Improving Construction Productivity and Health & Safety on Small Construction Sites in a Covid-19 environment

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The funding sought aligns with the grant themes of remote-working or working at socially safe distances in the construction sector as it emerges progressively from the Covid-19 pandemic. Supporting the government's Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund Construction Sector Deal, the project focuses on digital approaches to design, construction and management to improve productivity in construction.Covid-19's impact on construction has been devastating, shutting-down sites, creating significant unemployment with many SME firms facing bankruptcy. SME's represent 90% of the construction industry which itself provides 9% of GDP. Therefore SME builders urgently need to recommence work, adopting disease control procedures whilst improving overall operational efficiencies.The project will assist SME building firms to restart work using remote communications, arm's-length management of projects, implement improved health and safety measures, and carefully organise and schedule teams to provide separation and social distancing on site.On receipt of funding, the team will deliver a brand-new, multi-tiered, cloud-based communications and job-management toolset integrated with HBXL's existing desktop software, facilitating remote collaboration across the construction team, supply chain and clients. The toolset will;1) provide clients and authorities with assurance that Covid-19 mitigation is in place2) minimise contact with vulnerable customers3) minimise contact between individual trades teams4) equip site managers with appropriate H&S documentation to train personnel including Toolbox Talks, Risk Assessments, Site Rules5) minimise inter-site manager visits to limit cross contamination6) minimise visits to builders merchants through advance preparation of fully-detailed orders for click-and-collect or site delivery7) enable regular client meetings and updates remotelyBoth ambitious and innovative the toolset targets a sector of industry often neglected, enabling thousands of firms to return to work safely, operating in a manner different to pre-Covid-19, and offering a mass-market commercial opportunity.HBXL's existing portfolio of CAD, estimating and health and safety systems are already used by thousands of UK SME building firms working on new homes, extensions and renovation works and offer a direct route to market/commercialisation for the launch-ready proto-type.Transformations often fail because new technology detracts from rather than enhances the user experience. Using the 'Jobs-to-be-Done' Framework, the project will examine how users used to work and how they would like to work, to ensure positive project outcomes.The project commences on 1/6/2020\. All R&D will be conducted remotely as the team already operate from home. HBXL have previously completed and commercialised several IUK projects. Project deliverables can be phase-released throughout.HBXL request a further 3 months extra project on their existing project funded under Business Led Innovation in Response to Global Disruption Competition. HBXL confirm this will not exceed HBXL’s 3 year de minimus level of 200k Euro and have an external financial auditor in place for the end of the project extension.In the original submission HBXL explained that within 3-6 months of project completion HBXL would have a marketable project solution to sell-in to end users. The project extension will enable them to ready the final outcomes for market and will improve IUK ROI.