Latest news from Loughborough University

2 Oct 2014

Conference will provide insight into responsible sourcing in the construction industry

Responsibly sourced materials played a key part in the redevelopment of Kings Cross, London. Photograph courtesy of Kier Group plc.

A conference taking place later this year at Loughborough University is set to provide a unique insight into the latest developments on responsible sourcing in the construction industry.

The conference is being organised by the Action Programme for Responsible Sourcing (APRES) in association with the Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA).  It will take place on 27 November 2014.

At the event leading figures in the construction industry will deliver a range of presentations on new developments on responsible sourcing in construction.  The event will, in particular, focus on the impact of global supply chains on UK sites. 

Some of the key issues to be examined include:

  • The reputational risk a supply-chain exposé could have on a project
  • The environmental and social criteria increasingly being featured in pre-qualification documentation
  • Comparison of assessment criteria in construction in relation to other sectors

Speakers are confirmed from organisations leading the field in responsible sourcing.  They include client organisations, contractors, supply chain companies and academics in the field.  There will also be presentations from The Ethical Trading Initiative and the International Council on Mining and Minerals.

The conference will be of interest to a range of professionals working in construction and on infrastructure projects, especially those in design, specification and procurement roles in construction companies, manufacturers and suppliers. 

The conference costs £90 for members and £150 for non- members.  The event has a value of six hours towards CPD.  Further information is available online by visiting: www.ciria.org/e14233

Professor Jacqui Glass, Network Manager for APRES comments:

“The market has embraced the concept of responsible sourcing and for the conference we have brought together an impressive range of speakers.  This one-day event is an ideal opportunity for those with an interest in this area to find out about the very latest developments in responsible sourcing and best practice that we can learn from major UK projects.”

APRES was established by Professor Jacqui Glass from the Department of Civil and Building Engineering at Loughborough.  It is a network for knowledge sharing and dissemination of responsible sourcing in the construction industry.  The APRES network currently involves more than  100 member organisations and 200 individuals.  Membership is free and more information is available at http://apres.lboro.ac.uk

Notes for editors

Article reference number: PR 14/174

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, putting it among the best universities in the world, and was named Sports University of the Year 2013-14 by The Times and Sunday Times. Loughborough is ranked in the top fifteen of UK universities and has been voted England's Best Student Experience for six years running in the Times Higher Education league. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

In 2015 the University will open an additional academic campus in London’s new innovation quarter. Loughborough University in London, based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will offer postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities.

Contact for all media enquiries

Alison Barlow
Senior Public Relations Officer
Loughborough University
T: 01509 228696
E: A.J.Barlow@lboro.ac.uk