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Multimillion pound investment into Northwest construction industry


Construction businesses across England's Northwest will benefit from a new £6 million 'knowledge hub' aimed at honing the regions' competitiveness, increasing productivity and helping them respond to the threats and opportunities posed by climate change.

The £6 million Construction Knowledge Hub will be funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) with £3 million, matched with £1.5 million from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and £1.5 million from other public sector organisations across England's Northwest.

The launch was officially marked at the new University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) / Burnley FE College Campus with a visit from Rosie Winterton, Minister for Regional Economic Development and Coordination, as part of a programme of visits to projects within England's Northwest.

The Construction Knowledge Hub is led by the Centre for Construction Innovation and will be delivered by Building Research Establishment, UCLAN, University of Liverpool and Urban Vision.

The Project is delivered under the 'Improving your Resource Efficiency' product, part of the Government's Solutions for Business portfolio.

This project will provide support and guidance for construction businesses in the region helping them to become more productive, cost effective and efficient, whilst reducing their environmental impact. The hub will provide live demonstration projects, development of KPIs and benchmarking, awareness raising as well as specialist one-to-one business support.

The project will further enable the construction sector to respond to the opportunities and threats posed by climate change, increased regulation and the Government Sustainability Drivers – allowing them to become more competitive.

It is forecast that the project will reduce annual CO2 emissions, and create 300 jobs whilst safeguarding a further 300 jobs by creating a 'knowledge net' of in-depth support and assistance.

The project will:

•promote knowledge transfer between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Industry to develop innovative products, services and construction practices to reduce waste and carbon emissions;
•build capacity within SMEs so that they become more profitable, more productive and economically stable;
•assist local construction enterprises to adopt sustainable approaches in design and delivery; helping to embed principles of recycling, waste management and carbon reduction in all aspects of design, procurement, construction and demolition and
•help minimise waste, maximise recycling and reduce carbon emissions at all stages of the construction process.

Rosie Winterton MP, Minister for Regional Economic Development and Coordination said:

"Business innovation and lowering carbon emissions must be key elements in a successful economic future. I am pleased to see the Northwest leading the way in promoting both.

"The Construction Knowledge Hub is a valuable chance for construction companies across the region to save money and become more profitable through better efficiency and waste reduction - something which is critical in the current economic climate."

Robert Hough, Chairman at the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) said:

"The Construction Knowledge Hub is an innovative project that draws on a number of regional strengths – construction, sustainable production and partnership working. By engaging directly with SMEs through Business Link Northwest, the CCINW and other organisations, the project will enable the industry to adapt their operations to reduce waste, reduce energy use and reduce carbon emissions.

"This is particularly important in the current economic climate, with the construction industry and SMEs in particular feeling considerable pressure. The project will ensure this particular industry becomes economically stable through the adoption of a sustainable approach to design and delivery."

The ERDF Programme Monitoring Committee (PMC) was formed to monitor, oversee and advise on the delivery of the programme and has proved invaluable to the development of the new fund.

Peter Watson, Managing Director of Business Link Northwest and a member of the ERDF Programme Monitoring Committee, said:

"The Construction Knowledge Hub represents an opportunity for construction companies to become more profitable through efficiency and waste reduction, which is critical in the current economic climate. The benefits of the initiative will be far reaching and as well as helping to stabilise the Northwest's construction industry, will also drive prosperity in the region."
Businesses wishing to access the programme should contact Business Link Northwest on 0845 00... or at www.businesslinknw.co.uk