Page 15 - A4 Journal 2022

The Company

Skills for a Sustainable Skyline
We are currently engaged in a significant City of London led Initiative called Skills for a Sustainable Skyline. This 3 year
Taskforce is set to research, report and recommend the changes needed to enable the workforce of the future, with the
skills, and capability required for a reimagined, restorative, repurposed, rejuvenated and importantly deep green and net
zero built environment. It will also help address the wider understanding of financing, planning, designing, delivering and
maintaining our cities of the future, and make recommendations for social equity in the built environment sector. This
Taskforce is in its early stages, but Constructors are already embedded and influencing significant parts of the initiative.
In summary 2022 has been a very good year for this relatively new committee, which is set to go from strength to
strength. If this sounds like something you want to be involved in, please register your interest by dropping us a line at
climateaction@constructorscompany.co.uk We are always seeking active participants to join our journey.

3 Merchandise and Events Committee

Court Assistant Stewart Owen, the Chair of the Merchandise and Events Committee writes:
“Over the last year the informal events, such as VINE, which originated during the pandemic, kept the company in touch
with its remote members. Now, the reanimated (W)INE IRL gatherings, and the Constructor’s Lunches at Ironmongers’
Hall, afford the opportunity to meet, at modest cost in relaxed and convivial circumstances, and still in impressive
surroundings (or at least a decent pub). The committee is committed to continuing to arrange and provide a variety of
these informal events.
Court Assistant Craig Harding, a member of the Committee, continues to arrange thought provoking on-line talks and
seminars, and it is intended that these will continue, attracting considerable interest from members, in particular those
who find journeying to London just too much.
When guests attend our events, they are impressed, a little intrigued by the tradition and generally keen to learn more –
often to think of how they might become part of it by becoming a New Member. Impressive increased social media
activity, notably around LinkedIn but also Twitter etc. has generated a lot of external interest in the company and we are
arranging a Showcase event, currently tabled for 29 March 2023, and keenly supported by the new Master and Court, at
th
which we aim to attract and, we hope, convert mild, idle interest and curiosity into application for membership.
Over the years we have built up stocks of various items (umbrellas, ties, cufflinks etc) that promote the Company Brand.
Court Assistant Henry Lamb has also facilitated a Company Badge/Brooch. We have plans for other items. There are
pictures of these items in this Journal, but do check out the website for detail on how to purchase them – we may be
able to help with logistics if that is a problem.
In addition to the excellent work of our Gallant Clerk on formal events the M&E Committee intends to complement that
with informal events of equal standard… but that means members and their guests have to be there of course!”

4 Scholarship and Awards Committee
Court Assistant Dr Deborah Pullen, the Chair of the Scholarship and Awards Committee writes:
“This year has once again been very productive and the scholarships programme saw three young professionals from the
2021 cohort successfully complete their chosen research projects. This extends their knowledge and skills in completing
research as well and benefits their employers and the wider construction industry through dissemination and application
of their findings.
Topics studied were:
• Increasing the value of green spaces, Megan Haslam, Sir Robert McAlpine
• Reusing engineering timber products, Dr Martha Godina, Elliott Wood
• Novel technologies to detect underground cabling and pipework in site excavation, Jamie Tong, Sir Robert
McAlpine
The online presentations and output reports for each project are now available on the Company website. We will
continue to review the ongoing impacts created for the scholars and their employers and also industry interest and
engagement over the next 3 years.
The 2022 Sir Ian Dixon Scholarships began in May, with the following topics being studied:
• The use of radar and geophysics techniques to improve the assessment of historic Motte and Bailey castles, Philip
Windslow, LK Group.
• The use of synthetic fibres and EFC (Earth Friendly Concrete) in post-tensioned slabs, Oscar Cerecedo, Keltbray
Group.
• A detailed study of the current status of training provision for female ex-offenders to gain skills relevant to the
construction sector, Sasha Simmons, O’Neill Brennan.

Autumn 2022 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors | Page 15