Groundbreaking free programme in green construction and design for West Mids builders and trades

Independent builders and tradespeople and small-to-medium-sized construction companies in the West Midlands are invited to apply for a free programme in regenerative construction practices, using natural and bio-based materials and embracing forward-looking design principles.

Re:Builders is fully funded by government agency Innovate UK and involves a residential at Fircroft College in Selly Oak on 8th-9th October, plus over the following six months skills bootcamps, a hands-on live building and making project, and site visits to inspiring buildings around England and Wales designed to meet future supply chain and climate challenges.

There will also be mentoring from pioneers in sustainable construction and building trades. Each participant in Re:Builders will analyse their own business's needs and make an action plan with the support of strategic design experts Dark Matter Labs.

All costs are covered. The programme requires a commitment of nine working days over six months, and an active interest in collaborative learning and helping to trailblaze new approaches in the construction sector.

The programme is delivered by Birmingham-based neighbourhood civic infrastructure demonstrator Civic Square, built environment designers and researchers Material Cultures and Dark Matter Labs, in collaboration with Fircroft College and in partnership with other colleges in the region. It builds on Civic Square's peer learning initiatives since 2022 which have involved around 200 participants from across the UK.

"The programme is about extending the skills available within the built environment industry," says Summer Islam from Material Cultures.

"How do we make what are conceived of as 'heritage skills,' mainstream - things like lime plastering? There are loads of bio-based materials ready to roll - you can buy them from materials suppliers and building merchants. How do we grow the demand for these different materials, to the extent that the skills provision in Construction colleges begins to be impacted?"

Michael Conway-Jones, Vice-Principal of Fircroft College said: "Innovate UK is the government trying to help SMEs to grow and develop their business through innovation, getting their ideas from each other, partners and projects. Fircroft is really pleased to be involved in this programme... For us it's about sharing what we've done around sustainability - we're not a Construction college, so that's why we're really pleased to be working with Civic Square and other partners".

Imandeep Kaur, co-founder and director at Civic Square, said the organisation has a dedicated mission to "make things at the scale of the neighbourhood that you can touch, see, feel, experience.

"We jumped at working with Fircroft College because of its long and radical history [in adult education]. We work with many partners in street-based retrofit, around thinking how to revitalise old buildings and how to grow skills and capacities for the climate transition locally.

"We want to grow the capacity for working with natural and bio-based materials in the West Midlands and also, when we have a construction tender, to have people to work with who have really thought about the challenges ahead and the possibilities of working this way.

"We want to have a city and a region that is showcasing some of the best practice, and show that it isn't just a story for rural places".

Workshops in the programme include Prefabrication - Working with low-carbon modular systems on 8th October, Insulation on 9th October, Hempcrete and Lime on 19th November, and Blockwork - Low-carbon alternatives for load bearing walls, infill and partitions on 18th February 2025.

Among the mentors will be leading figure in sustainable design and urbanism Jonathan Smales, founder of The Phoenix sustainable neighbourhood project in Lewes.

Sole traders and businesses interested in taking part in the programme should apply here by 19th September - bit.ly/ReBuildersWM