T H E V O I C E O F T H E I N D U S T R Y
CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYERS FEDERATION UPDATES MEMBERS ON ONGOING ISSUES… The Construction Employers Federation (CEF) represents the interests of not only its member companies but also those of roughly 65,000 skilled workers engaged within the wider construction sector. CEF Managing Director, Mark Spence, discusses some of the issues the Federation is currently working on: Work in progress
Mark Spence, Construction Employers Federation (CEF) Managing Director.
MATERIALS AVAILABILITY AND PRICING CRISIS Having initially raised the issue at Procurement Board in February, repeatedly raised the profile of the issue in the press and media, and subsequently written to all CoPEs and Executive Ministers in May, CEF welcomed the publication of the Procurement Advisory Note -01/21 Construction Materials Price Increases which was approved by the entire Executive. The PAN is the most detailed government note to date across the jurisdictions and is welcomed as a mitigation of the risk to local businesses. CEF continues to work with CPD to develop practical guidance to assist contractors and clients streamline the implementation of the support on offer. We continue to update members and government with regular updates on availability and price rises which show no sign of abating for the remainder of this year.
CONSTRUCTION LEADERSHIP COUNCIL As a senior advisor to the CLC representing NI, CEF has signed up as a CLC CO2nstructZero Task Force Partner to roll out emerging advice from CLC to NI contractors. CEF’s CO2nstructZero member Task Force has met with senior CLC representatives to discuss CLC’s guidance on carbon reduction which is a key priority for the industry.
BUILD UK CEF has raised with Build UK the continuing low level of knowledge amongst GB manufacturers/ suppliers surrounding NI trade and customs rules as well as the upcoming changes in product conformity markings which risks further reducing choice of product for NI businesses.
NI PROCUREMENT BOARD CEF continues to work on key priorities for Procurement Board, namely review of Major Capital Projects, Supply Chain Resilience and developing more robust work pipelines. The first new Procurement Policy Note from this PB, Social Value in public procurement was launched in June and is mandatory for all CoPEs. This will see a requirement in all over threshold contracts for social value outcomes to be delivered and measured.
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