In this episode of Beyond the Build Louise Bloxham leads a panel discussion at the Local Government Association annual conference in Bournemouth on the topic of social value in the UK construction industry.

Joined by Abi Brown, Chair of the LGA's Innovation and Improvement Board, Vanessa Good, Business Development Manager at Scape, and Natalie Webster, Senior Social Sustainability Manager at Kier Construction, they explore the importance of public-private partnership, the need to go beyond the bare minimum, and the link between procurement and social value strategy.

They also discuss the effectiveness of the social value model and the role of organizations like the LGA in promoting dialogue and addressing the challenges faced by the industry.

Don't forget you can find out more at kier.co.uk/podcasts

Early in 2023, the BBC reported that more than 350 leisure centres, pools and gyms across the UK have either closed temporarily or permanently or changed their services in response to rising energy bills.

While there are early signs that the energy bills crisis is easing, the issue has highlighted the challenges that many local authorities are facing managing old and inefficient buildings.

So in this episode we discuss how the public and private sectors can work together to develop long-term solutions to ensure leisure centres, existing and yet to be built, are fit for a sustainable future.

You'll hear from Councillor Hannah Dalton, leader of Epsom and Ewell Borough Council and the District Council Network spokesperson on health, hardship and housing, Nick Herd, the Head of Building Services Engineering for Kier's Design Services Business, and Joe O'Connell, project manager for St Sidwells Point Project in Exeter. The UK's first Passivhaus leisure centre.

The ability to innovate and use technology isn't a perception often levelled to the construction industry.

And in this episode of Beyond The Build we explore whether that's the barrier to attracting the right talent and responding to the ongoing shortage of skills.

Louise Bloxham is joined by Chief Executive of Build UK, Susannah Nichol, Louisa Finlay, the Chief People Officer at Kier and Digital Director of The BIM Academy Bola Abisogun.

You can find out more and continue the conversation at Kier.co.uk/podcast

Please note this episode contains discussions around mental health and mentions suicide.

When you think of health and safety in construction the first thing that probably comes to mind is PPE and incident reporting.

But what about the psychological wellbeing of workers on site?

In this episode of Beyond The Build you'll hear from Ros Barrows, the group Head of Health, safety and Wellbeing for Kier, Jon Davies, the CEO of the Australian Constructions Association, and Bill Hill, the CEO of the Lighthouse Club, the Construction Industry charity.

They discuss the shocking statistics around mental health in the construction industry and what is being done to improve it.

Please note this episode contains discussions around mental health and mentions suicide.

Don't forget you can find out more at kier.co.uk/podcasts

Welcome to Kier Beyond the Build podcast, where we delve into the key issues in the construction sector. In this episode, we focus on the Devizes Integrated Care Centre and how it is shaping healthcare in the 21st century.

Our guests for this episode are Andy Strange, Midlands Regional Partnership Director for NHS Property Services, Cheryl Parsons, Health Sector Director for Kier and Dr Richard Sandford-Hill, GP partner of Market Lavington surgery in Wiltshire.

We explore how the involvement of the local community and early contractor engagement played a critical role in delivering Devizes!

Join us for this insightful discussion on how Kier is making a positive impact in the sector.

The alliancing model is fully aligned with the Government’s Construction Playbook and recognises the significant benefits of industry working together.

With government increasingly looking to the alliancing model David Mosey, Professor at Kings College London, Rebecca Boundy, Custodial Director at Kier, Robin Seaton, Chief Operating Officer for PSD Strategy and Stakeholder Management at Ministry of Justice and Sue McElroy, Contract and Commercial Management at Ministry of Justice explain what alliancing is, explore experiences of alliancing, its benefits and as the model expands, ask what is the future of alliancing?

Please feel free to join in the conversation online or visit kier.co.uk/podcasts to find out more.

In Kier's podcast series beyond the build, we get together with industry and Kier experts to explore the big issues affecting our sector.

We'll be discussing everything from alliancing through to sustainability, the regeneration of our high streets, and making sure our projects deliver the best outcomes.

So if you are interested in exploring the big issues in construction, then this podcast is for you. Please feel free to join in the conversation online or visit kier.co.uk/podcasts to find out more.