Topic: Sustainability & environment

By Myrna Rickards
April 30th 2025

Building Green Britain – The projects we need, in a culture that delivers Full Report

 

As Britain moves towards a greener future, the infrastructure we build today will shape the sustainability of tomorrow, but delivering major projects successfully isn’t just about what we construct, it’s about how we do it. This virtual seminar brings together industry leaders, project professionals, and sustainability experts to explore the critical projects driving the green transition and the cultural shifts needed to ensure their success.

Join us on Wednesday 30 April, for a dynamic discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing major projects in the UK. From strategic policy changes and infrastructure investment to practical tools for embedding sustainability, this event will provide valuable insights into the future of project delivery. Through expert talks, interactive discussions, and knowledge-sharing, we’ll examine the big questions: What must change? How do we scale sustainability? And what role can each of us play in making it happen?

Be part of the conversation that will shape Britain’s sustainable future. Register now and join us!

Our Sustainability themed events are open to non-members of the Association. If you are a non-member and would like to attend this event, please contact mpa@majorprojects.org to set up your registration.

By Myrna Rickards
April 30th 2025

Building Green Britain – The projects we need, in a culture that delivers Highlight Report

 

As Britain moves towards a greener future, the infrastructure we build today will shape the sustainability of tomorrow, but delivering major projects successfully isn’t just about what we construct, it’s about how we do it. This virtual seminar brings together industry leaders, project professionals, and sustainability experts to explore the critical projects driving the green transition and the cultural shifts needed to ensure their success.

Join us on Wednesday 30 April, for a dynamic discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing major projects in the UK. From strategic policy changes and infrastructure investment to practical tools for embedding sustainability, this event will provide valuable insights into the future of project delivery. Through expert talks, interactive discussions, and knowledge-sharing, we’ll examine the big questions: What must change? How do we scale sustainability? And what role can each of us play in making it happen?

Be part of the conversation that will shape Britain’s sustainable future. Register now and join us!

Our Sustainability themed events are open to non-members of the Association. If you are a non-member and would like to attend this event, please contact mpa@majorprojects.org to set up your registration.

By Myrna Rickards
March 19th 2025

Trends in major project procurement Full Report

 

It is not only the UK government that is linking increased spending on infrastructure to growth and addressing key economic, environmental and social challenges.  Across the globe there is ever growing demand for new energy sources for use in new locations, achieving climate resilience, addressing social mobility and urban renewal and all within a context of digital transformation.

As noted in other recent MPA events, funding is a key enabler for this increased spending (Developing new funding models for major infrastructure, 16 January 2025).  But, there is little value in having funding if those who will design, develop and deliver the required infrastructure cannot be sourced and put to work.  This is particularly the case for major projects where the supply base is often global and is able to pick and choose where it wants to deploy its resources.  In simple terms, it is increasingly as case of a “sellers’ market”, so how do project clients secure the resources they require within financial and regulatory limits.

This full-day seminar will explore at trends in the procurement of goods and services for major projects both within the UK and globally.  It will address:

  • Global Perspective – what trends in procurement can we see in other markets that may have relevance here in terms of adoption and/or impact in securing appropriate suppliers for UK projects?
  • How a major project client is securing innovation, productivity gains and greater certainty in delivery through procurement.
  • Legislative changes within the UK and how this could impact supplier landscape from a supplier perspective.
  • The supplier landscape, including constraints, market shaping, market creation opportunities, change in balance of power (sellers’ market).
  • How clients can address the challenge a changing power-balance and still ensure responsible procurement addressing wider social and environmental considerations.
  • Implications of the increasing use of AI in procurement for example:
    o If all bidders use similar AI how do we know what they can do rather than the AI says they can do?
    o AI tools reviewing bids generated by AI.
    o Could choice decline as bidders just focus on those bids where they’ve a higher probability according to the AI?

The exploration of these topics will also provide a foundation for another full day seminar in November on the ‘Rise of the Delivery Partner’ as a particular global trend that is being increasingly adopted within the UK.

By Myrna Rickards
March 19th 2025

Trends in major project procurement Highlight Report

 

It is not only the UK government that is linking increased spending on infrastructure to growth and addressing key economic, environmental and social challenges.  Across the globe there is ever growing demand for new energy sources for use in new locations, achieving climate resilience, addressing social mobility and urban renewal and all within a context of digital transformation.

As noted in other recent MPA events, funding is a key enabler for this increased spending (Developing new funding models for major infrastructure, 16 January 2025).  But, there is little value in having funding if those who will design, develop and deliver the required infrastructure cannot be sourced and put to work.  This is particularly the case for major projects where the supply base is often global and is able to pick and choose where it wants to deploy its resources.  In simple terms, it is increasingly as case of a “sellers’ market”, so how do project clients secure the resources they require within financial and regulatory limits.

This full-day seminar will explore at trends in the procurement of goods and services for major projects both within the UK and globally.  It will address:

  • Global Perspective – what trends in procurement can we see in other markets that may have relevance here in terms of adoption and/or impact in securing appropriate suppliers for UK projects?
  • How a major project client is securing innovation, productivity gains and greater certainty in delivery through procurement.
  • Legislative changes within the UK and how this could impact supplier landscape from a supplier perspective.
  • The supplier landscape, including constraints, market shaping, market creation opportunities, change in balance of power (sellers’ market).
  • How clients can address the challenge a changing power-balance and still ensure responsible procurement addressing wider social and environmental considerations.
  • Implications of the increasing use of AI in procurement for example:
    o If all bidders use similar AI how do we know what they can do rather than the AI says they can do?
    o AI tools reviewing bids generated by AI.
    o Could choice decline as bidders just focus on those bids where they’ve a higher probability according to the AI?

