Public

You’re Invited: The Unmissable SPRA Contractor Open Day at Renolit UK!

Date: Wednesday, 5 November 2025
Time: 10:15 am – 1:15 pm
Location: Renolit UK, Station Road, Cramlington, NE23 8AQ

Calling All Single Ply Roofing Professionals – This Is Your Event!

Get ready for a morning of insight, innovation, and industry connection.
SPRA and Renolit UK are throwing open the doors for a Contractor Open Day that’s all about you – the people who shape the future of single ply roofing.

Whether you’re a SPRA member or not, this free event is your chance to meet fellow professionals, sharpen your technical edge, and walk away with practical knowledge that will give you and your business the competitive advantage.

What’s in Store

Get Ahead of the Game

Kick things off with Anthony Hogan, SPRA Technical Manager, as he dives into:

Five Things You Should Know About Single Ply Roofing
Expect clear takeaways, technical know-how, and tips you can put to work straight away –  all designed to help you raise the bar on quality and performance.

Stay Sharp and Future-Ready

Ronan Brunton, SPRA, will bring you the latest updates on competency standards and training pathways, ensuring your team stays ahead of industry expectations and ready for every opportunity that’s coming next.

Who Should Join the Action

This Open Day is built for everyone in the single ply roofing – if you’re serious about single ply roofing, this is where you need to be.

Reserve Your Place Now – It’s Free!

Spaces are limited and demand will be high. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this exclusive industry gathering.

Email enquiries@spra.co.uk to secure your place today!

Training & Competency Development 

SPRA are running a number of training and competency development opportunities. These include Specialist Applied-Skills Programme (SAP) as well as upskilling, assessment and training (SUP/OSAT) for contractors’ installers.

These high-quality specialist training programmes for single ply roofers can lead to the Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Waterproofing Systems – Single Ply Membranes. SPRA contractor members benefit from reduced course rates and CITB registered companies can also access CITB grant funding.

New SPRA SAP starting at Welwyn Garden City in January. The dates for the 5-week training course are as follows:

26^th-30^th January 2026

16^th -20^th March 2026

22^nd -26^th June 2026

24^th– 28^th August 2026

26^th-30^th October 2026

Funding is available for registered companies with CITB. Enquire and register your trainees now at training@spra.co.uk

Wishing all SPRA members a safe and productive week

NEXGEN Working Group – Next Meeting Tuesday 28^th October (2.30pm -4pm Online)

Come and join this working group to help recruit and develop careers in single ply roofing with manufacturers and specialist SP contractors. Contact us on enquiries@spra.co.uk

Mental Health – First Aid Course

Structured to help anyone engaged to better serve the needs of those who are experiencing mental health concerns, this Course will be delivered by Revd Kevin Fear, who was a Minister in Secular Employment working in Health & Safety in the construction industry.

There are four Sessions to the course, spread over two consecutive weeks in November. To complete the course ALL FOUR SESSIONS must be attended. The details are below. Book through Eventbright and the cost is £45.

Here is the link to book – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mental-health-first-aid-on-line-tickets-1668357324669?aff=oddtdtcreator

Dates and times are:

Monday 10 November – 09:30 to 1pm

Thursday 13 November – 09:30 to 1pm

Monday 17 November – 09:30 to 1pm

Thursday 20 November – 09:30 to 1pm

Wind Load Calculation Protocol (WLCP)

These online sessions based on existing SPRA published guidance are very popular with members and non-members. They consist of a set of three 2-hour sessions online. The sessions are based on the SPRA guidance document Wind Loading – Protocol for calculations (S11b/19) with extensive reference to the appropriate standards and other industry guidance that underpin this document. SPRA members again benefit from reduced course rates.

Contact SPRA for further information enquiries@spra.co.uk

Wishing all SPRA members a safe and productive week

One ticket. Three masterclasses. Complete access.

Don’t worry if you missed the first session, secure your ticket today and your pass will include the next two live masterclasses, plus on-demand access so you can catch up at any time.

What is coming next?

MASTERCLASS TWO

Designing for Fire Safety in Non-HRB Housing

22 October | 10:00 – 12:00 | Online

While HRBs remain in the spotlight, fire safety risks in non-HRB buildings are no less real. Care homes, HMOs, and low-rise flats involve vulnerable residents and sleeping risk—but often lack the rigorous oversight applied to taller buildings.

This session explores:

• How to design for fire safety in non-HRB schemes
• Application of BS 9991 and BS EN 13501 under 2025 regulations

Real-world coordination issues between architects, clients, and fire engineers

The expert speakers for masterclass two include:

• Russell Curtis, director, RCKa
• Andrea White, fire engineer and managing director, A W Fire
• Jonathan Zokay, safety case manager, Clarion Housing Group
• Hosted by: Geoff Wilkinson, managing director, Wilkinson Construction Consultants

Book your ticket now for just £169 and gain access to all three online materclasses.

Book your tickets here or View the programme here.

Source: AJ Building Safety Masterclasses

SPRA and other Trade Associations show support for the CCPI

 Leading trade associations, including SPRA, across the manufacturing and supply sector have signed up to support CCPI.  In signing the Trade Associate pledge, trade associations are committing to support and promote the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) and its registration and assessment process to their members with the aim to drive a transformational step change in construction product information and management.  This is an important move to build back trust in construction product information and marketing, and drive positive culture change across the sector.

Important Note 

SPRA members should not and cannot in any way imply to any third party in PR/marketing that they are registered and have been assessed through the CCPI process as a result of SPRA being an Associate CCPI member. They must go through the full CCPI process with CPI Ltd directly.

Source: CCPI

Build UK Update

Mental Health First Aid Course

Structured to help anyone engaged to better serve the needs of those who are experiencing mental health concerns, this Course will be delivered by Revd Kevin Fear, who was a Minister in Secular Employment working in Health & Safety in the construction industry. The details are below. Booking is through Eventbright and the cost is £45.

There are four Sessions to the course, spread over two consecutive weeks in November. To complete the course ALL FOUR SESSIONS must be attended.

Dates and times are:

Monday 10 November – 09:30 to 1pm

Thursday 13 November – 09:30 to 1pm

Monday 17 November – 09:30 to 1pm

Thursday 20 November – 09:30 to 1pm

Here is the link to book – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mental-health-first-aid-on-line-tickets-1668357324669?aff=oddtdtcreator

Wind Load Calculation Protocol (WLCP)

These online sessions based on existing SPRA published guidance are very popular with members and non-members. They consist of a set of three 2-hour sessions online. The sessions are based on the SPRA guidance document Wind Loading – Protocol for calculations (S11b/19) with extensive reference to the appropriate standards and other industry guidance that underpin this document. SPRA members again benefit from reduced course rates.

Contact SPRA for further information enquiries@spra.co.uk

Wishing all SPRA members a safe and productive week

SPRA and other Trade Associations show support for the CCPI

 Leading trade associations, including SPRA, across the manufacturing and supply sector have signed up to support CCPI.  In signing the Trade Associate pledge, trade associations are committing to support and promote the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) and its registration and assessment process to their members with the aim to drive a transformational step change in construction product information and management.  This is an important move to build back trust in construction product information and marketing, and drive positive culture change across the sector.

Important Note 

SPRA members should not and cannot in any way imply to any third party in PR/marketing that they are registered and have been assessed through the CCPI process as a result of SPRA being an Associate CCPI member. They must go through the full CCPI process with CPI Ltd directly.

Source: CCPI

Build UK Update

Inclusive PPE Standard

CPA State of Trade Survey – Q3 Questionnaire

From CPA Head of Construction Research Rebecca Larkin

The CPA’s State of Trade Survey for Q3 is now open. Please can I ask you to fill in (or send on to someone else in your organisation or your members to complete) on the state of trade in your materials or products sub-sector during the July-September period of 2025.

The deadline is the end of Monday 6 October and we would encourage you to respond so that we can present a comprehensive view of our industry’s near-term performance. The survey can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CPASurvey25Q3. All responses are kept strictly confidentially and results will be presented on an aggregate basis only.

Source: CPA

Changes to CITB Funding

CITB has announced a number of changes to its grants and funding system with the aim of making it easier for employers to access financial support for training and development. With an increasing number of employers claiming funding, the changes are designed to help streamline the support that CITB provides to the industry.

• From 1 September 2025, any short qualification achieved at an ‘Award’ level will receive the grant value of £240, rather than £600. CITB has confirmed that this reflects the fact that the cost of undertaking ‘Award’ level qualifications is generally lower because they typically have a shorter duration with fewer modules to complete.
• The Skills & Training Fund will close from 30 September 2025, and the Employer Networks will become the single route for employers to apply for funding to develop their businesses. Employer Networks fund up to 70% of training costs whilst reducing the administrative burden for employers by identifying suitable training and providers and supporting the booking process.
• The grant uplift for specific supervisory and management qualifications to replace Industry Accreditation cards will now be removed at the end of December 2025, rather than the end of March 2026, after supporting more individuals than expected. Employers will receive a grant of £600 for these qualifications once the uplift is removed.

CITB is planning to launch a newonline portal this month to make it easier for employers to apply for apprenticeship and qualification grants and track the status of their applications. More skills and training news can be found in our latest Recruit, Train and Retain update.

