Page 19 - A4 Journal 2022

Teambuild

The Worshipful Company of Constructors has now supported Teambuild for many years. Teambuild is a
registered charity, providing education and training in the construction industry. Teambuild aims to promote
understanding and cooperation between young professionals in the construction industry and counts as 4
days CPD as well as helping competitors fulfil several of the core objectives required for chartered
membership of many institutions.
Since the last issue of the Journal, Teambuild has been seriously impacted by Covid-19, and in 2020 the
Teambuild Charity held their first ever virtual (on-line) competition. The event, which marked the 31 year of
st
the competition, took place from 20 November to 14 December. Competitors took on challenges which face
many construction industry professionals, particularly during the coronavirus restrictions.
Three tasks were based around a major development site by St Edward Homes Ltd called Green Park Village
which is located to the west of Reading.
The winning team this year were JT2 and team members included: Team leader Thomas Cunningham and
Tobias Mackrill, both of Hawkins Brown and Katherine Dauncey of BDP and Clare Timpani of Motionspot.
“It was certainly a challenging year, and we applaud those dedicated professionals who took time to
undertake what were thought-provoking tasks in our online event this year,” says Teambuild UK Chair of
Trustees, Patricia Bessey. “We do understand how much pressure they face and were absolutely delighted
that this event went ahead and that committed new professionals have benefited from the training and
expertise that Teambuild has to offer, despite the difficulties we as an industry have faced this year.”

“In many ways the challenge of preparing remote presentations without face to face engagement reflected
the ongoing difficulties involved in communication within the construction industry as a result of COVID-19,”
says Richard Brindley who chairs the Teambuild Working Party. “As always the challenges [were] realistic and
it [made] sense this year that participants faced the additional challenges of communicating and preparing
materials which can be shared through virtual channels. The event also remains a valuable way to connect
and network with colleagues from different companies, disciplines and with leading figures in the industry,
and that is a particularly beneficial part of our offering in these disconnected times.”

It had been hoped that a face-to-face Teambuild event would be held in 2021, but that did not happen, and
this year’s event is due to take place from 18 - 20 November 2022. It will be reported in next year’s Journal.

This year, the competition will be focused on the Town Centre and how it may be adapted and reimagined to
accommodate continued hybrid and remote working. The sponsors include the Chartered Institute of
Building, the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers, the Worshipful Company of Chartered
Architects and the Worshipful Company of Constructors. As always, the competition tasks will be based on a
live project. While the exact location will be revealed at the opening of the competition, the charity can
confirm that key themes will include what a town centre should look like and contain in 2022 and into the
future where fixed location working no longer is the standard.
Teams will be tasked with taking on the design development and construction of this complex project which
will be condensed into a highly accelerated weekend of intense activity and training. New judges for this
year’s competition include:

• Rosalind Thorpe, Director of Education and Standards at the CIOB
• Dr Anne McCann, FRICS, FAPM, Whitehall Campus Programme Director / Deputy Director for London (Capital
Projects) at the Government Property Agency, Cabinet Office
• Jonathan Baggs, Head of Communications at LocatED, the government property company responsible for
acquiring sites for new Schools and advising on the development of the education estate
At the end of the weekend event, winning teams and individuals will be presented with prizes and certificates
to mark their achievements.
“We’re very excited to be back for our first face to face, in person event in two years,” adds Patricia Bessey (a
Past Master of the Company). “We have a fantastic panel of judges and we’re thrilled to be able to use this live
site for the competition this year. The issues it poses are highly relevant and complex. We are excited to find
out what the talented and motivated professionals who are competing this year will come up with as they
search for innovative and thoughtful solutions to the challenges which the competition will present.”

Autumn 2022 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors | Page 19