Becky Hayward

Commute Reading: 🚆 📚 a thought provoking read in relation to the continued challenges facing this particular sector. We've seen this a lot over the last 18 months in terms of the struggle for project developers to really make in-roads in their plans. I was particularly interested to read the synopsis about the "Just for heroes" scenario in relation to possible routes to growth , tackling macroeconmoic issues, cost inflation, supply chain challenges and legistlative lag will require some brave and long-term focused leadership... "The second type of leader takes similar defensive actions, while also leaning into the volatility, using it as a catalyst to grab new opportunities. They think about the next decade, not just the next month, and rethink opportunities and strategy in light of current conditions. Stakeholders in the offshore wind industry could take inspiration from this approach." In many ways this stance could probably be applied to much of the growth that is needed for progress in the renewables/cleantech space. A Long-term leadership perspective and strategy, collaboration across/through the supply chain and consolidation of project developers and owners along with much more support from a legislative persepective. #renewableenergy #insights #marketforces #trends #leadership #collaboration #progress #future #talent #gibsonwatts #mckinseyinsights

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In the construction industry, effective information management is not just a necessity; it’s a key driver of project success. From initial design to construction and long-term maintenance, projects generate vast amounts of data that must be managed efficiently. When information is well-structured, accurate, and easily accessible, it improves communication, enhances collaboration, and supports informed decision-making. This leads to smoother processes, reduced risks, regulatory compliance, and ultimately, better project outcomes for all stakeholders. However, several barriers can hinder effective information management, including siloed data, inconsistent data standards, and the use of outdated technologies. These challenges can result in costly delays, errors, and miscommunication. We covered this and so much more with the excellent panel of experts yesterday. Martin

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Got tall buildings, construction disputes and JCT on your mind? If so, we got something for you 👇 #tallbuilding #disputes #JCT #insights

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🌟 Balancing Parenthood and a Career in Construction 🌟 Thank you, Trea Crozier, Farrans Construction for sharing your honest insights on balancing motherhood and a career in civil engineering. Your journey and success as a leader are an inspiring reminder that it is possible to excel in both 🦸‍♀️🌟 Navigating a career in construction while managing the responsibilities of parenthood or caregiving is no small feat. It takes resilience, creativity, and, most importantly, support. This article delves into the unique challenges faced by parents — mothers, fathers, and all caregivers — working in this dynamic industry. It’s a timely reminder that flexible working isn't just a "nice-to-have" but a necessity for building a truly inclusive and thriving workforce. Visible flexibility, from leaders to team members, not only empowers individuals but also sets a precedent that careers can flourish alongside caregiving roles. It’s about normalising the balance we all strive for and ensuring that no one has to choose between their family and their passion for construction. #ConstructionCareers #WorkingParents #FlexibleWork #Inclusion #ParentingAndCareers

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Mott MacDonald’s Richard Patterson highlights the importance of starting out with low-risk, low-value construction or consultancy contracts using the NEC4 Engineering and Construction Short Contract (ECSC). Learn more below👇 #NewEnginneringContract #NEC4

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Laura Cannock, senior project manager, shares her career journey with Women Empowering Defence, highlighting the significance of mentoring, gender inclusion, and why leaders must evolve to meet the needs of a diverse and multi-generational workforce. Learn more about Laura’s inspiring journey below⏬ #WomenEmpoweringDefence #WEDAsks

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Driving large-scale construction projects to successful completion requires clear communication, structured performance management, and effective problem-solving. One of our previous projects involved supporting a major infrastructure programme delivering a new rail line for London and the South East. Key outcomes: • Improved on-time delivery with predictive metrics to track milestones • Enhanced cross-functional collaboration, breaking down silos and aligning teams • Faster, data-driven decision-making, reducing delays and improving efficiency • Successful, on-time handover of critical project elements By implementing Visual Performance Management and Lean problem-solving techniques, we helped streamline communication, improve decision-making, and ensure the achievement of project milestones. Interested in learning how our solutions can transform your organisation? Read more: https://lnkd.in/etvfz2HZ