Source: CITB

Women In Construction Leadership & Management Courses

In a sector where demand for talent is at an all-time high, womenremain an untapped force. The latest CITB Apprenticeships Paper (Feb 2025) warns of a 250,000-worker shortfall by 2028, yet female representation in construction apprenticeships is still frustratingly low.

The challenge isn’t ability. It’s access. Women complete training, but too often face cultural and structural barriers that make the leap from classroom to site, then site to senior roles harder than it should be.

The Leading with Motivational Intelligence Executive Diploma, delivered by Women in Construction: The Power Within Her, equips women to lead differently and change the game from within. Backed by the Scottish Qualifications Authority and eligible for full CITB funding, this accredited course gives you the tools to:

• Lead teams and projects in high-pressure environments
• Build inclusive, high-trust site cultures where diverse talent thrives
• Mentor and motivate apprentices through the challenges of on-site work
• Navigate and influence workplace change with confidence

Who This Is For:

• Women in construction roles ready to step into leadership
• Employers committed to retaining diverse talent
• Organisations that see inclusive leadership as a competitive advantage

Course Format:

• Live Zoom sessions + modular online content
• 24/7 access to expert mentors
• Fully accredited and CITB-funded

The industry needs more than just workers. It needs leaders who can turn today’s apprentices into tomorrow’s experts.

Start your journey here

Source: WIC

Wind Load Calculation Protocol (WLCP)

Our popular online WLCP training, based on SPRA’s published guidance, continues to attract both members and non-members. Delivered as three 2-hour sessions, the training is aligned with SPRA’s Wind Loading – Protocol for Calculations (S11b/19), referencing key standards and industry guidance. SPRA members receive discounted rates.

For more information or to register your interest, contact SPRA.

New NVQ Level 2 in Single Ply Roofing – Sign up your trainees NOW !

SPRA is pleased to announce that new NVQ Level 2 programmes in Single Ply Roofing are being planned for later this year and early next year. Now is the time to register your interest and give your employees the opportunity to gain a skilled worker qualification in single ply roofing.

Alongside this, SPRA continues to offer a range of training and competency development opportunities, including the Specialist Applied-Skills Programme (SAP) and the SUP/OSAT routes for installer upskilling and assessment. These high-quality programmes can lead to the Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Waterproofing Systems – Single Ply Membranes. SPRA contractor members benefit from reduced course rates, and CITB-registered companies can access CITB grant funding.

Three SPRA membrane manufacturers have signed up to host a SPRA Contractor Open Day being run in October and November. Look out for details arriving in your mailbox shortly. These informative short face to face sessions provide contractors with crucial information on guidance and training and are a must attend for managers and supervisors (10.00am-1.30pm – Lunch included).

Sign up here contact SPRA.

SPRA and other Trade Associations show support for the CCPI

 Leading trade associations, including SPRA, across the manufacturing and supply sector have signed up to support CCPI.  In signing the Trade Associate pledge, trade associations are committing to support and promote the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) and its registration and assessment process to their members with the aim to drive a transformational step change in construction product information and management.  This is an important move to build back trust in construction product information and marketing, and drive positive culture change across the sector.

Important Note 

SPRA members should not and cannot in any way imply to any third party in PR/marketing that they are registered and have been assessed through the CCPI process as a result of SPRA being an Associate CCPI member. They must go through the full CCPI process with CPI Ltd directly.

Newly scheduled How & Why of CCPI Webinar

CCPI is a ‘must have’ for businesses who want to be part of the future of the industry…

Join the growing community of brands on a mission to transform the quality of construction product information and marketing so that it is clear, accurate, accessible, up-to-date and unambiguous.

Major contractors and house-builders – the CCPI Demand-side Supporters – want products carrying the unique CCPI Assessed mark.

Working with CCPI means you can offer your customers greater confidence in your product information and marketing. They support regulatory compliance too – helping you keep on the right side of the law now and, as new regulations come in, helping you be in great shape to comply. 

This particular webinar will cover a wide range of topics with a special focus on product sets.

To attend the webinar on 9th September at 11am please register at the link below:

https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/32454df0-9496-4e2d-bf6c-c8f02828455a@38853bc2-ddab-44ef-85c2-e8e5b351d0c5

Source: CCPI

Build UK Update

Priority Skills

Skills England has published an assessment of priority skills to understand future employment and training needs across ten critical sectors. It reveals that housebuilding has the third greatest additional employment demand until 2030, with the majority of workers in the sector requiring either Level 2 or Level 3. qualifications.

CPA Weekly UK Economic and Construction Update

The latest weekly update is available here, including:

• ONS UK CPI Inflation (July 2025)
• RIBA Future Trends Survey (July 2025)

The CPA’s Summer Forecasts, published 28 July, are available for members to download from the CPA Website.

CPA Briefing Paper:  The Impacts of U.S. Tariffs

Following strong demand from members and government alike, the CPA’s economics team has published a briefing paper on the ‘Impacts of U.S. Tariffs’.  This document will be revised as the situation develops, and made available to CPA members every Friday with our Weekly UK Economic and Construction Update (see above).  To receive this document via email every Friday please contact noble.francis@constructionproducts.org.uk; alternatively, you can click here to read it now.

Parliament is now in Recess until the 1st September 

The Department for Business and Trade has launched a consultation seeking views on proposed legislative measures to ensure companies pay their suppliers quickly and on time, including measures to address the use of retention clauses in construction contracts.  This is an important consultation for construction both in terms of the proposed options for retentions and the wider general payment measures.  DBT wants CPA members to recognise that retentions may not be a direct issue for our manufacturers, but payment certainly is.  The consultation runs for 12 weeks and closes on 23 October 2025. Further details can be found here.

House of Lords call for Evidence on the Building Safety Regulator

The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee, chaired by Baroness Taylor of Bolton, has launched an inquiry into building safety regulation, with a particular focus on the work of the Building Safety Regulator, which was established following the Building Safety Act 2022. Concerns have been raised by Industry that delays in approvals by the BSR have slowed down the delivery of new buildings and homes. The Committee invites interested individuals and organisations to submit evidence here by 31 August 2025.

Review of Government Buying Standards (GBS)

The Government is reviewing the  Government Buying Standards – these are guidelines that state that any new government procured building should be BREEAM Excellent, and any major refurbishment should achieve a BREEAM Very Good rating. There are also GBS for product groups such as windows, wood products, paints and varnishes, domestic gas boilers, Showers, taps, toilets, and others. Defra has issued a stakeholder survey here and will be convening webinars in September. Find the GBS for different product groups here. For further information contact Jane Thornback.

Government consultation on growing the market for low carbon industrial products – deadline 15 Sept

A reminder that there is just over one month left to respond to this government consultation on a technical consultation on a policy framework to grow the market for low carbon industrial products The CPA will be making a response and convened on 14 August as an opportunity for CPA members to engage with DESNZ officials directly. If you have views on the consultation, please do get in touch by contacting CPA Sustainability Policy Advisor Jane Thornback.

Building Safety Webinars

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) and the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) will be hosting a joint webinar on Tuesday 9 September, 10am to 12 noon on Building Control Approval applications. The free webinar is aimed at developers in the construction industry who want to approach building control approval applications effectively, avoiding common mistakes. A panel discussion will cover the recently published CLC guidance for the Building Control Approval application process for a new Higher-Risk Building (HRB).

The CLC guidance suite was published in July 2025 and was developed by the CLC, BSR and industry experts. The guidance aims to provide the baseline principles to guide those involved in submitting and assessing applications for Building Control Approval applications (Gateway 2). While the guidance was developed for new build HRBs, many of the principles will also be helpful for existing HRBs. In addition, the BSR will also run the following webinars:

17 September – 10am to 12 noon – Building Control Approval demystified for SME developers
24 September – 10am to 12 noon – Building Assessment Certificate applications – lessons learned

You can register for the webinars here.

Building Safety Regulator Bulletin

The latest bulletin from the Regulator is available and includes updates on building control applications along with expert-led webinars.  Click here to read the latest.

National Manufacturing Day – 25 September 2025

National Manufacturing Day is an initiative from Make UK and more than 300 manufacturing businesses and organisations including the CPA that is meant to showcase the UK industry and inspire the next generation of engineers, designers, and wider workforce by showing them the exciting career opportunities in your sector.  Whether you’re a small local manufacturer or a household name, this is the perfect platform to open your doors and share your story with the future talent, the public and government. To learn more, please visit National Manufacturing Day or contact the team at Make UK with your questions. 

Source: CPA

AI-Powered Skills Forum 25th September 2025

Have Your Say on the Skills Crisis in Roofing & Cladding 

Is recruitment, retention, and skills development in our industry harder than ever? Or have you found new ways to bring in – and keep – the right people?

Join our Online Skills Forum on Friday 25 September, 14:00–15:00, powered by Natter (an AI-driven discussion platform).

What you’ll get from the session:

✔️ Share your experiences (anonymously if you wish)
✔️ Exchange ideas and best practices with others in the industry
✔️ Help create an Employment Action Plan to support new entrants, apprentices, and businesses

Register here: Skills Forum

This event is open to business owners, colleagues, subcontractors – and anyone in your network who can contribute. Please share!

💡 About Natter: It’s an AI-powered tool that connects participants via video, gathers insights, and produces collective learnings – no apps or downloads required.

