Marks & Spencer and ConstructionSkills launch new sustainability course for construction personnel

New course to become a requirement for all M&S construction contractors

ConstructionSkills, the industry’s Sector Skills Council, working together with Marks & Spencer, has developed an innovative new sustainability course designed to enhance the skills of those working on construction and refurbishment sites across the country.

Site Sustainability Simplified is an interactive two-day course designed for staff with construction site management and supervisory responsibilities. The course will give delegates a much needed understanding of the principles of sustainable construction and show them how this can be applied, and put into practice on site.

Marks & Spencer has played an integral role in development and implementation of the course, as it recognises the need for personnel to understand the environmental implications of key activities during the construction process. Marks & Spencer has positioned itself as an exemplar organisation with its Plan A commitments to social, ethical and environmental responsibility and as a result was best placed to offer its expertise in the creation of the course.

Plan A contains several construction-specific commitments, such as sending no waste to landfill from M&S construction programmes, as well as those that have an impact on the materials used for refurbishment and new build of stores.

Crispin Burridge, Head of Sustainable Construction, Marks & Spencer, said: “We are committed to increasing both understanding and recognition of how sustainable construction contributes to effective environmental responsibility. There is a lack of awareness and skills within the industry at present and Site Sustainability Simplified is the latest example of how M&S is providing thought leadership on green issues and its ongoing commitment to share its learning with the broader community.  Going forward, it will be a requirement of our Main Contractors to ensure key site personnel attend this course, and it will contribute towards delivery our Plan A targets.”

Bridget Plowright, ConstructionSkills Project Manager, said: “This is an exciting new course which covers a wide range of important environmental and sustainability issues encountered on construction sites.  Sustainability is a complex area, and we have attempted to simplify it by developing a course for contractors that gives a good overview of the key issues.

“The course is designed to ensure that site managers and supervisors in the construction industry are furnished with the skills required to meet the demands of the environmental and sustainability agenda. It will also support them in communicating effectively with site operatives."

This new course is intended to complement the existing suite of “Site Safety Plus” courses and aims to reach the same standing and respect in the industry as its forerunners."

The topics covered include waste, water, carbon, procurement, materials, travel, communities, biodiversity, archaeology and heritage and BREEAM.

To ensure the integrity of the course content Marks & Spencer and ConstructionSkills drew on the expertise from the BRE in its development and evaluation.

The course has so far undergone a number of pilots and has been very positively received by those delegates attending.

Jonathon Porritt, Founder Director of Forum for the Future, said: "There is a well recognised skills shortage in the construction industry.  So I am delighted to see that Marks & Spencer and Construction Skills are acting to counter this by launching the Site Sustainability Simplified training course. Their collaborative approach is an excellent way of capitalising on the core strengths of both organisations to create a more powerful outcome. I hope the industry sees real value in up-skilling their site workers on the sustainability issues encountered on site, enabling them to make positive changes to their own working environment."

James Wates, Deputy Chairman of the Wates Group and incoming Chairman of ConstructionSkills, said: “Waste management and reducing our carbon footprint is integral to the way we do business and we are delighted to support this partnership with M&S and ConstructionSkills.  Our employees who have attended the new sustainability course have found it very helpful and we are pleased to work together across the industry to raise standards in waste management.”     

For more details about the course and how to book a place, please see www.nationalconstructioncollege.co.uk or call 0344 994 4433.

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Notes to editors

About ConstructionSkills 

ConstructionSkills is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for the construction industry. As a partnership between CITB-ConstructionSkills, CIC and CITB Northern Ireland, we are UK-wide and represent the whole industry from professional consultancies to major contractors and SMEs. 

Established as an SSC in 2003, ConstructionSkills is working to deliver a safe, professional and fully qualified construction workforce through the industry’s Sector Skills Agreement. We are responsible for raising employer engagement in training, implementing industry-led skills solutions, securing appropriate funding, producing labour market data, and developing standards and qualifications that meet employer needs.  

ConstructionSkills is a well run and high performing Sector Skills Council, supporting a sector which is central to the UK economy, generating over 8% of GDP and a turnover of more than £210bn a year. ConstructionSkills is helping construction employers during the downturn and working to maintain skills so the industry can respond when the upturn begins.

About M&S

For over 125 years M&S has been trusted by customers to offer high quality products at great value. We are 'Your M&S', having grown from a Penny Bazaar stall to become the UK's leading retailer of quality clothing, food and home products. With more than 21 million UK customers, we are also an expanding international force, now in 40 territories. A team of 78,000 people and over 2,000 suppliers form the bedrock of our business, ensuring our brand will continue to offer Quality, Value, Service, Innovation and Trust."