星空传媒

4
The grade received by the National Construction College from the Adult Learning Inspectorate. The government body rates the college, run by the Construction Industry Training Board, as unsatisfactory, a drop from grade 3 satisfactory last year.

The report praised the quality of the facilities at the centres in Bircham Newton, Birmingham, Erith and Glasgow, but slammed the training as inadequate, the leadership and management as poor and the quality assurance as unsatisfactory. It also stated that few students complete their training and criticised the standard of work-based training.

Andy Walder, marketing manager of the National Construction College, said that it was disappointed but accepted the criticisms and was working hard to improve on the areas identified by the report.

5
The number of months construction boss Brian Dean spent in prison, after his conviction for manslaughter was overturned. Dean was the first head of a construction firm to be sent to jail. He was sentenced to 18 months in May following the death of two workers, Carl and Michael Redgate, on one of his sites in July 2000.

The original prosecution case hinged on proving Dean was guilty of gross negligence, and that his actions led directly to the deaths. The appeal judge, Lord Justice Clarke at the Royal Courts of Justice over turned this evidence, stating that Dean did give out the correct instructions, but they weren't followed. Also, the judge in the original trial was criticised for giving the jury inadequate direction over key evidence.

Dean was convicted of failing to provide a safe place of work, but, due to his time in custody, was given a nominal 拢1 fine.

20
The percentage of construction firms a Respect for People report states should gain Investors in People status year on year. It also proposes the same target for accident reduction and for increasing the number of under-represented groups in construction, including ethnic minorities and women.

In his address, Peter Rogers, Stanhope boss and chair of the Strategic Forum, called on companies to include reportable accidents and ethnic diversity in their annual reports.

Not everyone was impressed with the conference, however. Mike Murray, a lecturer from Strathclyde University was less than pleased. "I seem to be in the wrong conference," he said.

"This is supposed to be about respect for workers yet I don't see any workers here and I certainly don't hear anyone talking about workers."

52
The decrease, in per cent, of Health and Safety Executive inspections in construction. A report by the Centre for Corporate Accountability and public sector trade union Unison revealed some shocking statistics about the level of inspection in the industry.

Between 1996/7 and 2000/1, the number of inspection contacts declined by more than 19,000, while in manufacturing, the decline was half that. Advice contacts increased by 59% in manufacturing, but decreased by 16% in construction.

The HSE said it was concentrating on education as well as enforcement and that inspections were just part of its activity. It admitted that inspections had declined but said that other activity had increased and such as investigations, prosecutions and other forms of contact with employers.

70,000
The number of young people that attended events throughout this year's National Construction Week, up 20,000 on last year. More than 1000 events took place throughout the country between 3 and 10 October, with 590 companies pledging their support, compared to 500 last year.

The events included a work-shadowing day organised by Bryant Homes, for students from schools and colleges across the country. Careers covered included interior design, architecture, land buying and site management. City & Guilds and CITB launched a pre-NVQ qualification for 26 trades including plant maintenance, scaffolding and dry lining, and Bowmer & Kirkland launched a website for its subcontractors, detailing the steps to go through to get their workforce qualified.