Let’s come together and shape the future workforce of the roofing and cladding industry. Will you be part of the conversation?

SPRA Golf Day 2025 – Carden Park, Cheshire – 4th September 2025

Get ready for another fantastic day of sport and networking as the SPRA Golf Day returns to the stunning Carden Park in Cheshire!

Taking place on 4th September 2025, this popular event offers members and their guests the chance to compete on the renowned Nicklaus championship course, followed by a lively evening of entertainment, a lavish dinner, and the golf awards presentation. New for this year – there will also be activities available for non-golfers to enjoy the incredible facilities at the venue.

Tickets for the SPRA Golf Day are almost gone – book yours today to secure your spot on the green! Click here to book now

There are still a few opportunities to be a SPRA sponsor at this fabulous SPRA event. Contact enquiries@spra.co.uk for further information.

SPRA Council Elections – Nominations – Open 5th August until 20th August

This is your time to get involved!

SPRA is a highly respected, pro-active and forward-thinking trade association that works hard for its members and for the industry as a whole. A strong SPRA Council plays an important part in this and at election time we are always looking for dynamic individuals who want to give something back to our industry sector, who can promote the SPRA spirit and want to steer the organisation to even greater influence in both the roofing and wider sector to promote high quality, competence and sector standards.

Wind Load Calculation Protocol (WLCP)

Our popular online WLCP training, based on SPRA’s published guidance, continues to attract both members and non-members. Delivered as three 2-hour sessions, the training is aligned with SPRA’s Wind Loading – Protocol for Calculations (S11b/19), referencing key standards and industry guidance. SPRA members receive discounted rates.

Contact SPRA for further information and to register your employees now, please quote “Wind Load Enquiry’.

New NVQ Level 2 in Single Ply Roofing – Coming to Northern England and Scotland

 SPRA is pleased to announce that new NVQ Level 2 programmes in Single Ply Roofing are being planned for Northern England and, separately, for Scotland in early 2026. Now is the time to register your interest and give your employees the opportunity to gain a skilled worker qualification in single ply roofing. Email us at enquiries@spar.co.uk to register your interest.

Alongside this, SPRA continues to offer a range of training and competency development opportunities, including the Specialist Applied-Skills Programme (SAP) and the SUP/OSAT routes for installer upskilling and assessment. These high-quality programmes can lead to the Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Waterproofing Systems – Single Ply Membranes. SPRA contractor members benefit from reduced course rates, and CITB-registered companies can access CITB grant funding.

SPRA and other Trade Associations show support for the CCPI

 Leading trade associations, including SPRA, across the manufacturing and supply sector have signed up to support CCPI.  In signing the Trade Associate pledge, trade associations are committing to support and promote the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) and its registration and assessment process to their members with the aim to drive a transformational step change in construction product information and management.  This is an important move to build back trust in construction product information and marketing, and drive positive culture change across the sector.

Important Note 

SPRA members should not and cannot in any way imply to any third party in PR/marketing that they are registered and have been assessed through the CCPI process as a result of SPRA being an Associate CCPI member. They must go through the full CCPI process with CPI Ltd directly

Build UK Update

CLC HSW Strategy

The CLC has launched its Health, Safety & Wellbeing Strategy, which is focused on tackling the key challenges facing the sector. With the latest figures from the HSE showing construction accounted for the highest number of fatalities in 2024/25, the CLC priorities include reducing fatal accidents on site, as well as improving mental health. Any members interested in getting involved should contact the CLC.

CLC GW2 Guidance

The CLC has published a suite of guidance to provide practical recommendations on approaching and submitting applications for Building Control Approval for new Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs) at Gateway Two, which includes example documents for a project summary, application strategy, and application folder structure.

Source: Build Uk / CLC

Construction Fatalities

According to provisional statistics from the HSE, construction accounted for the highest number of fatalities (35) in 2024/25 but it was ‘back in line’ with the pre-COVID level after a higher than normal rate for the last two years. Build UK is the only industry organisation to publish an annual accident report with data for tier one Contractors.

Source: Build Uk / HSE

CPA Weekly UK Economic and Construction Update

The latest weekly update is available here, including:

• RIBA Future Trends Survey (June 2025)
• Wickes Trading Update (July 2025)
• Howden Joinery Trading Update (July 2025)

The CPA’s Summer Forecasts were published on Monday, 28 July and are available for members to download from the CPA Website.

Source: CPA

CPA Briefing Paper:  The Impacts of U.S. Tariffs

Following strong demand from members and government alike, the CPA’s economics team has published a briefing paper on the ‘Impacts of U.S. Tariffs’.  This document will be revised as the situation develops, and made available to CPA members every Friday with our Weekly UK Economic and Construction Update (see above).

To receive this document via email every Friday please contact noble.francis@constructionproducts.org.uk; alternatively, you can click here to read it now.

Source: CPA

BSR Releases Gateway 2 Guidance

The guidance forms one of the CLC key deliverables around this issue and we hope will provide the means and confidence to improve the system. The CPA is also lobbying for greater visibility and monthly data around the current applications including clarity about expected approval dates and reasons for rejections; more resources and upskilling at the Regulator, as well as further improvements to the application ‘customer journey’.

Karl Whiteman, Berkeley Group Plc Divisional Chairman and Industry Sponsor for the CLC’s Building Safety Workstream, said: “On behalf of the CLC I want to thank the many expert contributors to these guidance notes, including members of Local Authority Building Control, Construction Industry Council (CIC) Industry Council, Build UK, the The G15 (a membership group of London’s leading housing associations), Construction Products Association, RIBA, Architectural Technical Leads Group and the Home Builders Federation.”

The CPA will continue to have regular meetings – both privately and alongside the CLC – with the BSR, Office for Product Safety and Standards, and MHCLG around such issues and will keep you updated. The CLC release can be read here.

Source: CPA / BSR

CPA Construction Industry Forecasts – Summer 2025

The fundamentals in the UK construction market remain essentially unchanged from three months ago, but the risks and uncertainties have increased significantly.

On the positive side, activity for house builders continues to recover gradually, and a renewed focus from the government on capital expenditure may boost public sector house building and infrastructure in the long-term.

On the negative side, in the near-term, private housing rm&i activity remains subdued, and the impact of rises in the National Living Wage and employers’ National Insurance Contributions, and lower thresholds, may hit contractor margins. Furthermore, increasing concerns over government debt suggest that the government may either increase taxes again or cut back on its spending plans, potentially doing both.

Construction output is still expected to rise over the forecast period, but the only clear certainty is uncertainty.

A link to the press release can be found here: https://www.constructionproducts.org.uk/news-media-events/news/2025/july/cpa-releases-summer-forecasts-2025/

Source: CPA

CPA Sustainability – Environmental Product Declarations – Briefing Papers

The Construction Products Association have a useful resource on Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) on their website.  These are a number of short Briefing Papers which seek to explain various aspects of EPD whether it is a basic introduction right or very detailed technical issues.

You can access the general landing webpage for EPD Briefing Papers here:

https://www.constructionproducts.org.uk/our-expertise/sustainability/environmental-product-declarations/

Or else, below are direct links to specific topics – which you can download:

I’m a manufacturer – How do I go about getting an EPD?

What is carbon footprinting?

What is meant by the construction product lifecycle?

Types of EPD & their advantages and disadvantages

EPD: Comparability: A Technical Review

EPD: Uncertainty: A Technical Review

How many EPD are there?

How does an EPD consider embodied carbon?

Is the carbon content of a construction product the same as its embodied carbon: An introduction?

How do EPD consider the carbon content of a construction product: A Technical Briefing

Treatment of biogenic carbon content in EPD

What is upfront carbon?

How is waste and recovery modelled in an EPD?

How is waste and recovery reported in an EPD?

Source: CPA

SPRA Golf Day 2025 – Carden Park, Cheshire – 4th September 2025

Get ready for another fantastic day of sport and networking as the SPRA Golf Day returns to the stunning Carden Park in Cheshire!

Taking place on 4th September 2025, this popular event offers members and their guests the chance to compete on the renowned Nicklaus championship course, followed by a lively evening of entertainment, a lavish dinner, and the golf awards presentation. New for this year – there will also be activities available for non-golfers to enjoy the incredible facilities at the venue.

Tickets for the SPRA Golf Day are now available – book yours today to secure your spot on the green! Click here to book now

Please note hotel bookings to be made directly with Carden Park using code SPRA030925. These must be made by the 23rd of July to ensure rooms are reserved.

There are still a few opportunities to be a SPRA sponsor at this fabulous SPRA event. Contact enquiries@spra.co.uk for further information.

NexGen Working Group – promote the next generation of roofing professionals in single ply membrane systems

Following an introduction by SPRA Chair, Melanie Marquard, at the recent SPRA Awards, a meeting will take place to bring focus on promoting single ply roofing to school and college students by forming a SPRA Working Group on the subject. This will be an online meeting taking place on 28^th July at 11.30am. Please register your interest in attending here.

Wind Load Calculation Protocol (WLCP)

Our popular online WLCP training, based on SPRA’s published guidance, continues to attract both members and non-members. Delivered as three 2-hour sessions, the training is aligned with SPRA’s Wind Loading – Protocol for Calculations (S11b/19), referencing key standards and industry guidance. SPRA members receive discounted rates.

