Clearview National April 2015 - Issue 161 | Page 88

BUSINESSNEWS

Considerate Constructors
»»Last year became the
Considerate Constructors Scheme’s best
year ever for Site Registrations, Company
Registrations and site visits. It also saw the
Scheme launch Supplier Registration, present
a record number of awards to the construction
industry and participate in two key charitable
initiatives.
A total of 8,894 sites registered with the
Scheme in 2014, beating the previous record
of 8,854 in 2010. Since the Scheme began in
1997, over 80,000 sites and more than 1,000
companies have registered.
Supplier Registration was also launched
towards the end of the year to recognise the
vital and valuable contribution that suppliers
make to the construction industry. In 2014,
13 supplier depots registered including HSS
Hire and Wernick Hire, which exceeded the
Scheme’s target for the year.
The Scheme’s Monitors, who visit registered
sites, companies and suppliers to assess their
performance against the Code of Considerate
Practice, averaged 40 site visits per day in
2014.
Edward Hardy, Chief Executive of the
Considerate Constructors Scheme, said:
“2014 was a landmark year for the Scheme.

We surpassed previous registration and site
visit records which demonstrated the fact
that the industry recognises the importance
of consideration in its interaction with the
public. We’re delighted and proud that our
industry remains as committed as ever to
improving the image of construction.”
The Scheme presented a record 739
National Site Awards and 85 National
Company Awards in 2014. These prestigious
awards recognise the commitment made
by registered sites and companies to the
Scheme’s Code of Considerate Practice,
which asks them to care about appearance,
respect the community, protect the
environment, secure everyone’s safety and
value their workforce.
The Scheme also participated in two
charitable initiatives; partnering with The
Prince’s Trust to support their ‘Get Into’
programme to help tackle youth employment
and helping launch the Construction
Industry Helpline, a confidential advice
and support helpline for the construction
industry workforce and their families.
For more information about visit
www.ccscheme.org.uk

Women entrepreneurs are
untapped talent, says report
»»Women entrepreneurs could
play a bigger role in the UK economy, creating
jobs and boosting growth as well as reducing
gender inequality, according to the findings of
an independent report published earlier this
year.
Business Secretary Vince Cable’s women
in enterprise champion, Lorely Burt MP
(pictured), published the report making a
number of recommendations aimed at boosting
the number of female entrepreneurs.
The report, ‘Inclusive Support for Women
in Enterprise’, found that although the
number of female-run small and mediumsized businesses has increased, there is still
more to be done to close the gender gap
between men and women.
The government has already taken a number
of steps to inspire and support women to set
up and grow their own businesses, including

88 » A PR 2015 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M

the £1 million Women and Broadband
Challenge Fund, a series of mentoring events
and the Aspire Fund.
The ‘Business is GREAT’ website is the
single place to go for help and the Business
Support Tool is continually being expanded
and developed with users. On the website
there is a specific section for women
entrepreneurs.
Last year UK Trade and Investment (UKTI)
published a guide for first time exporters,
aimed at helping women expand into overseas
markets. The Department for Business,
Innovation and Skills and Government
Equalities Office have also launched a new
research project to find new ways of reaching
out to female entrepreneurs.
The government will be writing to the
39 Local Enterprise Partnerships to remind
them of the importance of representing the

communities they operate in, with more
diverse boards and supporting all businesses in
their area.
Lorely Burt said, “I was delighte d when
Vince offered me the chance to do something
for women entrepreneurs, who have huge
potential to build on Britain’s hard-won
recovery, creating a stronger economy and a
fairer society.
“In my report I outline the economic and
the moral case for taking further action to
unlock women’s business talent. We need to
encourage government and business to think
inclusively at all times.”