A round-up of BIM and digital construction stories that you might have missed in the past seven days.
Byggfakta announces new chief
Construction data provider Byggfakta Group, has promoted NBS CEO Russell Haworth to the new role of group UK CEO. Haworth will maintain leadership of NBS, Byggfakta Group’s construction technology platform, whilst also overseeing sister companies Glenigan, a UK provider of construction sales leads and analysis, and CIS, Irish construction standards supplier.
The move is part of a reshuffle, as well as a number of new appointments, to the management team. Haworth thanked Colin Smith, who stepped down as CSO but will continue in an advisory role, for his contribution to the firm.
Causeway acquires Yotta
Construction technology provider Causeway Technologies has acquired Yotta, a global provider of connected asset management software and services, from AIM-listed Oxford Metrics.
Yotta serves more than 200 customers worldwide, providing software to assist in managing more than 35 million physical assets and related services, including highways, street lighting and waste management.
The move will create an integrated end-to-end solution for asset management for local authorities and their contractors. Causeway chief executive Phil Brown said: “With our new combined offering, data will flow seamlessly between local authorities and their contractors in one single end-to-end solution, ensuring the needs of all stakeholders are met without compromise.
EAC report commentary
Further debate followed the Environmental Audit Committee’s report calling for mandatory whole-life carbon assessments for new buildings as well as upskilling in this area. The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) said it was a “huge untapped opportunity to cut carbon emissions and at the same time generate skilled jobs in every part of the country”.
The Federation of Master Builders was critical that Whitehall had not yet implemented a retrofit strategy and chief executive Brian Berry said: “With 29 million leaky and energy inefficient homes across the UK, the clock is ticking if we are to reach net zero by 2050.”
Digital tech assists four-day week
The UK’s six-month pilot of the four-day week with no loss of pay, which includes 70 companies and more than 3,300 workers, started this week. Among the firms involved is a building and construction recruitment services firm, but it remains to be seen what impact this move would have on the sector.
Digital solutions have assisted industries with remote working and workload management. Joe O Connor, CEO of 4 Day Week Global, said: “The impact of the ‘great resignation’ is now proving that workers from a diverse range of industries can produce better outcomes while working shorter and smarter.”
Don’t miss out on BIM and digital construction news: sign up to receive the BIMplus newsletter.
