Paddy Delany’s Post

Did you know there are fewer than 2,500 #SMEhousebuilders left in England?* #SMEs have long been vital to #housebuilding, meeting demand and driving innovation. However, recent challenges have made it increasingly difficult for smaller businesses to survive. To address this, a coalition of companies has developed a 10-step plan to #revivetheindustry and #supportSMEs in housebuilding. At Stairways, we proudly support this report and the proposed changes aimed at #rebuildingtheconstruction sector. Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/3VoyhvA *According to the #HomeBuildersFederation SME Report 2017

The $900 million National Productivity Fund (NPF) announced by Federal Treasurer Hon Jim Chalmers MP presents an incredible opportunity to address Australia’s housing challenges by driving innovation in construction. As Prof. Mathew Aitchison, CEO of Building 4.0 CRC says: “The cost problem plaguing the sector’s low numbers is actually a productivity problem, which is actually an innovation problem. We need to find new ways to do more with less.” By embracing Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), such as prefabrication, modular homes and kit of parts approaches, we can significantly reduce costs and timeframes, attract a more diverse workforce, and improve sustainability outcomes – particularly through waste reduction.   The NPF’s focus on rewarding states and territories that invest in innovation is a critical step towards boosting productivity across the sector. As Prof. Aitchison emphasises: “Those governments who are investing in research and development to drive generational productivity gains should rightfully be rewarded.” By harnessing the power of MMC alongside traditional building methods, we can address the housing crisis, enhance supply, and create lasting, positive change for the industry.   The NFP could be the game changer we urgently need.   We have no time to waste. #HousingInnovation #innovation #housing #construction #InnovationInConstruction #ModernMethodsOfConstruction #MMC #ProductivityBoost #BuildingTheFuture

Professional services are leading the way when it comes to growth in the UK this year: 📈 IT and other information services activities have grown 5.2% this year 📈 Architecture performing strongly, revenue from chartered practices increased by 13 per cent in the 12 months to May 📈 Legal consistently growing and remains resilient even in challenging economic conditions, and leading the way as the highest performer of professional services. For many sectors such as financial and insurance activities, entertainment, employment and travel agencies, and accommodation — output has fallen this year, while construction and manufacturing production remained stagnant. Overall the UK is doubling down in areas of strength. Some positive news.

The Australian Constructors Association (ACA) has published a thought-provoking paper (linked below) as a conversation starter for their upcoming high-powered Forum, FF24. The conference aims to address the challenges facing the construction industry and find solutions to improve collaboration and performance. One of the key questions posed in the paper is "Defining good... and how to achieve it." As someone passionate about the construction industry, I have joined my voice in answering these questions in weekly nuggets. You can find previous comments here: Primarily, for delineation, I believe defining good will also include the need to train on subconscious biases which are prevalent in the industry, i.e. gender, race etc which starts from the recruitment phase through to employment. To truly achieve "good" in the industry, we must also address the subconscious biases that perpetuate negative perceptions and hinder progress. To combat these biases, we must actively promote the positive aspects of the construction industry, such as: 🌟 Showcasing the diverse career options and the opportunity to work on iconic projects around the world 🤝 Highlighting the chance to meet and collaborate with a wide range of people from various backgrounds 🌇 Emphasizing the satisfaction of seeing tangible results and contributing to the built environment 📈 Promoting the potential for personal and professional growth within a dynamic and evolving industry I believe this is one of the indicators of what good could mean for Construction. What does good mean to you in construction? I invite you to join the conversation and share your thoughts on how we can redefine "good" in the construction industry and work together to achieve it. #ConstructionIndustry #FF24 #RedefiningGood #CollaborationIsKey #PositiveChange #EPIC

