Representatives from some of the construction industry’s biggest names have been announced as part of the tutoring team for Constructing Excellence Midlands’ new diploma in collaborative working in construction.
Speakers from Laing O’Rourke, Morgan Sindall and Rider Levett Bucknall will be imparting their knowledge as part of the twelve-month online course, which will cover topics including design team integration, team leadership and smart construction.
The course aims to create and educate the next generation of leaders, as well as encouraging new behaviours, positive disruption and technology-led approaches.
In a recent survey conducted by Constructing Excellence Midlands, it was found that while two thirds of respondents rated their understanding of the benefits of collaborative working above average, 56% believed that their clients and customers across the supply chain as below average in their willingness to work collaboratively.
Andrew Carpenter, chief executive of Constructing Excellence Midlands, said: “Although this diploma has been in the works since before the impact of the pandemic had become apparent, it is clear that the challenges of the last twelve months have highlighted the importance of working collaboratively to deliver the best possible results.
“The results of the survey we undertook show that our industry doesn’t rate itself particularly highly on their keenness to work collaboratively, and we need to take a degree of responsibility for that and ensure that we are exalting the virtues of a collaborative approach.
“Education within the industry is a huge part of that, and that is why this diploma is sorely needed. We’re delighted with the quality of tutors we have secured to deliver the course, which takes place completely online to make it as accessible as possible.”
The diploma – which is working towards level five accreditation with Nottingham Trent University, Wolverhampton University and Swansea University- is taught over a year, with one half-day a month of tutoring, followed by additional reading material, homework and an indication of how what has been learned will be included in the delegates’ day-to-day activities.
Marc Priete, who will tutor one of the course’s modules, said: “Having been taught on the previous iteration of the diploma as well as helping organisations with service improvement projects utilising this knowledge, I can honestly say, that it has not only changed the way I work and approach projects but has delivered real-life benefits and improvements to value, quality, time, safety and many others by truly working collaboratively.”
Les Carter of Willmott Dixon, who was a delegate on a previous iteration of the course, said: “The format of the course is good and doesn’t interfere too much with one’s day-to-day job.
“The business opportunities that may follow are also a positive side to attending the course with real business relationships already forming between delegates.” The course will cost £2,500 per delegate, with numbers strictly limited to 16 by the universities accrediting the course.
