Are you innovating in the construction sector in Wales?

Background: The ability to innovate is an essential lynchpin for growing businesses, and the brand-new Innovation 100 Construction Wales in association with Construction Futures Wales, will recognise those who are investing in innovation to create value in their firms. The Innovation 100 Construction Wales is a new project designed to recognise, celebrate and promote the innovative products, services and processes of construction and related supply chain companies across Wales. It has been long recognised by Welsh companies in the built environment that there are many innovations that are not always visible to companies going through the bidding process, or indeed through the design and construction phases of a project. Consequently, ‘door step’ solutions are inadvertently bypassed, by bringing in solutions from farther afield, losing valuable business to Welsh innovative companies. Wales has a strong commitment to developing innovation across the construction sector. The CITB forecasts growth across the Welsh construction sector is set to outstrip the rest of the UK throughout 2018 and beyond. The development of The Construction Wales Innovation Centre together with the Welsh Government’s Innovative Housing Programme provide just two examples of major investment in construction innovation. The Innovation 100 Construction Wales will profile and celebrate up to 100 of the Country’s most innovative construction sector businesses and share their stories, not just across Wales but the wider UK. The campaign is being delivered by the media and publishing division of BE Group. Innovation doesn’t need to be, and often isn’t, creating something new that doesn’t already exist. Especially in growing firms, it can be about adapting or amending existing solutions to create something new. It can be in the products, services or solutions taken to market or developed for customers. Equally, it can be the way a business is managed; or the processes and systems created or adapted which are innovative. Given the breadth of activity across the construction sector in Wales, the launch of the Innovation 100 Construction Wales will be a new way to raise the profile of some of the most innovative businesses across the Country – in conjunction with Construction Futures Wales. Over the coming months BE Group and CFW are challenging businesses to enter the first ever Innovation 100 Construction Wales with the campaign culminating in 100 innovative construction sector businesses being featured in a special printed report due for publication in February 2019 and an extended digital campaign. Bryan Hoare, Group Commercial Director at BE Group said: “Businesses can be quiet innovators, and we are challenging them to really come and shout about what they’re doing differently and how their innovation is making an impact across the construction sector in Wales and beyond. We want to celebrate and recognise the growth of innovation in the sector and more importantly encourage more of the same.” Paul Wintle, Construction Futures Wales’ Programme Manager said: “Innovation is going to be a key theme or ‘Call to Action’ within the Welsh Government’ Economic Action Plan, due to be published in the Autumn, and is a vital component of our business development strategy within the Construction Sector. Construction Futures Wales is the Country’s flagship industry support programme, is the Joint Investment Strategy for the industry in Wales, funded by Welsh Government and CITB in Wales, and we have dedicated resources to identify and grow those companies who are really pushing the envelope in terms of innovation, to make sure they get the recognition they deserve.” Are you part of Wales’s construction innovation revolution? If so, now’s your chance to be profiled as one of the 100 most innovative companies across Wales. Nominations are now open for the Innovation 100 Construction Wales

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