Travis Perkins plc has canvassed opinion to collate the industry’s biggest headaches and to help tackle these problems, it has laucnhed the Travis Perkins Innovation Awards (TPIA).
TP says that after speaking to contractors, housebuilders, manufacturers and staff, a number of common industry-wide problems became clear. The UK weather was a shared frustration, with high levels of rain blamed for construction delays, muddy working environments and the reduced effectiveness of certain building products.
Unsurprisingly, health and safety was also a primary concern, from using heavy materials and equipment at height to manual handling injuries. Plus, it was universally agreed that solutions were needed to reduce waste levels and address the looming skills gap.
To tackle these collective problems, the firm has launched the Travis Perkins Innovation Awards (TPIA). The search is now on for ground-breaking product solutions with entries open to anyone in the construction industry, as well as inventors, universities, students and colleagues from across Travis Perkins plc. Entries from simple sketches to detailed proposals are being accepted.
Norman Bell, Group Strategy Director at Travis Perkins plc, said: “This is a golden opportunity for those in construction who face daily problems that are a barrier to progress and profit, as well as for creative minds that want to make a difference to a vital industry sector. As well as a general product innovation category, we’re looking for solutions to the issues our survey identified; namely safety, skills, sustainability, and productivity.
“The Awards are not just important for recognising ideas that could solve some of the industry’s headaches, but also to move the industry forward and future-proof an important economic stream. As a major UK employer with 21 businesses, it’s vital that we encourage innovation and skills, build the best and most innovative service possible for customers, and tackle major issues such as sustainability.”
The winners will be announced in September and prizes include the potential for financial investment and business support for product and idea development, an opportunity to trial products in selected Travis Perkins plc locations, or business mentoring and support from Travis Perkins plc’s senior team. Organised by the Innovate team at Travis Perkins plc, the main sponsor is Marshalls.