Contact SPRA for further information and to register your employees now, please quote “Wind Load Enquiry’.

New NVQ Level 2 in Single Ply Roofing – Coming to Northern England and Scotland

 SPRA is pleased to announce that new NVQ Level 2 programmes in Single Ply Roofing are being planned for Northern England and, separately, for Scotland later this year. Now is the time to register your interest and give your employees the opportunity to gain a skilled worker qualification in single ply roofing.

Alongside this, SPRA continues to offer a range of training and competency development opportunities, including the Specialist Applied-Skills Programme (SAP) and the SUP/OSAT routes for installer upskilling and assessment. These high-quality programmes can lead to the Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Waterproofing Systems – Single Ply Membranes. SPRA contractor members benefit from reduced course rates, and CITB-registered companies can access CITB grant funding.

SPRA and other Trade Associations show support for the CCPI

 Leading trade associations, including SPRA, across the manufacturing and supply sector have signed up to support CCPI.  In signing the Trade Associate pledge, trade associations are committing to support and promote the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) and its registration and assessment process to their members with the aim to drive a transformational step change in construction product information and management.  This is an important move to build back trust in construction product information and marketing, and drive positive culture change across the sector.

Find the CCPI Summer Newsletter here.

Important Note 

SPRA members should not and cannot in any way imply to any third party in PR/marketing that they are registered and have been assessed through the CCPI process as a result of SPRA being an Associate CCPI member. They must go through the full CCPI process with CPI Ltd directly

Build UK Update

Preparing for Gateway Three 

H&S and Environmental Manuals 

The Health and Safety (H&S) Manual and the Environmental Manual, published by Construction Industry Publications (CIP) to provide a ‘one‐stop shop’ for managing health and safety and environmental matters during construction, have been updated with input from Build UK and its members to reflect the latest changes in legislation and guidance. 

The H&S Manual contains reference to the new BS 5975 standard for temporary works and NASC’s TG30 for system scaffolding as well as updated guidance on the use of plant on site, sanitary provision in toilets, and Respiratory Protective Equipment with support from JSP, whilst the Environmental Manual includes CLOCS Standard Version 5, revised minimum energy efficiency standards, and the separation and storage of waste on-site.

Each manual is written by industry for industry to provide a concise summary of relevant legislation, along with practical guidance on how to comply with it. Build UK members will receive a 30% discount when purchasing hard copies of either manual, or subscribing to CIP Knowledge which includes access to both manuals, by using the promotional code ‘BUILDUK’.

Source: Build Uk / CIP

Digital Skills Passport Launched 

CSCS has launched an updated version of its My CSCS App to provide the basis of a ‘digital skills passport’, as recommended by Mark Farmer in his Industry Training Board (ITB) Review to enable Clients and other dutyholders under the Building Safety Act to demonstrate and enforce the competence of individuals working on their projects. 

The new My Skills section within the app allows an individual to store in one place their qualifications; successful completion of the Health, Safety and Environment Test; and any additional training and CPD undertaken. Users can generate a CV-style summary of the information within the app, which can be shared with employers and others as part of demonstrating the skills and knowledge elements of competence.

The My CSCS App also holds an individual’s digital CSCS card, which is identical to the traditional plastic version and shows their photo, qualifications, training, occupation and the expiry date of the card. Build UK members should now be using CSCS Smart Check to check all 2.3 million cards carrying the CSCS logo, issued by the CSCS Alliance schemes.

Major Changes at Building Safety Regulator

The Government has announced a series of reforms to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) designed to “enhance operations, reduce delays, and unlock the homes this country desperately needs”. The BSR will introduce a new ‘Fast Track Process’ for Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs), which will bring building inspector and engineer capacity directly into the BSR, and recruit an additional 100 members of staff with increased investment from Government.

A new arm’s length body to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is also being established, which will take on the functions of the BSR from the HSE in due course, paving the way for a single construction regulator, as recommended by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Andy Roe, former Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade (LFB), has been appointed as chair, with Charlie Pugsley, also from the LFB, taking on the new role of Chief Executive Officer for the BSR from October. Earlier this week, Build UK Chief Executive Suzannah Nichol met with Andy and John Palmer, Deputy Director – New BuildStandards and Performance at MCHLG, to discuss how the BSR and industry could work together, using the knowledge and experience gained over the last two years, to review the current system and move forward.

Build UK has updated its guide to the building safety regime, which includes links to the updated Approved Document B (Fire Safety) Volume 1: Dwellings and Volume 2: Buildings other than Dwellings , as well as its guide to the validation stage at Gateway Two with additional information on preparing and submitting an application and the next steps once an application has been approved or rejected.

More building safety news can be found in our latest Building Safety update, and the next Building Safety call will take place on Tuesday 16 September at 8:30am.

Source: Build Uk / BSR

Common Assessment Standard V5

Build UK has published an updated version of the Common Assessment Standard, and the Building Safety section is now mandatory for completion by all companies that carry out work under the Building Safety Act. Version 5 also contains updates to the Corporate & Professional Standing; Environmental; and Fairness, Inclusion & Respect sections.  

Companies will be required to complete the updated question set when they next go through the certification process for the Common Assessment Standard with a Recognised Assessment Body, and a number of Build UK Contractor members will be specifying that their supply chains must have successfully completed the Building Safety section by 1 October 2025.

There is a growing list of organisations across both the public and private sectors using the Common Assessment Standard to demonstrate that members of their supply chains have the organisational capability to fulfil their duties under the Building Safety Act. Companies need to obtain certification only once from any of the Recognised Assessment Bodies, and those wishing to see a reduction in the bureaucracy of pre-qualification should review the different certifications they hold to see if they have the Common Assessment Standard more than once and whether that is required for any reason.

Source: Build Uk / CAS

Construction Skills Mission Board

The Construction Skills Mission Board met for the first time last week to set out a strategy to recruit an additional 100,000 workers a year into the construction sector by 2029, following the Government’s commitment to invest £625 million of funding to tackle the industry’s skills shortages and support the delivery of homes and infrastructure.

The Mission Board, which is chaired by Mark Reynolds, Co-Chair of the CLC and Executive Chairman of Build UK member Mace, will develop initiatives focused on five key areas: confidence to employ and invest, clear new entrant pathways, access to provision and support to train, funding that works, and reliable and rewarding careers. Four Build UKmembers have been appointed to the Mission Board – Julie White (Build UK Chair), Katy Dowding (Skanska), Mark Lawrence (TClarke) and Jerome Frost (Arup) – and we will be supporting its work, including addressing long-standing issues with recruiting and retaining apprentices and rolling out a digital skills passport.

The Department for Work and Pensions has also signed an agreement with CITB to jointly fund 40,000 industry placements in construction. Jobcentres will work more closely with industry to offer work experience and tailored placements for those looking to start a career in the sector.

Source: Build Uk / Construction Skills Mission Board

Diversity Webinar

Build UK member the Supply Chain Sustainability School is hosting a webinar on Thursday 17 July from 11:00am – 12:00pm to outline how companies can gather data for its Diversity Survey 2025, undertaken in partnership with the Sustainability Tool. Members can use their response to the survey to create a record of the diversity of their workforce for use with clients.

Source: Build Uk / Supply Chain Sustainability School

Conflict Avoidance Pledge

The Conflict Avoidance Coalition has launched a new website which will include an up to date directory of all the organisations that have signed the Conflict Avoidance Pledge. The pledge, which is supported by the CLC, commits businesses to implementing conflict avoidance measures in contracts and on site to reduce the significant time and cost associated with disputes.

Source: Build Uk / Conflict Avoidance Pledge

Social Housing Plan

The Government has set out its plan to build 300,000 new social and affordable homes through the £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme. The plan confirms that the Decent Homes Standard will be extended to privately rented homes and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards will be implemented in the social housing sector.

Source: Build Uk / UK Government

CPA Weekly UK Economic and Construction Update

The latest weekly update is available here, including:

• S&P Global UK Construction PMI (June 2025)
• DBT UK Brick Deliveries (May 2025)

The CPA’s Spring forecasts were published on Monday, 28 April, and are available for members to download from the CPA Website. The CPA’s Summer forecasts will be published on Monday, 28 July.
Also note that the ONS has suspended its monthly UK building materials price data (and other producer price data) due to concerns about its reliability, which the CPA has been highlighting since the impacts of the energy and price spikes in Spring 2022.

Source: CPA

CPA Briefing Paper:  The Impacts of U.S. Tariffs

Following strong demand from members and government alike, the CPA’s economics team has published a briefing paper on the ‘Impacts of U.S. Tariffs’.  This document will be revised as the situation develops, and made available to CPA members every Friday with our Weekly UK Economic and Construction Update (see above).  To receive this document via email every Friday please contact noble.francis@constructionproducts.org.uk; alternatively, you can click here to read it now.

