United we build

No-one should underestimate the importance of the UK government's Construction Strategy 2025. It will shape the way the building industry works and its relations with government - and businesses which don't respond to its demands risk losing out.

That was the powerful message from Mark Wakeford, MD of Stepnell Construction, one of the keynote speakers at this year's ProTimber Industry Summit, held on the first day of Timber Expo in September.

Mr Wakeford is also a member of the Construction Leadership Council, which is overseeing Strategy 2025 delivery and advising business on how to make the most of it.

At the heart of the government policy are four key targets for the next 12 years:

• a 33% cut in initial construction costs and whole life costs of building assets;
• a 50% cut in time taken from inception to completion of both new build and refurbishment projects;
• a 50% cut in greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment;
• and a 50% cut in the building products and materials import/export trade gap.

Core to achieving these goals is a whole new level of collaboration and communication across the construction supply chain, said Mr Wakeford. And that applies as much to the timber sector as much as any part of the industry.

"Business and the construction industry are changing so fast that a co-ordinated response is required from the timber sector, especially as sustainability issues and the cost of energy keeps rising," he said. "To cope, the whole industry needs to act together, otherwise there is a danger the UK will lose out to the many talented overseas operators and companies."

Other speakers at the summit, which attracted an audience of 60, highlighted that the timber sector is starting to respond to the challenges ahead. Indeed the event itself was headlined "One Vision, One Voice". It was also backed by the Timber Accord, the trade organisation grouping formed to help the sector identify and then act on opportunities for co-operation. This now comprises the TTF, BWF, Confor, TDCA, TIMCON, TRADA, UKSIPs, STA, TRA, Wood for Good, WPA, WPIF and WWA. At the same time, it was acknowledged that more still needs to be done - and urgently.

A key tool for facilitating construction supply chain integration, said speakers, is Building Information Modelling (BIM). This software tool enables all parties in a project to communicate from the outset and contribute to and comment on design and materials changes as the building evolves to achieve maximum efficiency and optimum performance.

"BIM and design data are now facts of life," said Timber Trade Federation chief executive John White. "They give users the ability to spot technical problems early and provide a clearly defined route to ensuring the right products are used for the end-user's needs. But BIM is a means to an end, not an end in itself, so we must also keep improving skills, producing better design data for BIM libraries and developing better understanding of how building components are put together. That is smart construction."

Mr White also urged a continued focus on creating "real, robust and systemic supply chain links".

"These are essential to ensure increased demand from an improving economy leads to greater timber pull through," he said. "They are precisely the outcome that we are aiming for with our Wood First Plus initiative to create a database delivering free timber product BIM and life cycle analysis data to customers."

The latter, said Mr White, would enable buyers to compare products and evaluate which save most in terms of work and maintenance time, CO2 and money over their service life.

Fellow keynote speaker, TRADA marketing manager Rupert Scott, said that, despite latest efforts, a continued lack of industry strategy meant that timber's "overwhelmingly positive carbon message was not cutting through to government". He also challenged the sector to think through how government initiatives on the low carbon agenda, such as the Green Deal, could be exploited.

"Improving energy consumption of existing non-domestic buildings is key to the Construction Strategy," he said. "[And this has implications for] increased building reuse, of offices and retail space for dwellings for example. Where timber can match other materials in terms of complete service, from design and installation to maintenance, its aesthetic and environmental credentials should help it grow share in this sector."

Emphasis on co-ordination

British Woodworking Federation chief executive Iain McIlwee also pressed the need for even more joined up industry thinking. Continued poor co-ordination in many areas, he said, made it look as though the industry was "having a fit, rather than dancing". As a result, its ability to present a clear message and attract quality people was dissipated.

"The timber sector is energetic and constantly moving, but we need to find a rhythm so that its behaviour and culture takes better advantage of our huge opportunities." He warned that if it did not seize its chances others would, pointing to the UK's 34% rise in timber window imports from 2007-2012.

The industry was making many of the right collaborative moves, said speakers. BWF training manager Dave Campbell highlighted its work with CITB and Proskills to improve training and skills. Others mentioned the Grown in Britain campaign to boost use of British timber and its potential for creating new skills, markets and products, including British engineered wood.

But the key, said John White, was still to bring the industry's capabilities and energies into more of a single focus.

"We have much to be proud of, but need to pull it together, construct a cohesive strategy and a route map for the future," he said. "That's the clear next step for Timber Industry Accord members."