technical Standards would continue to help builders and developers deliver “the highest possible new home standards and support the continuous improvement of the quality of new homes”. Mark Russell, NHBC’s standards and policy manager, said: “There have been significant changes to this year’s Standards to ensure they remain both relevant and accurate. We are sure the industry will find them a useful reference point as we all work to build safe, high-quality homes for everyone.” www.nhbc.co.uk North East skills and employment programmewins global praise NHBC announces revisions to its Technical Standards