It includes a diagram showing how sustainable development is carried out in both the public and the private sectors in construction.

It also summarises a number of key plans and initiatives, including:

• sustainable construction
• corporate social responsibility (CSR)
• the Sustainable Communities Plan.

Most construction-sector news websites have a section on sustainability, which companies often see as the ‘green’ element of CSR (although work is often ‘green’ by client specification, while CSR is, in theory, voluntary). What about a community or social section?

While some projects that benefit communities are voluntary, many clients also ask for them in bids: ‘If we award you our project, what are you going to do to help us fulfil our social commitments?’ Either way, both sorts invariably get included in annual CSR reports.

So if they help to win work, why aren’t they talked about much in trade publications?

Perhaps the industry doesn’t want to appear too self-congratulatory by talking about the donations it’s made. Perhaps it’s focusing on the bigger fish it has to fry (safety and global warming), which draws more attention from other media and stakeholders.

Or maybe the social side is too ‘soft’ for construction? But there are clear business benefits, so shouldn’t ideas and projects should be shared a bit more, in view of each other and the public?

…all schools to be “sustainable schools” by 2020 and embed the principles of green living in school life and teaching.

The government’s schools inspectorate, Ofsted, has recently written a report called Schools and Sustainability, a Climate for Change. Ofsted comments that sustainability is not yet an integral part of the curriculum. Any work that is carried out, often as extra-curricular activities, is therefore ‘short-lived and limited to small groups of pupils’.

Construction companies involved in public private partnership (PPP) schemes such as the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) initiative are often required to consider this element within their bids.

An example of integrating sustainable technologies into a building and using them to educate pupils can be found in Balfour Beatty’s recent 2007 corporate responsibility report.

Joiner’s Square Primary School is part of the Stoke Schools PFI project. It is also Stoke-on-Trent’s first environmentally-friendly school.

Technologies that have been used include a wind turbine, a rainwater collection system, photovoltaic panels and a solar thermal system.

Information about the energy saved is collected and used as a learning tool by the schoolchildren.

A plasma screen in the school’s reception area displays external weather conditions and shows students how natural resources are being used to provide power to the school.

Ofsted’s report reinforces that educating pupils about sustainability and the environment continues to be a priority for the government. It will also, therefore, continue to be an important element for success in education sector construction projects.

I used to speak to project teams for corporate responsibility (CR) report case studies. There were often an amazing number of schemes running.

But we’d never heard of them, or we wouldn’t have been told, because the teams didn’t think they’re anything unusual. Initiatives are so embedded in the project process, they are something they just ‘do’.

This is, of course, great news and reflects well on the industry – but there are many missed opportunities to talk about the good work employees do.

So, it’s interesting to see Arup giving a platform to one of its graduates, Zak Kostura, on secondment in Nigeria with WaterAid.

Over the last 12 weeks, Zak has been blogging about his time in the region. It provides an accessible platform for the company to talk about its work with the charity and also WaterAid’s objectives.

The blog is also a great tool to show potential graduates the opportunities that Arup provides. So, not only does it show off the company’s CR credentials, but also its employment ones.

Web 2.0 applications provide a whole range of tools for companies to use to talk about their work. It would be great to see more of them move away from the yearly report to blogs or videos from those on the ground.

It launched Rok Volunteer Day a year ago but, following low take-up, the firm is going to work with organisations that can match staff with volunteering opportunities.

It’s good to hear of a company not only giving employees the chance to get involved with their communities, but also really pushing the idea.

Organisations such as TimeBank match individuals with local volunteering opportunities. They also help companies to create and launch volunteer programmes for staff.

The last month has been hectic – I’ve left full-time work in the corporate communications team of Balfour Beatty to become a freelance web copywriter and consultant.

I plan to stay within the construction and engineering sector, writing online material from case studies to news stories, on subjects from people to innovation and CSR.

I am also interested in the accessibility of online content, specifically copy. Everything from the structure of the text to the language used and its presentation.

Take a look at my website to find out more about my services and a bit about me.

Most importantly, get in touch if I can help you!

Snappily titled the Cross-Industry Task Force on Apprenticeship Numbers, it hopes to encourage more employers to give apprentices a chance of a full qualification.

Not only is this an opportunity to begin to address the industry skills shortage, but could be integrated into programmes to employ people from communities in which we work.

On the theme of the skills shortage, the Guardian reported earlier this week that the government wants to see one person in five on an apprenticeship scheme by the end of the next decade. That’s up from one in 15 among 16 to18-year-olds at the moment.

Gordon Brown is hoping that more apprenticeships and other initiatives to get the unemployed into work will “help Britain to compete in…the new global skills race”.

Of interest to contractors involved in PPP/PFI, the government could start to consider a business’s apprenticeship record when awarding public procurement contracts.

While charities have the expertise to respond to the needs of their beneficiaries, they often lack the support and skills needed to develop their own infrastructures.

Businesses or individuals can offer their business know-how through becoming a member of Pilotlight, committing three hours per month. The organisation then identifies a charity that will benefit from their particular skills, bringing them together.

Pat Fulker, former HR director for National Grid, was a ‘Pilotlighter’. He found the experience of applying his corporate skills to help a charity develop and move forward “very rewarding”.

The construction and engineering industry has been involved in initiatives for young offenders for a number of years. Companies recognised early on the potential within these young people and the untapped skills resource they provide.

Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions is one of 80 companies working alongside National Grid on its Young Offender Programme, established in 1999. The young people accepted onto the scheme are offered pre- and post-release mentoring.

The young people that pass a gas industry recognised course begin a job placement before they are released. This means they can return to a job they have already begun when they leave prison.

National Grid’s contractors, like Balfour Beatty, provide jobs for successful trainees when they are released, supporting their transition from prison life to that of the external world of work.

The programme has helped to reduce the re-offending rate to about 7% (from a national average of 70%) amongst the 18 to 21 year olds who participate. Over 1,000 young people have been placed into training and jobs through the initiative.

Schemes like this demonstrate the opportunities businesses can provide for members of the community who are at a disadvantage when seeking employment. The benefits to companies are new members of a skilled workforce, in an industry that is struggling to retain talent.

Its third annual community day was held in September, when 67 projects benefited from over 8,000 hours of volunteers’ time. These included hostels, day centres and community buildings.

The construction industry has a wealth of skilled and experienced employees that can make a massive difference to the internal and external environments of a community in a very short space of time. Cleaner, brighter and well-maintained surroundings promote pride in local communities, which in turn reduces social problems such as vandalism.

Wates’ initiative demonstrates the difference one day per year can make, if a company enables its workforce. Businesses need to provide the opportunity for staff to spend one day per year in a voluntary capacity. The benefits are not limited to the communities helped – employees feel positive about their involvement and that of their company’s too.