Blogs

We all agree that the built environment plays an essential role in the public sector. After all, we can’t do without the contractors responsible for building our schools, hospitals, roads, and homes. However, it becomes imperative for us to make sure that the construction works are carried out dutifully, and most sustainably. Payal Singhal, Marketing and Communications Officer at LHC-LSE speaks to our newly appointed Regional Manager for the London and Southeast, Boby Singh, to learn more about the challenges within the public sector procurement and the vital role LHC plays in finding solutions to these challenges.

As the third greatest creator of CO₂ emissions in the UK, behind energy and transport, the construction industry’s challenge to meet net zero isn’t going away. The demand for action is increasing, and institutions like housing associations are being asked what they are doing to meet the 2050 net zero goal.

As the third greatest creator of CO₂ emissions in the UK, behind energy and transport, the construction industry’s challenge to meet net zero isn’t going away. The demand for action is increasing, and institutions like housing associations are being asked what they are doing to meet the 2050 net zero goal.

At LHC, our new social value strategy places it as a key element of our vision to improve lives and places through quality procurement solutions. Being the not-for-profit providers of high-quality procurement solutions, the strategy will complement our solution delivery to all public sector organisations by enhancing added value and supporting them to maximise public benefit from their procurement activity. To put this social awareness into practice, address societal challenges, and deliver sustainable, impactful change, we are collaborating with HACT – a leading charity in the social housing sector.

As we continue to grow the organisation since becoming a CLG in 2023, we recently bolstered the LHC Procurement Group (LHC) team with a further 11 colleagues. These recruits help to strengthen our capabilities across the UK, as six were recruited to our regional teams in Wales, Scotland, Leeds, Exeter, and London’s South East, while the remaining five are based at our central office in Uxbridge.

The push for net zero remains essential as we look to improve building stock, reduce operating costs, and deliver positive outcomes for occupants. Supply chain collaboration remains essential – in this time of innovation and change, sharing data, best practice and ideas will be important as we look to transform the sector.  

Justin Costello, Head of Marketing at LHC Procurement Group speaks with the group’s Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Castle, on the recently launched Awaab’s Law consultation and the role LHC Frameworks can play in implementing the law within stricter timelines being set.

DMA Group’s work at the Rye, Winchelsea, & District Memorial Hospital has earned them the Energy Saving Award 2023 for Hospital and Health Service Project of the Year. It all began when Rye and Winchelsea Hospital approached DMA to reduce their carbon footprint and become a role model for sustainability in the healthcare industry. The challenge was to conduct a comprehensive energy audit and implement a range of Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) to significantly reduce their carbon emissions.

Following the tragic Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, which led to the demise of 72 innocent people, the housing sector has worked diligently to elevate the standard of building safety, compliance data, and fire safety procedures for evacuation. However, with persistent challenges in the implementation of the Building Safety Act of 2022 which seeks to ensure a more vigorous and accountable regulatory structure, will a better information management system help? Let’s find out… 

In its Perspective and Pathways paper published in 2021, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) estimated that there were 29 million buildings in the UK requiring retrofit. Despite this, the industry still lacks a long-term, funded retrofit strategy.