Source: CPA

BSI Invitation to Join CB/3 Committee

The British Standards Institution is an Associate of the CPA and would like to extend an invitation across our membership for any persons interested in joining its BSI CB/3 committee.  CB/3 is responsible for reviewing market demands and regulatory drivers for the safe, compliant, and efficient use of construction products. The committee examines the interaction between the Building Safety Act, UK Construction Products Regulations, and EU Construction Products Regulation, seeking alignment with safety standards to enable the free movement of construction products within the EU single market.  Horizontal functions include:

• CB/3 facilitates the timely exchange of information on regulatory matters related to construction products between UK Technical Committees, stakeholders, industry, government, and regulators. This allows updates on the UK and EU regulatory landscape to be communicated clearly, accurately, and efficiently to all relevant parties.
• CB/3 provides guidance on the UK Construction Products Regulations and EU Construction Products Regulation, advising where needed to help UK Technical Committees align their work with the latest regulatory requirements, assisting committees in navigating regulatory changes and maintaining compliance with both UK and EU standards.

Excluded is the responsibility for fire resistance and reaction to fire tests for building products, including test methods for external fire exposure of roofs and facades, is outside the scope of CB/3 and falls under the remit of FSH/0 and its associated committees. However, information exchange between CB/3 and FSH/0 is necessary. Any interested parties should contact Tom Stack, BSI Standards Development Manager directly on Tom.Stack@bsigroup.com.

Source: CPA/BSI

HSE Newsletter 

The latest Building Safety Regulator Bulletin has been published and can accessed here. It includes articles on Building Assessment Certificates, The Government’s position on roof top gardens and local authority guidance on Multi Disciplinary Teams (MDT).

House of Lords call for Evidence on the Building Safety Regulator
The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee, chaired by Baroness Taylor of Bolton, has launched an inquiry into building safety regulation, with a particular focus on the work of the Building Safety Regulator, which was established following the Building Safety Act 2022. Concerns have been raised by Industry that delays in approvals by the BSR have slowed down the delivery of new buildings and homes. The Committee invites interested individuals and organisations to submit evidence here by 31 August 2025.

Health, Safety and Well-Being Summit – 01 July (London)
The CLC’s inaugural Health, Safety and Well-Being (HS&WB) Summit is taking place on 1st July at the Institute of Directors in London. Around 150 attendees at CEO level are expected to attend. The aims and objectives (together with intended outputs) of the day are:

• To launch the CLC’s vision for HS&WB
• To hear from the Construction Minister on the importance government attaches to this
• To showcase and demonstrate how the CLC is leading and bringing together the industry in this space
• To discuss this with industry and secure their commitment to taking forward a set of actions

If you have an interest in attending, please click here or all other enquiries, please contact Henrietta Frater, The Crown Estate Head of HSE & Wellbeing at henrietta.frater@thecrownestate.co.uk.

Source: HSE

SPRA Awards Luncheon 2025 – Just 1 Week to Go!

The countdown is officially on – There is less than a week to go until the SPRA Awards Luncheon 2025 at the stunning Hilton NEC Birmingham! This much-anticipated event will celebrate the outstanding achievements of the single ply roofing industry, and tickets are now very limited.

If you haven’t secured yours yet, don’t delay – book now to avoid missing out on this glittering celebration on 12th June!

SPRA Golf Day 2025 – Carden Park, Cheshire – 4th September 2025

Get ready for another fantastic day of sport and networking as the SPRA Golf Day returns to the stunning Carden Park in Cheshire! Taking place on 4th September 2025, this popular event offers members and their guests the chance to compete on the renowned Nicklaus championship course, followed by a lively evening of entertainment, a lavish dinner, and the golf awards presentation. New for this year – there will also be activities available for non-golfers to enjoy the incredible facilities at the venue. Ticketing will open soon, so be sure to save the date!

Sponsorship – Limited opportunities available!

There are still a few opportunities to be a SPRA sponsor at this fabulous SPRA event. Contact enquiries@spra.co.uk for further information.

Training & Competency Development

SPRA is pleased to announce that new NVQ Level 2 programmes in Single Ply Roofing are being planned for Northern England and, separately, for Scotland later this year. Now is the time to register your interest and give your employees the opportunity to gain a skilled worker qualification in single ply roofing.

Alongside this, SPRA continues to offer a range of training and competency development opportunities, including the Specialist Applied-Skills Programme (SAP) and the SUP/OSAT routes for installer upskilling and assessment. These high-quality programmes can lead to the Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Waterproofing Systems – Single Ply Membranes. SPRA contractor members benefit from reduced course rates, and CITB-registered companies can access CITB grant funding.

Wind Load Calculation Protocol (WLCP)

Our popular online WLCP training, based on SPRA’s published guidance, continues to attract both members and non-members. Delivered as three 2-hour sessions, the training is aligned with SPRA’s Wind Loading – Protocol for Calculations (S11b/19), referencing key standards and industry guidance. SPRA members receive discounted rates.

Contact SPRA for further information and to register your employees now.

SPRA joining other Trade Associations in Support of CCPI

Leading trade associations, including SPRA, across the manufacturing and supply sector have signed up to support CCPI.  In signing the Trade Associate pledge, trade associations are committing to support and promote the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) and its registration and assessment process to their members with the aim to drive a transformational step change in construction product information and management.  This is an important move to build back trust in construction product information and marketing, and drive positive culture change across the sector.

Important Note 

SPRA members should not and cannot in any way imply to any third party in PR/marketing that they are registered and have been assessed through the CCPI process as a result of SPRA being an Associate CCPI member. They must go through the full CCPI process with CPI Ltd directly

Build UK Update

Gateway Two Update

The BSR has identified a number of reasons why applications are being rejected, which we have reproduced below, and it has published a case study to reinforce its role in ensuring that an HRB complies withBuilding Regulations and is safe to occupy. According to the BSR, 44% of applications are still being rejected at the validation stage “because they are missing basic information”, and BuildUK’s overview of the documents that must be included within an application is designed to help improve the success rate.

The BSR has also updated the online portal for submitting and managing applications for Building Control Approval. For applications submitted after 1 April 2025, applicants can now create folders for their applications and supporting documents to help the BSR when assessing them.

Source:Build UK / BSR

Business Growth Service

Changes to Immigration

• Raising the threshold for a Skilled Worker Visa from RQF Level 3 (A-level equivalent) to RQF Level 6 (degree level equivalent).
• Abolishing the Immigration Salary List and increasing the Immigration Skills Charge by 32%
• Creating a ‘Temporary Shortage List’ to provide time limited access to the immigration system for occupations with a skills requirement between RQF Levels 3 – 5 where there have been long term shortages and the Migration Advisory Committee has advised it is justified.
• Increasing the minimum language requirements for Skilled Workers.

Working Rule Agreement

US Trade Deal

CPA State of Trade Survey Published

The CPA State of Trade Survey for the opening quarter of 2025 suggested that even before tariff-related disruption and uncertainty hit the UK economy in April, the construction recovery was taking a little longer to gain momentum. In Q1, product sales decreased for a balance of 15% of heavy side firms, which comes after three previous quarters of growth.

Government Update

Parliament has risen for the Whitsun holiday and will return on 2nd June.

Govt Opens Consultation on Improving Integrity of Voluntary Carbon Markets

Government seeks to clarify and test their proposed policy and governance framework for helping to ensure the integrity of voluntary carbon and nature markets.  Find the consultation here, deadline is 10 July 2025.  For further details contact Jane Thornback.

Govt Opens Consultation on the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)  

This is a technical consultation running until 3rd July to get feedback on the drafting of the primary legislation of the UK CBAM.  The purpose of a CBAM is to place a carbon price on specified goods imported to the UK from sectors that are at risk of carbon leakage.  The aim being to protect UK manufacturing.  Find details here.  For further details contact Jane Thornback.

Watch the recording of Noble Francis present at RIBA: Managing Global Uncertainty  

Noble Francis presented to RIBA earlier this week. He looked into the performance of construction sectors from this year and into the next. A recording of the presentation can be watched here.

Watch the Recording of the CPA Webinar: U.S. Tariff Disruption, Uncertainty, and the CPA Construction Forecasts

U.S. tariff disruption has increased uncertainty and made market forecasting even more difficult than during Covid-19 Pandemic and the 2008 financial crisis. The webinar, hosted by Professor Noble Francis, focuses on the potential impacts for the U.K. economy and construction sector. Watch the recording and download the slides, here.

Source: CPA

MMC Standard

The BSI has published PAS 8700, sponsored by MHCLG, to standardise and streamline the use of modern methods of construction (MMC) in new-build residential properties. It covers project set up, design, information management, delivery and assembly, and maintenance and repair.

Source: Build UK / BSI

Build UK Responds to CITB Consensus

Following an extensive consultation process with members, Build UK has submitted its response to CITB Consensus confirming support for the Levy. Build UK received a response from all Contractor members that are liable to pay the Levy, as well as all Trade Association members with Specialist Contractors that are liable to pay the Levy, and the majority agreed that the Levy proposals are necessary to encourage adequate training in the construction industry.

Build UK highlighted that the Levy is just one part of the overall skills system that is required by industry and it should not be viewed in isolation.  Alongside our response, we submitted an updated version of our ‘Levy In – Skills Out’ proposal, which sets out the core elements of the skills system needed to recruit, train and retain the talent the industry needs, along with what members expect in return for paying the Levy. In order to commit to investment in skills, employers require certainty of pipeline and the 10-year Infrastructure Strategy, due to be published by the Government later this year, should give them the confidence to make that investment, and the industry will need an effective skills system in place to deliver the capacity required to meet theUK’s homes and infrastructure needs.

CITB is expected to confirm the outcome of Consensus next week. If it is achieved, a new Levy Order will then be made by the Secretary of State authorising CITB to collect a Levy from in-scope employers until 2029.

