Multimillion pound training investment

The £6m Construction Knowledge Hub will be funded to the sum of £3m by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) which will be matched by the combined amounts of £1.5m from the North West Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and £1.5m from other public sector organisations across England’s North West.

Minister for Regional Economic Development and Coordination, Rosie Winterton visited to mark the launch of the project at the new University of Central Lancashire / Burnley FE College Campus. “Business innovation and lowering carbon emissions must be key elements in a successful economic future. I am pleased to see the North West leading the way in promoting both,” she said. “The Construction Knowledge Hub is a valuable chance for construction companies across the region to save money and become more profitable through better efficiency and waste reduction – something which is critical in the current economic climate.”

The Construction Knowledge Hub is led by Salford University’s Centre for Construction Innovation, based
in CUBE, and will be delivered by a combination of Building Research Establishment, UCLAN, University of Liverpool and Urban Vision.

The project intends to provide support and guidance for the construction businesses in the region to become more productive, cost effective and efficient, whilst reducing their environmental impact. The hub will provide live demonstration projects, education on the issues facing sustainable construction as well as offering specialist one-to-one business support. It is hoped the project will further enable the construction sector to respond to the opportunities and threats posed by climate change, increased regulation and the Government Sustainability Drivers – allowing them to become more competitive.

It is forecast that the project will lead to reduction in annual CO2 emissions and create 300 jobs, whilst safeguarding a further 300 jobs by creating a ‘knowledge net’ of in-depth support and assistance. For an industry currently in decline such news can only be a relief.

Robert Hough, Chairman at the NWDA said: “The Construction Knowledge Hub is an innovative project that draws on a number of regional strengths – construction, sustainable production and partnership working.

By engaging directly with SMEs through Business Link Northwest, the CCINW and other organisations, the project will enable the industry to adapt their operations to reduce waste, reduce energy use and reduce carbon emissions. This is particularly important in the current economic climate, with the construction industry and SMEs in particular feeling considerable pressure. The project will ensure this particular industry becomes economically stable through the adoption of a sustainable approach to design and delivery.”

The project will assist local construction enterprises to adopt sustainable approaches in design and delivery; helping to embed principles of recycling, waste management and carbon reduction in all aspects of design, procurement, construction and demolition and help minimise waste, maximise recycling and reduce carbon emissions at all stages of the construction process. These will all prove to be important qualities in a post-recession.

Peter Watson, Managing Director of Business Link Northwest and a member of the ERDF Programme Monitoring Committee who are overseeing the use of funds, said: “The Construction Knowledge Hub represents an opportunity for construction companies to become more profitable through efficiency and waste reduction, which is critical in the current economic climate. The benefits of the initiative will be far reaching and as well as helping to stabilise the North West’s construction industry, will also drive prosperity in the region.”