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🌟 Reflecting on ACOSTE 2024 🌟 I thoroughly enjoyed this year’s ACOSTE event! It’s exciting to witness the subtle yet significant shifts in the topics and discussions at our premier UK industry events. Staying relevant and understanding our roles within the ever-evolving Project Controls space is crucial. A big thank you to Carolyn Browning and the team for providing such valuable context. Special thanks to Chirag Shah FIRP for including me in the narrative. I thought you might have forgotten about our interview, but it seems you were saving it for a rainy day! 😉 #projectcontrols #deltek #projectmanagement #projectmanagementsoftware

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Deep Sea Data… Spirit Energy’s Morecambe Net Zero program is an ambitious project to redeploy the Morecambe Bay gas fields in northwest England as a major carbon capture storage facility. Its approach to data will be one of the 'real-life’ case studies in our upcoming webinar on the critical role of information and data governance in project delivery. Neill Pawsey will provide an overview of: - Why early investment in robust data governance can support enhanced decision-making, mitigate risks, and drive more efficient project delivery. - The risk of not having a sound data governance plan in place The core components of effective information and data governance include ​standards, roles, and security. 📅Date: August 28, 2024 🕛3:00 pm, Australian Eastern Standard Time (12pm Jakarta Time) Register to join our Webinar, here : https://lnkd.in/gGG4-nmj Cohesive John Robert A. #connecteddata #informationmanagement #betterdecisions #datagovernance

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*Skills Shortage and Culture Shift* I had three stimulating events this week 👷‍♀️ Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Presidents Lunch on embedding industry strategies to the coalface. 🌎 SuDS roundtable following #londonclimatereview to take forward recommendations ⛴️ delivering Greenfreeports in Scotland at scale and pace The common thread in all these discussions is to succeed we must develop new skills, and without it we will not succeed 👷‍♀️ All engineers need basic understanding of resilience and not just leave it to experts 🌎 We only have a certain amount of SuDS skills cake and we are all cutting it thinner, and it is getting crummier, we need a bigger cake ⛴️ The need for retaining the population leaving the highlands by offering careers and not just jobs In addition there is a need for a shift in culture, here are some examples 👷‍♀️ More decision makers need to be Engineers who understand the risks, not Politicians who demand certainty. 🌎 Highways Engineers come from position of getting water off the road as quickly as possible, but roads are needed as flood risk channels during extreme events ⛴️ Consenting silos need to see big picture and businesses need to engage early to enable the 2 month planning approval for Sumitomo Electric in Cromarty. 👷‍♀️ Prof. (Dr) Anusha Shah, Jo Parker, Beth West, Gary Cutts 🌎 Nick Orman , Molly Strauss, Emma Howard Boyd CBE, Vicky Boorman, Matthew Whaley, Alex Nickson, Professor Denise Bower OBE, Katherine Drayson PhD, George Leigh, Dr Elizabeth Rapoport, andrew day, Heather Marshall, Edel McGurk, James Latham, Clare Wildfire, Paul Shaffer, Howard Gray, Pablo Souto Casares, Ian Russell, Emily Athwal, Nick Orman, Molly Strauss ⛴️ Sarah Murray CEO, Forth Green Freeport Calum MacPherson CEO, Inverness and Cromarty Green Freeport Allan. Maguire Head of Development and Regeneration, The Highland Council Mike Engelbrecht VP, Sumitomo Electric U.K. Power Cables Ltd

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Following on from my post about ‘bad data’ last week, tonight I met Dav whilst giving blood. Dav was in construction but moved industries (immediately making me think of your career change podcast Charlotte Hills). We had a long chat about data and the #NHS - timely given the reform announcement today. The discussions he is having in his role are so similar to those in construction and engineering. He gave a really positive data story that I thought worth sharing to counteract my whinging opinion last week. The NHS blood donation sessions monitor trends from data locally including: - donor blood types within the area - blood stock level per type - drop out rates in donors booking and not turning up - preferred times - preferred location - amount of willing donors This has resulted in the following in our area: - providing out of business hours donor venues - choosing different sized venues based on previous “opt in” capacities being reached, limiting donations - over booking by 5% expecting a drop out - targetting areas based on blood type Make your data oriented decisions count (and if you can - give blood!)