Source: Build UK

SPRA Awards Luncheon 2025 – Hilton NEC Birmingham – Get your tickets now!

This year’s SPRA Awards will take place at the fabulous Hilton NEC Birmingham. This glittering event will showcase the fantastic achievements of the single ply roofing sector’s suppliers and contractors, for projects completed during 2024.

Tickets are selling really well so ensure to book to avoid disappointment.

SPRA Awards 2025 – Last week to submit your entries!

Entries for the SPRA Awards 2025 and now being accepted up to 30^th April. Any single ply roofing project completed during 2024 is eligible for consideration for an award in the various categories set.

More information can be found in our Awards Top Tips Brochure.

We look forward to receiving your project entries: Submit your entries here!

SPRA Golf Day 2025 – Carden Park, Cheshire – 4th September 2025

Another date for your diary this year is the SPRA Golf Day returning to Carden Park in Cheshire. This is another event that provides an opportunity for members and their guests to compete on the Nicklaus championship course as well as enjoy the entertainment at the lavish dinner and golf awards taking place later that evening. This year there will be opportunities for non-golfers to enjoy some of the other facilities that this wonderful venue has to offer. So mark this date in your diary as ticketing will open soon.

Sponsorship – Limited opportunities available!

There are still a few opportunities to be a SPRA sponsor at this fabulous SPRA event. Contact enquiries@spra.co.uk for further information.

Training & Competency Development

New NVQ level 2 in Single Ply Roofing being planned for Northern England and separately for Scotland this year. Register your interest now! Get your employees a skilled worker’s qualification in single ply roofing.

 SPRA are planning a number of training and competency development opportunities. These include Specialist Applied-Skills Programme (SAP) as well as upskilling, assessment and training (SUP/OSAT) for contractors’ installers.

These high-quality specialist training programmes for single ply roofers can lead to the Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Waterproofing Systems – Single Ply Membranes. SPRA contractor members benefit from reduced course rates and CITB registered companies can also access CITB grant funding.

Wind Load Calculation Protocol (WLCP)

These online sessions based on existing SPRA published guidance are very popular with members and non-members. They consist of one set of three 2-hour sessions. The sessions are based on the SPRA guidance document Wind Loading – Protocol for calculations (S11b/19) with extensive reference to the appropriate standards and other industry guidance that underpin this document. SPRA members again benefit from reduced course rates.

Contact SPRA for further information and to register your employees now.

SPRA joining other Trade Associations in Support of CCPI

Leading trade associations, including SPRA, across the manufacturing and supply sector have signed up to support CCPI.  In signing the Trade Associate pledge, trade associations are committing to support and promote the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) and its registration and assessment process to their members with the aim to drive a transformational step change in construction product information and management.  This is an important move to build back trust in construction product information and marketing, and drive positive culture change across the sector.

Important Note 

SPRA members should not and cannot in any way imply to any third party in PR/marketing that they are registered and have been assessed through the CCPI process as a result of SPRA being an Associate CCPI member. They must go through the full CCPI process with CPI Ltd directly

Build UK Update

CSCS Latest News

CSCS has announced that the Safety Assessment Federation (SAFed) will no longer issue cards carrying the CSCS logo from 21 April 2025 after withdrawing from the CSCS Alliance. Construction sites are advised to continue to accept SAFed cards until 30 September 2025 as long as they are valid and within the original expiry date.

During this transition period, SAFed cardholders should take the following steps to obtain an appropriate new card depending on their occupation:

CPA Webinar:  U.S. Tariff Disruption, Uncertainty and the CPA Construction Forecasts (11am, 30 April)

CPA Weekly UK Economic and Construction Update

The latest weekly update is available here, including:

• ONS UK CPI Inflation (March 2025)
• ONS UK Construction Wage Inflation (February 2025)

The CPA’s Spring Forecasts will be published on Monday, 28 April. Also note that the ONS has suspended its monthly UK building materials price data (and other producer price data) due to concerns about its reliability, which the CPA has been highlighting since the impacts of the energy and price spikes in Spring 2022.

CPA Briefing Paper:  The Impacts of U.S. Tariffs

Following strong demand from members and government alike, the CPA’s economics team has published a briefing paper on the ‘Impacts of U.S. Tariffs’.  This document will be revised as the situation develops, and made available to CPA members every Friday with our Weekly UK Economic and Construction Update.  To receive this document via email every Friday please contact noble.francis@constructionproducts.org.uk ; alternatively, you can click here to read it now.

Today’s version includes, on Page 2, the results of an investment bank polling its key stakeholders on the probability of a U.S. recession (in the light of no hard data or surveys covering the period since the U.S. tariff disruption as yet). The new text is highlighted in yellow.

Source:CPA

Government Survey re Tariff Impact

The CPA has been contacted by the Department for Business and Trade to share this request (below). Please cascade this for response from your organisation or members. Note that the link for providing feedback is directly to the Government:

On 2 April President Trump announced universal 10% tariffs on top of existing US duties, fees and taxes on all imports from all trading countries, including the UK. This will come into effect (on 5 April).  The new 10% tariffs announced on 2 April will not apply to US imports of steel, aluminium and automotive products, which are already subject to additional S232 tariffs of 25%.

To enable the UK to have every option open to us in the future, the Department has launched a Request for Input. We want to hear from business and stakeholders about your concerns and your assessment of the impact of any further steps we take and want UK businesses to help shape our response to US tariffs. Further information on the Request for Input and an indicative list of potential products in scope of any future UK tariff response can be found here.   

The Request for Input will run for four weeks until 1 May 2025. Once the Request for Input closes, the Government will reflect on the feedback and consider how best to respond.

The Government will continue to engage with the US Administration on the details of these tariffs, to understand how they will be implemented.  The UK will continue discussions with the US on an economic deal that strengthens our existing fair and balanced trading relationship.

Source: CPA/UK Gov

BSI Built Environment Summit 2025 – 30 April 2025 | 09:30 – 17:00 BST

The BSI is hosting an interactive online event that brings together professionals, innovators, and thought leaders to address the challenges and opportunities of our rapidly evolving built environment sector.

This is a cross divisional event with experts from all parts of the BSI business as well as external speakers, and will be hosted on line.  The agenda highlights include:

• Insights from industry leaders: Learn about advancements in BIM, AI, and sustainability.
• Interactive sessions: Engage directly with speakers through Q&A and panel discussions.
• Networking opportunities: Connect with peers and explore virtual exhibitions.

To learn more or book your virtual seat, click here.

Source: CPA/BSI

Unpacking the impact of the government’s response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry phase 2 report

The CPA’s Technical Manager Mark Wilkinson was a speaker on a webinar on the 1st of April as he and the other panelists unpacked the key recommendations from the Inquiry, the government’s planned actions, and their potential impact on housing providers, councils, developers, and tenants. The webinar was hosted by building.co.uk and you can watch a recording here.

Key discussion points include:

• A breakdown of the government’s response and its alignment with the inquiry’s findings.
• The evolving regulatory landscape for fire safety, cladding remediation, and building accountability.
• Implications for registered providers, councils, and construction professionals.
• The role of tenant engagement and advocacy in driving cultural change.
• Long-term challenges and opportunities for delivering safer homes.

Source:CPA/Building.co.uk

SPRA Awards Luncheon 2025 – Hilton NEC Birmingham – June 12^th 2025

This year’s SPRA Awards will take place at the fabulous Hilton NEC Birmingham. This glittering event will showcase the fantastic achievements of the single ply roofing sector’s suppliers and contractors, for projects completed during 2024.

Ticketing has opened through the SPRA website with limited ‘Early bird’ and ‘Table of 10’ discounted tickets available until the end of this month. Tickets are selling really well so ensure you book yours as soon as possible.

Sponsorship – Limited opportunities available!

There are still a few opportunities to be a SPRA sponsor at this fabulous SPRA event. Contact enquiries@spra.co.uk for further information.

SPRA Awards 2025 – Submit your entries now!

Any single ply roofing project completed during 2024 is eligible for consideration for an award in the various categories set.

This year will feature the following award categories for projects completed in 2024:

• Best Detailing
• Best New Build
• Best Refurbishment
• Best Small Project (≤100m²)
• Health and Safety Award
• Sustainability Award

Entries for the SPRA Awards 2025 and now being accepted up to 30^th April. More information can be found in our Awards Top Tips Brochure.

We look forward to receiving your project entries: Submit your entries here!

SPRA Golf Day 2025 – Carden Park, Cheshire – 4th September 2025

Another date for your diary this year is the SPRA Golf Day returning to Carden Park in Cheshire. This is another event that provides an opportunity for members and their guests to compete on the Nicklaus championship course as well as enjoy the entertainment at the lavish dinner and golf awards taking place later that evening. This year there will be opportunities for non-golfers to enjoy some of the other facilities that this wonderful venue has to offer. So mark this date in your diary as ticketing will open soon.

Sponsorship – Limited opportunities available!

There are still a few opportunities to be a SPRA sponsor at this fabulous SPRA event. Contact enquiries@spra.co.uk for further information.

Training & Competency Development

SPRA are running a number of training and competency development opportunities. These include Specialist Applied-Skills Programme (SAP) as well as upskilling, assessment and training (SUP/OSAT) for contractors’ installers.

