September 2023 |
The APS Project Safety Journal begins a new regular feature spotlighting the activities of the six new APS regions. Starting off with an overview of the aims of the new regional structure and get an update from England North. Regional members take soundings from their regions and raise any professional issues, which are relayed to the Board.
“The real crux of England North region is to encourage members to set up local branches at the moment, which can facilitate more local networking. The ex-members of the North West regional committee are our first regional branch,” explains England North regional representative Derek Bradshaw. Derek who is head of professional services at Keelagher Okey Klein (KOK), says: “I work in an organisation with 13 different people that are doing principal designer and CDM adviser roles. So there isn’t a day that goes past where I’m not speaking to at least three of them.
“But many members are sole practitioners who do not have that facility of talking shop with people. I think it is important for the industry, and individuals, to become more rounded by having those debates,” he adds. Bradshaw says he’ll use his new position to gauge the strength of feelings across the region. The number one talking point is inevitably the Building Safety Act, which is causing confusion among members who are not clear what it means in practice. Its impact on professional indemnity insurance, has become “an equally big minefield”, he says. “And then day-to-day stuff of how we comply with CDM. The fact that the Building Safety Act has flown in from one side and attached itself like an alien to the CDM Regulations is mindblowing for a lot of people.”