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A recent government review attributed over 50% of the UK's carbon emissions to infrastructure and the built environment. A fast-tracked standard, comprehensive in scope, was urgently needed in light of the scale of carbon emissions needed. PAS 2080 provides a consistent framework encompassing the whole value chain, fully aligned with the industry's sustainability goals. Developed through collaboration between industry experts, it establishes targets, baselines, metrics and reporting procedures to quantifiably manage carbon throughout design, construction and use. “When you've got the whole value chain operating in the same way, that's where the magic happens.” - David Riley, Anglian Water Services See the benefits of the world's first standard for reducing and managing carbon in the built environment: https://gag.gl/a0rv9S #BSI #Sustainability #BuiltEnvironment #PAS2080 #FacilitiesManagement

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A super piece for quick 5 minute read on Energy Intelligence from our expert colleagues at Arcadis In the midst of mounting geopolitical instability and growing energy prices, organisations are feeling the pressure to deliver on public commitments to reduce carbon intensity. So are organisations succeeding in creating an energy-efficient, low carbon built environment? Our survey results reveal the current landscape and challenges faced by businesses. Find out how you can overcome these obstacles and drive meaningful change with the top takeaways from Arcadis' Intelligent Buildings team. https://lnkd.in/eJU9Sx5C #arcadis #improvingqualityoflife #planetpositivefuture

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One of the first things this article in the New Statesman highlights is the lack of stability and coherent policy to shift the needle on retrofit. I'll add that in the last 20 months we've had: - The Liz Truss mini budget The chaos that followed meant we had to pivot our fledgling business. Others weren't so lucky, and homeowners with fixed rate mortgages ending have felt the pain acutely. - Rishi's green u-turn Having pivoted more to further develop and focus on our green offering, this announcement then deflated demand for green home upgrades in the private rented sector. Luckily we weren't dependent on government regulation and just this sector; other businesses who had invested to gear up for demand were. - The Rishi surprise early election This could have been called to coincide with the May elections (also saves a bit of money?), but instead it's likely to grab all the headlines for the next 6 weeks which could reduce sales activity in one of our busiest periods. Then the summer holidays will be upon us where activity tends to reduce. This is what me, my team, and every company operating in this space has had to deal with. All self-inflicted. All political. We'll be fine, and even stronger, because we have an excellent team, we're used to being punched in the face and getting back up, and we believe in what we're doing. I'm rather apolitical and try to look at who I believe has the best policies. But it would help enormously if whoever get's in at the next election gives the country more stability and less playing politics. British businesses and especially start-ups can then unleash their full potential. https://lnkd.in/e4hernjA #election #energyefficiency #strongandstable

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Wales risks missing out on a major economic and environmental opportunity as wind energy projects face continued delays in planning approvals. Three onshore wind farms, with a combined capacity of over 200MW—enough to power 170,000 homes—remain stuck in planning. These delays hinder Wales' progress toward its net-zero targets, while other UK regions move forward. With fewer than 20% of projects approved on time, the renewable energy sector stands ready to collaborate with government leaders to unlock green jobs, local investment, and energy resilience. #WindEnergy #NetZero #RenewableEnergy #CleanEnergy #Wales #SustainableDevelopment #GreenGrowth #EconomicOpportunity #EnergyTransition https://lnkd.in/e2h2FyNp

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Certain and stable policy is a really important component of the energy transition, which is why announcements like today's carbon, capture and storage one in the UK is good to see. Reports from the likes of the International Energy Agency (IEA) underscore #CCS as one of the key technologies to help reduce emissions and support #decarbonization. Digital twin technology from #ABBEnergyIndustries can simulate scenarios at every stage of the captured CO2’s journey from surface to underground, which delivers proof of concept by allowing operators to test options in a virtual setting. 📺 Watch this to learn more about CCS: https://lnkd.in/e58w9KSM 📰 Or read more here: https://lnkd.in/eSCgHTCj #energytransition #carboncapture

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