The impact of UKRI’s transforming construction challenge

The Forge building interior during construction

UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) transforming construction challenge (TCC) has released the results of the in-depth impact evaluation report.

This assesses the achievements, contributions and impact of the TCC on the construction industry.

Among the headline results are significant improvements across areas including industry investment, performance and collaboration, as well as key benefits for buildings themselves and those using them.

A considered view

The evaluation aims to present a considered view of the contribution that the TCC has made to the industry across a range of different themes and indicators. The evaluation is undertaken by Frontier Economics and BMG Research.

The evaluation uses a combination of:

  • data and trend analysis
  • case studies
  • expert review
  • a primary survey of key organisations.

This is to create an assessment of TCC’s impact and legacy for the construction sector and associated industries.

Collaboration across the industry

The impact evaluation found that the TCC played an important role in the development of greater and better quality collaboration across the industry. Including in previously ‘high risk’ areas that have had vital funding facilitated by the TCC.

It also found the TCC was instrumental in increasing research and development funding among engaged firms. The TCC’s target of applying techniques that improve productivity by 10% or more being applied on real world projects with a value of £10 billion.

In addition, in relation to the impact on built assets themselves, the evaluation identified a number of early signs. These metrics such as build time, construction costs and labour hours had all seen positive movements as a result of the TCC’s influence.

Environmental performance benefits

It also found that the adoption of TCC concepts was likely to continue to bring about environmental performance benefits to a number of areas, including:

  • energy consumption
  • waste production
  • carbon dioxide emissions.

Advanced construction sector

Lee Rowley, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for Construction, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy commented:

The government wants the UK to have the most efficient and technologically advanced construction sector in the world.

The transforming construction challenge has accelerated industry modernisation towards this aim, reducing whole life costs whilst increasing productivity.

The positive findings of the impact evaluation are encouraging for industry and good news for government as it spends £650 billion on infrastructure programmes over the next 10 years.

World leading methods of construction

Indro Mukerjee, Chief Executive of Innovate UK said:

The transforming construction challenge has established genuine system change and demonstrable impact for our economy and society.

The Innovate UK team has done an excellent job working across government, industry and academia to accelerate the transition to modern, world leading methods of construction.

Innovative new digital technologies

Sam Stacey, Challenge Director of UKRI’s transforming construction challenge, added:

It’s fantastic to see the work of the TCC recognised by this evaluation, and that its influence and impact can be seen across so many critical areas.

We intentionally set some ambitious targets for the TCC at the outset.

To have met and exceeded them, and, in doing so, watched as modern methods of construction and innovative new digital technologies have been adopted is not only very rewarding, but demonstrates the justification for the TCC’s creation.

Further information

The impact evaluation was launched at an event at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), featuring the construction minister Lee Rowley MP, and Innovate UK’s CEO, Indro Mukerjee.

The event was attended by key stakeholders across government, business and academia, looking at the impact and achievements of the TCC in more detail. Register via eventbrite to watch the live stream of the event.

View the story of the TCC’s four-year programme and a full version of the impact evaluation report, along with the new brochure outlining the achievements of the challenge.

Top image:  Credit: UKRI

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