These high-quality specialist training programmes for single ply roofers can lead to the Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Waterproofing Systems – Single Ply Membranes. SPRA contractor members benefit from reduced course rates and CITB registered companies can also access CITB grant funding.

Wind Load Calculation Protocol (WLCP)

These online sessions based on existing SPRA published guidance are very popular with members and non-members. They consist of one set of three 2-hour sessions. The sessions are based on the SPRA guidance document Wind Loading – Protocol for calculations (S11b/19) with extensive reference to the appropriate standards and other industry guidance that underpin this document. SPRA members again benefit from reduced course rates.

Contact SPRA for further information and to register your employees now.

SPRA joining other Trade Associations in Support of CCPI

Leading trade associations, including SPRA, across the manufacturing and supply sector are signing up to support CCPI.  In signing the Trade Associate pledge, trade associations are committing to support and promote the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) and its registration and assessment process to their members with the aim to drive a transformational step change in construction product information and management.  This is an important move to build back trust in construction product information and marketing and drive positive culture change across the sector.

Important Note 

SPRA members should not and cannot in any way imply to any third party in PR/marketing that they are registered and have been assessed through the CCPI process as a result of SPRA being an Associate CCPI member. They must go through the full CCPI process with CPI Ltd directly.

Build UK – CITB Consensus Survey – Deadline 17^th April 2025 for CITB Levy Payers

The latest CITB Consensus process is now underway and Build UK, as one of 14 ‘Prescribed Organisations’, is required to formally consult its in-scope members on whether the Levy Proposals for 2026 – 2029 are necessary to provide adequate training in the industry and then submit a collective response on their behalf by the deadline of 9 May.

Build UK members that are liable to pay the CITB Levy should have received our Consensus Survey – either directly to their nominated Levy contact or via their Trade Association – asking for their views. The deadline to complete the survey is Thursday 17 April and please ensure your organisation takes this opportunity to have its say on the continuation of the Levy.

CPA Trade Survey 2025 Q1

The CPA’s State of Trade Survey for Q1 is now open. Please can you to fill in (or send on to someone else in your organisation or your members to complete) on the state of trade in your sub-sector during the January-March period of 2025.

The deadline is the end of Monday 7 April and the CPA would encourage you to respond so that they can present a comprehensive view of the industry’s near-term performance. The survey can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CPASurvey25Q1.

All responses are kept strictly confidentially and results will be presented on an aggregate basis only.

CPA Construction Trade Survey Q4 2024

Find the Construction Trade Survey here!

CPA Weekly UK Economic and Construction Update

The latest weekly update is available here, including:

• ONS UK Construction Wage Inflation (January 2025)
• RIBA Future Trends Survey (February 2025)
• Insolvency Service UK Construction Insolvencies (January 2025)

Please note that the CPA has consistently highlighted to members and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) significant problems with the ONS construction output data since the energy and commodity price spikes in 2022. This has meant that the ONS has been underestimating price inflation and overestimating the volume of construction output, which particularly appears to affect key sectors such as private housing rm&i. The ONS publicly acknowledged today that this is an issue and that it is more wide-ranging than construction, as it may also affect the ONS’s manufacturing and services data, as well as its imports and exports data. However, the ONS has so far given no details of what will be done to address the problems or when these issues will be resolved. As we take this further with the ONS directly, it would be helpful to be aware of any problems you may have also had with the data.

Source: CPA

CPA Winter Forecasts

Building Safety Regulator Launches Review

Building Safety Regulator Webinars

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) is hosting a series of free webinars designed to provide practical advice and guidance on a range of building safety topics. Each session has been designed with a specific audience in mind. It’s important that delegates only register for those webinars most relevant to them to ensure all delegates get the most benefit from the session. Places are limited so early registration is advised. Further information and registration can be found here.

Source: CPA/BSR

Unpacking the impact of the government’s response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry phase 2 report

The CPA’s Technical Manager Mark Wilkinson will be a speaker on a webinar on the 1st of April at 11:00 as they unpack the key recommendations from the inquiry, the government’s planned actions, and their potential impact on housing providers, councils, developers, and tenants. The webinar is being hosted by building.co.uk and you can register here for the event.

Key discussion points include:

• A breakdown of the government’s response and its alignment with the inquiry’s findings.
• The evolving regulatory landscape for fire safety, cladding remediation, and building accountability.
• Implications for registered providers, councils, and construction professionals.
• The role of tenant engagement and advocacy in driving cultural change.
• Long-term challenges and opportunities for delivering safer homes.

Source: CPA

Routes of Entry

Following the recent changes to CSCS cards and withdrawal of the Onsite Construction T Level, Build UK has updated its guides setting out the most common routes of entry into the industry for young people leaving school in England and Scotland, designed to help identify which is the most appropriate for them. More skills and training news can be found in our latest Recruiting, Training and Retaining Talent update.

Source: Build UK/CSCS

Industry Accreditation

SPRA Awards Luncheon 2025 – Hilton NEC Birmingham – June 12^th 2025

This year’s SPRA Awards will take place at the fabulous Hilton NEC Birmingham. This glittering event will showcase the fantastic achievements of the single ply roofing sector’s suppliers and contractors, for projects completed during 2024.

Ticketing will be open shortly through the SPRA website and will be announced through all the usual channels. There will be ‘Early bird’ and ‘Table of 10’ discounted tickets available. Get in early, as soon as ticketing opens!

SPRA Awards 2025 – Submit your entries now!

Any single ply roofing project completed during 2024 is eligible for consideration for an award in the various categories set.

This year will feature the following award categories for projects completed in 2024:

• Best Detailing
• Best New Build
• Best Refurbishment
• Best Small Project (≤100m²)
• Health and Safety Award
• Sustainability Award

Further information about the criteria for each award category; a summary of last year’s winners; and top tips for project submissions are available in the Top Tips for Project Submissions brochure. If you don’t have a copy, please send an e-mail to enquiries@spra.co.uk.

We look forward to receiving your project entries via https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RYNJCNL .

The deadline for submissions is Wednesday 30 April.

SPRA Golf Day 2025 – Carden Park, Cheshire – 4th September 2025

Another date for your diary for 2025 is the SPRA Golf Day returning to Carden Park in Cheshire. This is another event that provides an opportunity for members and their guests to compete on the Nicklaus championship course as well as enjoy the entertainment at the lavish dinner and golf awards taking place later that evening. This year there will be opportunities for non-golfers to enjoy some of the other facilities that this wonderful venue has to offer.

Training & Competency Development

SPRA are running a number of training and competency development opportunities. These include Specialist Applied-Skills Programme (SAP) as well as upskilling, assessment and training (SUP/OSAT) for contractors’ installers.
These high-quality specialist training programmes for single ply roofers can lead to the Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Waterproofing Systems – Single Ply Membranes. SPRA contractor members benefit from reduced course rates and CITB registered companies can also access CITB grant funding.

Wind Load Calculation Protocol (WLCP)

These online sessions based on existing SPRA published guidance are very popular with members and non-members. They consist of one set of three 2-hour sessions. The sessions are based on the SPRA guidance document Wind Loading – Protocol for calculations (S11b/19) with extensive reference to the appropriate standards and other industry guidance that underpin this document. SPRA members again benefit from reduced course rates.

Contact SPRA for further information and to register your employees now.

SPRA joining other Trade Associations in Support of CCPI

Leading trade associations, including SPRA, across the manufacturing and supply sector are signing up to support CCPI.  In signing the Trade Associate pledge, trade associations are committing to support and promote the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) and its registration and assessment process to their members with the aim to drive a transformational step change in construction product information and management.  This is an important move to build back trust in construction product information and marketing and drive positive culture change across the sector.

Important Note 

SPRA members should not and cannot in any way imply to any third party in PR/marketing that they are registered and have been assessed through the CCPI process as a result of SPRA being an Associate CCPI member. They must go through the full CCPI process with CPI Ltd directly.

CPA Weekly UK Economic and Construction Update

The latest weekly update is available here, including:

• ONS UK CPI Inflation (January 2025)
• ONS UK Construction Employment (2024 Q4)
• ONS UK Construction Wage Inflation (December 2024)
• Insolvency Service UK Construction Insolvencies (December 2024)
• RICS UK Residential Market Survey (January 2025)

The CPA’s Winter Forecasts were published on Monday 27 January and will be available for members to download from the CPA Website, along with the accompanying webinar hosted by Noble Francis.

Source: CPA

Building Safety Regulator Launches Review

The Building Safety Regulator’s (BSR’s) Technical Policy team is planning an official review of the Approved Documents (ADs) the statutory guidance documents that advise on how to meet the Building Regulations which is expected to build on the findings of an expert group that was set up by the Government in line with a recommendation in Dame Judith Hackitt’s Interim Report on Building Regulations and Fire Safety in 2020. More information on the review and how to take part can be found here.

Building Safety Regulator Webinars

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) is hosting a series of free webinars designed to provide practical advice and guidance on a range of building safety topics. Each session has been designed with a specific audience in mind. It’s important that delegates only register for those webinars most relevant to them to ensure all delegates get the most benefit from the session. Places are limited so early registration is advised. Further information and registration can be found here.

