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... As the certified representative body for the construction industry in Northern Ireland, the Construction Employers Federation (CEF) represents the interests of not only its member companies but those of roughly 65,000 skilled workers engaged within the wider construction sector. In the below ‘Work in Progress’ update, 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 CEF wrote to all CoPEs and Executive Ministers in May to highlight the growing crisis in the industry and to seek engagement. At the same time, we brought the issue to the local press and gave several media interviews whilst raising it in all discussions with government clients. The Finance Minister arranged a meeting for CEF with CPD on the matter and we now await a detailed paper addressing the issues for those engaged in current contacts as well as those tendering for new contracts. 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.
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. CEF TASK FORCES CEF’s recently set up member Task Forces on Co2nstructZero, People & Skills and Risk & Procurement have already provided focus on the industry’s key challenges and themes are being developed to support businesses to tackle these. 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 has also initiated two member Task Forces to evaluate CLC guidance on carbon and the recent Skills Plan, both of which are central to the industry.
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 is being prepared for the NI Executive where, if adopted, will become mandatory to all CoPEs. This will see a requirement in all over threshold contracts for social value outcomes to be delivered and measured. CPD has progressed with its review of all existing Guidance notes which will now be consulted upon through PB and will result in smaller number of fit for purpose Procurement Policy Notes (PPNs) that will become mandatory to all CoPEs.
14 | NI BUILDER
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