Innovation will be crucial if the construction industry is to address the challenges it faces and the demands of the future. The Enterprise Readiness Programme has been launched by I-Construct to help small and medium-sized businesses bring new ideas to the sector
Construction is set to be a growth industry in the coming years, with a huge amount of infrastructure, major projects and housing development planned. It is estimated that almost one in five of the UK’s 5.5m small businesses operate in the sector and with the forecast growth combined with the adoption of new technologies, business models and Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), there is no shortage of opportunities for new businesses.
The construction sector is not alone in facing a number of challenges – skills shortages, supply chain disruption and improving quality and safety. The single biggest challenge is the climate emergency, currently compounded by the major supply chain disruption we are seeing. There is no argument that the construction sector needs to do something to address this challenge – progress is undoubtedly being made but the question is, has the sector made enough progress or does it need to pick up the pace?
There are 18m homes in the UK which need improvement just to reach the government’s target of EPC rating C by 2035 – a huge target which means there are lots of opportunities for people with ideas to solve this problem.
SME construction innovations
The majority of these solutions will come from small businesses that embrace forward-thinking attitudes and will drive the much-needed innovations in construction.
A stronger and more resilient construction industry will need to look at new materials, new construction methods, new business models and greater use of quality data to improve productivity and create a more sustainable industry that “builds better”.
The key focus of innovation in construction on sustainability includes new forms of construction that are cleaner and greener, and which help reduce waste. The construction industry is looking to use new materials and find better ways of storing renewable energy, as well as to increase the use of electric plants and biodiversity in project design. The opportunities to make a positive impact are many. Much of the technology required to reduce construction’s carbon footprint exists – and the industry needs to find ways to adapt it quickly.
Highlighting the range of opportunities that arise from the challenges facing the industry is a clarion call to those who have an idea to create a new product or service and are inspired to develop their ideas into a viable business that will contribute to building a better future. Help is on hand from I-Construct to achieve this.
I-Construct is a supply chain development and innovation support project designed to help local companies access opportunities in the construction market and develop new products and services within their businesses. It introduces companies to new ways of doing business, offering expertise and influence in areas as diverse as offsite construction, renewable energy, digital technology, zero-carbon targets, business development strategy, robotics, and more.
What is the I-Construction Enterprise Readiness Programme?
I-Construct has just launched its Enterprise Readiness Programme to support people develop their idea into a product or service that can make an impact on the construction sector. The aim is to provide rising entrepreneurs with the know-how and tools to build their start-up business and become part of a growing network of companies in the construction market.
The events programme will be delivered by people who work in or with the sector who bring their experience and expertise to support those with new ideas avoid the pitfalls of developing a new product or service and bringing it to market. With sessions that address key steps including:
- Insights to the challenges and opportunities within the sector from an industry leader.
- Generating creative solutions through the use of powerful problem- solving methods.
- Ensuring a viable business plan is developed.
- Understanding who the customers are and how to validate the business idea.
- Drawing on a toolkit of techniques to network with confidence.
- Managing business financial health.
- Identifying any intellectual property that can add value to your business – and avoid infringing other businesses’ intellectual property.
- Marketing essentials – what every new business owner needs to know how to get their business noticed.
The programme will support the entrepreneurs as their ideas develop, change or are abandoned as new, better ideas emerge.
Key to starting up a new business is access to companies already working in the sector and this is where the I-Construct programme provides added value. Those who take part in the Enterprise Readiness Programme will become members of I-Construct’s network for people in the construction industry and supply chain, and will be able to take part in the monthly networking opportunities where participants can discuss their ideas, talk through problems and share knowledge with other members of the I-Construct business community.
The programme will be run twice over the course of 2022, with the first having started in April. The programme is flexible, enabling participants to join in part-way through and catch up on missed sessions with the second cohort. Each information session is delivered online, with some networking sessions held as hybrid events held online and at the £2.3m I-Construct Innovation Hub in Essex.
For the much-needed innovation to occur in the construction sector, knowledge sharing will be vital. This will ensure new ideas are fostered and those already in the industry keep their eye on what is happening. They can then step up to support ideas and step in to enable collaboration and co-creation, ensuring the industry achieves its goals of higher productivity and sustainability.
Further information about the I-Construct Enterprise readiness Programme is available at: https://i-construct.org.uk/-/news-events/news/free-events-programme-to-help-bring-new-ideas-to-the-construction-market
I-Construct
Tel: +44 (0)7739 971 656
Twitter:Â @iconstruct_uk
LinkedIn: i Construct UK