Source: CPA/BSR

The Industry Competence Steering Group (ICSG) Announces Restructure and Renewed Focus on Competence Within the Built Environment

Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings Regime

This consultation seeks views on the reform of the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPB) framework. It covers the following areas:

• Clarifying and consolidating regulations, and focusing on improving the applicability, quality, and data usage of energy certificates in domestic and non-domestic buildings
• Updating EPC metrics
• Refining requirements for Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and Display Energy Certificates (DECs)
• Improving data management protocols and strengthening quality control
• Revising air conditioning inspection reports (ACIRs)

This consultation is scheduled to last for 12 weeks from 4 December 2024 to 26 February 2025.
Further details can be found here.

Source: CPA/UK Gov

Routes of Entry

Following the recent changes to CSCS cards and withdrawal of the Onsite Construction T Level, Build UK has updated its guides setting out the most common routes of entry into the industry for young people leaving school in England and Scotland, designed to help identify which is the most appropriate for them. More skills and training news can be found in our latest Recruiting, Training and Retaining Talent update.

Source: Build UK/CSCS

To coincide with the Procurement Act coming into force on 24 February 2025, which will introduce significant changes to public sector procurement, Build UK will be publishing an updated version of the Common Assessment Standard to ensure that it remains relevant and up to date for use by public sector clients and their suppliers.

Version 4.1 will include minor updates to the question set and associated guidance to reflect the requirements of the Procurement Act, as well as the changes to company size thresholds from 1 April 2025. Suppliers will be required to answer the updated question set when they go through the certification process for the Common Assessment Standard after 24 February.

The Welsh Government has published WPPN 001 which states that Welsh authorities should use Common Assessment Standard for works contracts from 24 February. The WPPN highlights the benefits of adopting the Common Assessment Standard in Wales, including improving efficiency and saving suppliers time and money through use of a common question set.

Source: Build UK/CSA

Industry Accreditation

Consensus Delayed

CITB has announced that its Consensus process will be delayed by five weeks to enable its Strategic Plan 2025-29 to be aligned with the outcomes of the ITB review undertaken by Mark Farmer. Consensus will now start on 17 March and Build UK will be formally consulting its in-scope members on the continuation of the Levy.

Source: Build UK/CITB

Grenfell Response

The Government has issued its response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s final report, which confirms the Government accepts all the Inquiry’s findings and is committed to delivering a ‘strong response’ to the recommendations. The changes will be delivered using a ‘three‐phased approach’ over the course of this Parliament to deliver ‘meaningful change as quickly as possible’.

Source: BuildUK/ UK Government

Building Safety Calls

Build UK continues to hold regular Building Safety calls for members and the BSR Insight Team joined our first one of the year to provide an update on the work being undertaken to create a consistent Culture Framework to drive positive building safety culture in construction. The next call will take place on Tuesday 11 March from 8:30am ‐ 9:30am and your nominated Building Safety representative should have received the details directly.

Source: Build UK

SPRA Awards Luncheon 2025 – Hilton NEC Birmingham – June 12^th 2025

We are delighted to announce that next year’s SPRA Awards will take place at the fabulous Hilton NEC Birmingham. This glittering event will showcase the fantastic achievements of the single ply roofing sector’s suppliers and contractors, for projects completed during 2024.

Details regarding ticketing will be available in early 2025 and will be announced through all the usual channels.

SPRA Awards 2025 – Submit your entries now!

We are delighted to announce that we are now accepting entries for the SPRA Awards 2025. Any single ply roofing project completed during 2024 is eligible for consideration for an award in the various categories set.

We look forward to receiving your project entries via https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RYNJCNL . The deadline for submissions is Wednesday 30 April.

SPRA Golf Day 2025 – Carden Park, Cheshire – 4th September 2025

Another date for your diary for 2025 is the SPRA Golf Day returning to Carden Park in Cheshire. This is another event that provides an opportunity for members and their guests to compete on the Nicklaus championship course as well as enjoy the entertainment at the lavish dinner and golf awards taking place later that evening. This year there will be opportunities for non-golfers to enjoy some of the other facilities that this wonderful venue has to offer.

Training & Competency Development

SPRA are running a number of training and competency development opportunities. These include Specialist Applied-Skills Programme (SAP) as well as upskilling, assessment and training (SUP/OSAT) for contractors’ installers.
These high-quality specialist training programmes for single ply roofers can lead to the Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Waterproofing Systems – Single Ply Membranes. SPRA contractor members benefit from reduced course rates and CITB registered companies can also access CITB grant funding.

Wind Load Calculation Protocol (WLCP) – Book now for 2025!

These online sessions based on existing SPRA published guidance are very popular with members and non-members. They consist of one set of three 2-hour sessions. The sessions are based on the SPRA guidance document Wind Loading – Protocol for calculations (S11b/19) with extensive reference to the appropriate standards and other industry guidance that underpin this document. SPRA members again benefit from reduced course rates.

Contact SPRA for further information and to register your employees now.

Construction Trade Survey 2024 Q3

Construction product manufacturers reported a second quarter of growth in sales volumes, although for the heavy side, sales remained lower than a year earlier. Members can access the latest survey here.

Source: CPA

CPA / BSR Workshop re BS476 – 22 January 2025

The CPA and Building Safety Regulator are hosting an ‘in-person’ workshop for members on 22 January to discuss with officials from the BSR the changes Government wants to make to BS 476.  Particular sectors affected include doors, ironmongery and rooflights, though many others may be affected as this standard covers fire testing and certification.  The workshop is scheduled for 10am at the Broadway House Conference Centre, Tothill Street, London SW1H 9NQ. Please indicate your interest to attend by contacting emma.gange@constructionproducts.org.uk.
Source: CPA/BSR

The Industry Competence Steering Group (ICSG) Announces Restructure and Renewed Focus on Competence Within the Built Environment

The Industry Competence Steering Group (ICSG) has announced a comprehensive restructure to enhance competence and safety standards across the built environment. Established in response to the Grenfell Tower Fire and subsequent Hackitt Review, ICSG has now transitioned to become a formal working group of the Industry Competence Committee (ICC) under the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), signalling a strategic shift towards more rigorous industry-wide competence frameworks. Please go here to learn the details.

Source: CPA/ICSG

CPA Weekly UK Economic and Construction Update

The latest weekly update is available here, including:

The latest weekly update is enclosed, including:

• S&P Global UK Construction PMI (December 2024)
• HMRC UK Residential Property Transactions (November 2024)
• Bank of England UK Mortgage Approvals (November 2024)
• Nationwide UK House Price Index (December 2024)

The CPA’s Winter forecasts will be published on Monday 27 January and will be available for members to download from the CPA Website.

Source: CPA

Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings Regime

This consultation seeks views on the reform of the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPB) framework. It covers the following areas:

clarifying and consolidating regulations, and focusing on improving the applicability, quality, and data usage of energy certificates in domestic and non-domestic buildings

updating EPC metrics

refining requirements for Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and Display Energy Certificates (DECs)

improving data management protocols and strengthening quality control

revising air conditioning inspection reports (ACIRs)

This consultation is scheduled to last for 12 weeks from 4 December 2024 to 26 February 2025.
Further details can be found here.

Source: CPA/UK Gov

Building Safety Update

MHCLG issues a monthly progress report covering all the remediation programmes for residential buildings 11 metres and over in England with unsafe cladding. The latest data release covering up to the end of November 2024 shows remediation works have been completed on 29% of the 4,998 buildings identified, with work underway on a further 19%.

There are currently 514 buildings 18 metres and over with unsafe ACM cladding and remediation works have been fully completed on 81%, with a further 5% awaiting building control sign off. The next data release will be published on 23 January.

Build UK has updated its guide to the Building Safety Regime to reflect the latest information that has been published. The January 2025 version includes details of the Government’s Remediation Acceleration Plan and updated guidance from the BSR on the Gateways, such as the use of a partial completion strategy where part of a building will become occupied before all work has been completed. Our timeline has also been updated showing at glance when the key changes are taking effect under the new regime.

Source: Build UK/MHCLG

Industry Accreditation

CITB has announced that the funding available to support individuals impacted by the withdrawal of CSCS cards obtained via Industry Accreditation at the end of last year will be extended until 31 March 2026. There is an achievement grant of £1,250 for certain supervision S/NVQs and £1,500 for certain management S/NVQs.

Source: Build UK/CITB

Consensus Delayed

CITB has announced that its Consensus process will be delayed by five weeks to enable its Strategic Plan 2025‐29 to be aligned with the outcomes of the ITB review undertaken by Mark Farmer. Consensus will now start on 17 March and Build UK will be formally consulting its in‐scope members on the continuation of the Levy.

Source: Build UK/CITB

Building Safety Culture Change ‐ Have Your Say

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) is developing a framework to introduce consistency and structure around the topic of building safety culture change. Its new project, Facilitating Culture Change in the Built Environment, aims to set out what high‐level factors drive a positive building safety culture and support organisations and individuals within the sector to improve culture.

The BSR is looking for feedback from businesses across the supply chain on its draft culture framework to make sure it will work across diverse professions and trades. The BSR will be hosting a series of online focus groups in December and January, and any members interested in participating should submit an expression of interest to the BSR.

The initial findings will be presented at our first Building Safety call of 2025 on Tuesday 28 January and your nominated Building Safety representative should have received a calendar invitation directly.

Source: Build UK/BSR