The exploration of these topics will also provide a foundation for another full day seminar in November on the ‘Rise of the Delivery Partner’ as a particular global trend that is being increasingly adopted within the UK.

By Myrna Rickards
February 12th 2025

When we get it right a spotlight on success Highlight Report

 

While projects are often perceived as late and over budget, most actually meet intended outcomes and deliver to expectations. By reframing our thinking to focus on the successes, rather than just the failures in infrastructure delivery we can foster a more positive, solution-oriented approach that drives improvement and innovation.

This half day seminar will explore how highlighting successes can build delivery confidence, and encourages excellence, creating a replicable model for future projects. Bringing the public and politicians along on this journey is crucial for sustained support and investment confidence.

This event will help to challenge the perceptions of infrastructure project delivery. It will demonstrate how offering stakeholders a greater understanding of both the challenges and tangible benefits of projects creates a new level of trust that helps professionals navigate complex projects more effectively and secure vital support for future infrastructure.

 

Useful links mentioned in the ‘Project delivery performance reality check’ presentation by Dr. Paul Chapman OBE:

English Roads Major Schemes
Paper: Chapman, P., (2024) Project delivery performance: Insights from English roads major schemes, Project Leadership and Society Journal

Major Projects Association podcast hosted by Andy Murray with Paul Chapman and Nirmal Kotecha, former Head of Major Projects at National Highways: Project delivery performance: we’re actually quite good! Who knew and what changed? Sep 18, 2024
Public Accounts Committee (2007) Estimating and monitoring the costs of building roads in England
Nichols (2007) Review of Highways Agency’s Major Roads Programme
Swedish Rail and Road Project Performance
Chapman, P. (2024) Revisiting project delivery performance: Evidence from Swedish transport infrastructure, Project Management Journal
By Myrna Rickards
November 25th 2024

Major Projects Association Strategy 2030

This strategic plan, to take us to 2030, sets our ambition to improve the initiation, delivery and beneficial outcomes of major projects.

Sustainability Playbook
By Myrna Rickards
November 12th 2024

No Planet B, so what can I do? Major Projects Sustainability Playbook

This playbook was crowdsourced by the Major Projects Association and KPMG to support project professionals in defining, procuring, designing, constructing and operating sustainable projects.

By Robert
November 5th 2024

No Planet B! So what can I do? Full Report

The Major Projects Association has put an ever-present spotlight on sustainability in major projects since it was the topic of our annual conference in 2019 and prompted the formation of our sustainability ambassador network. This culminated in us agreeing and publishing our first ever position paper at COP26 on how major projects can move from being part of the problem to being part of the solution in the mission to deliver the Net Zero imperative.

On the fifth anniversary of raising the importance of sustainability, the Association is once again making it the topic of a full-day seminar in London on 16th April.  Titled “No Planet B! So what can I do?” the conference is based on four themes of: carbon and climate; biodiversity and nature; resilience and adaptation; and social value. The seminar will consider these four areas across the project lifecycle from project definition, design & procurement, and construction & operations to crowdsource a major projects playbook building on existing guidance and exemplars for the various types of organisations and disciplines involved in major projects – hence “what can I do?”

Join us and hear from experts from both within and outside the world of major projects provide exemplars and share their lived experience of improving sustainability on or through major projects. Join us for the “unconference” sessions and help develop the playbook to make those changes (or inspire others) needed for a sustainable future on Planet A!

By Myrna Rickards
April 16th 2024

No Planet B! So what can I do? Short Report

 

The Major Projects Association has put an ever-present spotlight on sustainability in major projects since it was the topic of our annual conference in 2019 and prompted the formation of our sustainability ambassador network. This culminated in us agreeing and publishing our first ever position paper at COP26 on how major projects can move from being part of the problem to being part of the solution in the mission to deliver the Net Zero imperative.

On the fifth anniversary of raising the importance of sustainability, the Association is once again making it the topic of a full-day seminar in London on 16th April.  Titled “No Planet B! So what can I do?” the conference is based on four themes of: carbon and climate; biodiversity and nature; resilience and adaptation; and social value. The seminar will consider these four areas across the project lifecycle from project definition, design & procurement, and construction & operations to crowdsource a major projects playbook building on existing guidance and exemplars for the various types of organisations and disciplines involved in major projects – hence “what can I do?”

Join us and hear from experts from both within and outside the world of major projects provide exemplars and share their lived experience of improving sustainability on or through major projects. Join us for the “unconference” sessions and help develop the playbook to make those changes (or inspire others) needed for a sustainable future on Planet A!

By Myrna Rickards
April 16th 2024

No Planet B! So what can I do? Playbook

 

Following our seminar ‘No Planet B! So, what can I do?‘ held in April 2024, we worked hard with colleagues from KPMG to create a Sustainability Playbook which incorporates key lessons and learnings from the event.

This playbook was developed to support project professionals in defining, procuring, designing, constructing and operating sustainable projects. It complements and signposts the myriad of existing guidance and standards that already exist for professionals from all project lifecycles stages, aiming to support practitioners of all types. Going beyond cost, time, scope and risk, this playbook aims to support project teams to consider nature and biodiversity, carbon and the environment, resilience and adaptation and social value throughout a project lifecycle.

Download the Playbook here.