The latest Arcadis International Construction Cost index for 2024 is now live! Once again, London regained its top spot in the ICC index for 2024. 2023 contrasted interestingly with 2022, which experienced significant levels of hyper-inflation across most markets. There was greater than 5% inflation across 25 cities in 2023, including Auckland and Brisbane. Cities in the UK, US, France and Spain largely experienced sub-3% inflation levels, while there was deflation in China and selected markets (such as Amsterdam). Australian #cities have all fallen in this years rankings - but don't let that fool you into thinking that #constructioncosts are declining. Far from it. While building activity fell by 1% in 2023, market capacity continues to be constrained. With a mounting skills and labour crisis, construction costs continue to rise. #Sydney continues to be the most expensive city in Australia for relative cost of construction. #Melbourne and #Brisbane continue to do the same little dance that they have done over the last few years and have again switched places, with Brisbane slightly ahead of the Victorian capital. Compared to 2022, last year was relatively calm but with a high level of disruption. The #Arcadis view is that 2024 will be the bottom of the market in most global locations. A significant squeeze on capacity is likely to accompany the subsequent recovery. You can access the link to our latest report in the comments. Erik Blokhuis, Kayleigh Owen, Simon Rawlinson, Ian G., Edel Christie, David Hudd, Fintan Kenny, Ann Van Melkebeek, Ted Peek MSc MRICS, Rebecca Hearn, Neil Gall, David Ball and all other team members from around the world. #ICC2024 #costdata #analysis #forecasting #property #Infrastructure

Ahead of the government’s Invest 2035: modern industrial strategy consultation deadline this weekend, our UK Managing Director Patricia Moore, spoke to Building Magazine about the vital role the construction sector will play in driving economic growth and delivering the UK’s industrial strategy over the next decade. 📊 With UK GDP growth at a mere 0.1 percent, Patricia argues that the government's Invest 2035 modern industrial strategy must not overlook construction's potential. 🏗️ The article highlights the need for a stable pipeline of work, improved skills development, and greater digitalisation to enhance productivity, and calls for the government to establish a construction skills task force under Skills England. Patricia says: “A dedicated task force could work to identify, attract and develop pipelines of talent, including forecasting requirements for the future, to avoid a continued game of catch up.” Read more: https://bit.ly/4eF7G4e #construction #EconomicGrowth #IndustrialStrategy #UKEconomy

Prof. Mathew Aitchison, CEO Building 4.0 CRC shared his views in a recent column for the The Courier-Mail. Embracing innovation holds the key to revitalising the industry. The global housing crisis is complex, influenced by labour shortages, supply chain disruptions and rising costs, but its core issue lies in decades of declining productivity due to inadequate investment in research and development (R&D). With only 1-2% of turnover allocated to R&D compared with sectors like automotive and tech investing up to 10%, the building industry is ripe for innovation. We're embracing new materials, efficient building systems and streamlined housing delivery approaches, including prefab and modular solutions. Initiatives like Building 4.0 CRC's $4m R&D program in Australia are paving the way, aiming to revolutionise social housing with modern construction methods. Let's seize the opportunity to lead in sustainable, efficient housing solutions—investing today for a brighter housing future! Read the full column here: https://lnkd.in/grFV6Yzg #housinginnovation #buildingindustry #prefabhousing #modularconstruction #researchanddevelopment #construction #building #MMC #research 

Ahead of the upcoming deadline to input into the government’s Invest 2035: modern industrial strategy consultation I had the pleasure of speaking to Building Magazine about the need to ensure that construction is at the heart of the government’s plans for industrial growth. Our sector is not just about building structures; it's about enabling the future. From advanced manufacturing spaces to decarbonised energy grids and AI data centres, construction is the backbone of innovation and progress. However, to truly unlock our potential, we need a stable pipeline of work, enhanced skills development, and a commitment to digitalisation. I call on my colleagues across the industry to join me in making the case for construction as the key enabler of the UK's industrial strategy. Together, we can demonstrate to the government, investors, and future talent that with clarity, visibility, and collaboration, our sector can deliver the growth and innovation the UK needs. Read more below: #Construction #EconomicGrowth #IndustrialStrategy

" How do you measure the success & ROI of Digital Construction Tech/Software Projects? " This will be one of the big questions and debates during Digital Construction Week in London next week. We discussed this question at length during the final webinar in the Digital Construction Webinar Series last week hosted by myself in the Smart Connected Buildings community. I was joined by 2 digital construction change-makers, and it's fair to say we had a robust debate, with webinar attendees providing some lovely feedback after the session: "It's really interesting, guys; I've never sat in on or heard anything like this before...." No fluff, No BS, just real-world experience and insights for people driving much-needed change across the industry.!!! Check out the full recording below. Link in comments 👇👇👇👇👇 Hear what industry leaders have to say: Jon Knight from Ascentae (Digitising construction site project offices). Dr Jamie Dupée from Edocuments Ltd (Digital asset information & handover) Join the debate, lean into the discussion and drive positive change across the #construction sector. #DCW2024 #digitalconstruction #constructionmanagement