BBG Construction Sector Update - Sustainability Sponsored by IREP

Date Posted:Thu, 15th Jun 2023

The Annual BBG Construction Sector Business Briefing took place today at voco® Dubai, an IHG Hotel with a focus on #sustainability and the panel also discussed the results of a BBG-led sector wide survey considering the impact of how a government-monitored national construction playbook to safeguard the industry could support the growth of the region and encourage FDI.

Mike Penrose of FuturePlus was the keynote speaker brought to the BBG by member Paul Todd of International Real Estate Partners (IREP)

Mike shared “The built environment and construction industry accounts for about 40% of the world’s carbon emissions” and that corporates should view ESG with as much importance and rigour as health and safety and financial reporting. Recognising that there is confusion and lack of standardisation for reporting currently - Mike’s advice was to just keep making small positive changes towards more sustainable practices and to not be overwhelmed to the point of doing nothing.

The panel then discussed the results of the survey that ran for three weeks:

Christopher Seymour Head of Strategy and Investment Middle East, Africa and South Asia at Mott MacDonald and a long term member of the BBG's Construction Working Group, said: "The UK Construction Playbook was well received by both supply chain and clients when it was released in 2020 and this survey demonstrates cross-sector support is extremely strong in the UAE for a guide based on similar themes."

Suzannah Newboult Partner at DLA Piper and also on the working group added: "Backed up by a Construction Act in due course, we could see much more confidence in delivering projects here and reattract some of the major international contractors we have lost from the market. With the playbook would come transparency of the project pipeline, which more than 90 per cent agreed would help investment planning and regional commitment.“

Thanks to Event PR Partner member IHC Integrated Holistic Communications - press coverage incoming!!

#Britishbusiness #businesscommunity #internationaltrade #ecosystem #britishbusinesscommunity #environment #construction #investment #realestate #hotel