Construction Innovation Hub

[edit] Introduction

On 30 November 2018, Business & Industry Minister Richard Harrington MP announced £72 million Government funding for the Transforming Construction Alliance (TCA) to deliver a national Core Innovation Hub (CIH). The funding followed a nationwide competition as part of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.

The Construction Innovation Hub existed until April 2023, drawing on the expertise of three industry organisations:

• Building Research Establishment (BRE)
• Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB)
• Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC).

It was also supported by a wide range of construction, academic and government bodies.

[edit] Objectives

CIH was tasked with changing the way buildings and infrastructure are designed, manufactured, integrated and connected in the built environment and – as a catalyst for change – driving collaboration. This, it was hoped would develop, commercialise and promote digital and manufacturing technologies for construction, to build smarter, greener and more efficient buildings.

[edit] Research

The hub’s research activities were targetted to help understand how the construction industry should change in terms of skills, product standards, capacity and innovation. Combined with an academic programme, it was hoped this would help achieve the security-minded frameworks and rules which would underpin the future digital-built environment and grow UK exports. Working closely with the government’s Transforming Construction challenge programme, and collaborating across construction, the Hub aimed to support a better built environment for future generations..

[edit] Emulating other industries

Fundamental to the Hub's approach was the recognition that the way buildings are constructed is outdated – a building is typically hand-built, nearly every time to order, using bespoke designs and different supply chains. If the car industry used this model, costs would rise, quality would vary widely and there would be higher running costs and risks to safety and the environment.

[edit] Supply chain

According to the Hub, the UK has an acute supply-chain shortage in respect of the £650m pipeline of critical infrastructure and construction investment required to 2025.

The Hub maintained that the construction sector needed to transform the way buildings are designed, manufactured, integrated and connected within the built environment in order to create high-performing assets based on digital and advanced manufacturing.

The Hub hopes to induce the structural change that will allow such transformations to take place.

[edit] Industry Board

In 2019, the Transforming Construction Alliance became the Construction Innovation Hub, and a new Industry Board was created to ensure key industry decision makers and leaders help to shape its programme of work.

Keith Waller, Programme Director for the Construction Innovation Hub said:

“The Construction Innovation Hub is working with government, academia, the Construction Leadership Council and other industry leaders to develop solutions that can be used across projects and sectors. But I want our programme to go further. I want to ensure key industry decision makers and leaders help shape the Construction Innovation Hub, so it can deliver for industry as well as society at large. Our new Industry Board will help us develop the framework we need, focusing on those outputs that will make a real difference”.

[edit] Outputs

In terms of outputs, the Hub produced a number of key outputs not least:

Defining the Need - a review of over £50bn social infrastructure pipeline, identifying points of commonality and opportunity to harmonise, digitise and rationalise specifications and requirements

Value Toolkit - a suite of tools, processes and guidance designed to support better decision-making throughout the investment lifecycle of a project.

Product Platform Rulebook - an open access industry guide to educate, enable and empower industry to develop and deploy product platforms

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