A recent government publications from Innovate UK and UK Research and Innovation has suggested that following a £72 million injection into the ‘Core Innovation Hub’, new jobs and high skilled positions in the construction industry will be promoted. In this project, research and development in alternative manufacturing methods such as digital modelling and offsite manufacturing will be promoted to advance knowledge and encourage new approached to construction methods, resulting in new jobs in additional construction industries.
Construction Safety
This diversification of the UK Construction industry is intended to introduce more standardised, modular, components and process’ to the constriction industry that will remove a number of construction health and safety risks and increase construction efficiency.
With these emerging technologies and the alternative skill sets that will be required by construction training, the government hopes to solve issues around unemployment, and access to opportunities for people with disabilities.
CPCS Training
In light of these new advances in Virtual Reality construction and the wide-spread engagement with, and adoption of, modular building using off-site construction methods, it is likely that CPCS Training and CPCS Card attainment will change to reflect the ways that construction plants will operate in the future. Indeed, the CPCS Management Committee continually amend and review the CPCS Training scheme when health issues, technological advances and new plant types are introduced and adopted in the UK.
Specific Goals
Innovate UK and UK Research and Innovation cite long training process’ and an ageing construction workforce in the building trade as threats to the continued applicability of British constriction. This new project aims to make construction training more attractive and easier for younger generations.
Health and Safety concerns can also be remedied by this approach where construction design can be formulated in 3d modelling software and components can be manufactured in factories. This increases precision, reduces waste, allows a unified freedom of design in construction and can be designed to remove dangerous arduous tasks such as working at height.
Retraining Construction Industries
New construction methods are touted as being incredibly simple when compared to traditional methods of construction. Here, a couple of weeks are considered enough time to learn the assembly process and can allow for a wider and more diverse range of people to enter the construction industry.
Sam Stacey, Challenge Director, UK Research and Innovation, said:
“We need to transform construction so that we can create affordable places to live and work that are safer, healthier and use less energy.”
“By taking a lead in the UK, we can increase our ability to export. Global demand for efficient buildings is rising rapidly, driven by the pressures of urbanisation, affordability and the need to cut emissions.”
Virtual Reality Construction to revolutionise Construction Training and Construction Design?
The Core Innovation Hub will intend to support and develop the use of digital design, advanced manufacturing, robotics, droned and augmented and virtual reality. This is to emulate the developments that has happened in other sectors of the economy including the automotive sector, with an aim to make construction faster, cheaper and more sustainable. The development of these technologies will also promote the implementation of smart sensors and digital systems in buildings.
During a visit to the Building Research Establishment (a funding recipient of the Core Innovation Hub), Business and Industry Minister Richard Harrington said:
“We have the opportunity to revolutionise construction in the UK and the Core Innovation Hub will help us build smarter, greener and more efficient buildings much faster and cheaper than we do now.”
“From the introduction of virtual reality to off-site manufacturing, our modern Industrial Strategy, is helping the UK construction sector to develop new techniques and skills – modernising the sector and delivering the homes and buildings our nation needs.”
Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Robert Jenrick said:
“Our manufacturing industry is vital to the UK, contributing billions to the economy every year.”
“This new fund will see it partner with our construction and digital sectors to revolutionise the way we develop crucial infrastructure. It will enable us to build in more efficient and cost-effective ways, boost productivity and ensure we are fit for the future.”
Sources: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-high-skills-jobs-open-up-as-uk-construction-sector-transforms
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/virtual-reality-to-revolutionise-uks-construction-sector
https://www.citb.co.uk/cards-testing/construction-plant-competence-scheme-cpcs/about-scheme/