Knowledge and Networks

The Knowledge and Networks enablers are distinct from the rest of the Accord's work programme. Rather than addressing specific systemic challenges in the sector, these two enablers equip the Accord and the industry with the right tools to better drive transformation. The priorities under Knowledge have remained the same, whereas Networks has gained an additional priority for the new Construction Activator platform. A significant portion of the Knowledge and Networks initiatives are different to the ones originally published.

Priority: Beacons

The Accord has put significant effort into Beacons Projects Production, Research and Events. Over the past few years, the Accord has used its Beacon case studies to shine a light on new and innovative approaches that put the Accord's principles into action and inspire others to embrace change. Business leaders learn most effectively from their peers, whether learning about best practice or learning lessons from failure.

Since the launch of the Transformation Plan 2022-2025, the Accord has published six Beacon case studies online, which have had strong industry engagement. Each one includes a video, a written case study and a how-to-guide to help emulate the Beacon's lessons. The six case studies covered:

• Kāinga Ora reduce energy costs and carbon emissions through the Passive House standard at their Bader Ventura development
• Waka Kotahi, HEB Construction and BECA work to efficiently deliver safety outcomes using a relationship-based procurement strategy
• Kāinga Ora and Icon's approach to supplier diversity, which shares lessons from a main contractor about how to improve supplier diversity in their projects
• MJH Engineering development of a unique in-house training programme to train skilled welders to meet the business’s unique needs
• Scafit's people-centric business model, which focussed on staff wellbeing and development
• Naylor Love's work to successfully divert 91 percent of its construction waste at one of its worksites

The Accord has also hosted or co-hosted a diverse line up of webinars, with knowledgeable and passionate speakers from across the sector. Overall, there has been a good level of participation in webinars, as well as interaction with Accord publications and resources. More than 3,100 people have registered and engaged with these webinars (with over 800 additional replays of webinar recordings). There have been webinars on:

• Health and safety by design(external link)  (co-hosted with CHASNZ) - chasnz.org
• Consultation and review of the NZS 3910 construction contract(external link)  (co-hosted with Te Waihanga) - tewaihanga.govt.nz
• Prefabrication and offsite manufacturing(external link)  - youtube.com
• Diversity, equity and inclusion in construction(external link)  - youtube.com
• Building out construction waste(external link)  - youtube.com
• Innovation in process, people and platforms(external link)  - youtube.com
• The circular economy's impact on the construction sector(external link)  - youtube.com

Priority: Data, Information and Insights to Assist Decision-Making

Access to data, information and insights can vastly improve how the construction sector operates. It can allow businesses, workers, government and iwi to make better decisions about projects, improve their ways of working and help prepare them for what's coming next. There is valuable research and data being collected on strategic issues for the sector, but information can be siloed and not shared broadly.

The Accord is making use of a range of historical data, future projections and other sources of information and research to inform and direct its work programme. Through our Data, Monitoring and Evaluation initiative, the Accord develops, collects, monitors and evaluates a wide range of measures to track how the sector is progressing. This is an ongoing piece of work that will continue over the next two years. For more information, see the Accord's monitoring and evaluation framework and indicators dashboard.

Priority: Creating and Leading Networks

Fragmentation and minimal collaboration has been a long-standing challenge for the construction sector. People networks across the sector can enable sharing and learning, which also encourages alignment on key issues. Through the Accord industry-government partnership, we have already started creating and enabling networks of like-minded people to tackle the sector's challenges together.

Launched in 2021, the Accord Network has already created a community committed to positive change in the construction sector. The Accord Network is a membership-based open collective of businesses, agencies and organisations that have made a commitment to higher standards of behaviour in support of the Accord mid-term goals and vision. Network members have access to a hub of useful tools, guides and other resources. They also get invited to range of Accord events, including the monthly Accord Forums and Accord webinars. As of July 2023, the Accord Network has a total of 400 members, with 97 of those members joining the network during the first year of the Transformation Plan 2022-2025.

The Accord is currently reviewing the Accord Network to grow the network's membership and improve the platform as part of the Construction Activator priority (see below). This includes a review of the membership assessment criteria, a refresh of the resource hub and an addition of peer-to-peer advisory services.

Through its Construction Leadership Summit initiative, the Accord is creating major events that bring sector leaders together to share lessons and review best practice so they can learn and grow from one another. On 6 September 2023, the Accord and Waihanga Ara Rau co-hosted an inaugural Construction and Infrastructure Workforce Development Summit(external link)  - waihangaararau.nz. This summit culminated with the 2023 Beacons Awards, which celebrated those in the sector who have lived the Accord's values and showcased best industry practice. The Accord is now in the process of organising next year's summit.

Priority: Construction Activator

The Accord has partnered with Callaghan Innovation to design and deliver the Construction Activator platform and its associated suite of resources and services to raise the capability of construction businesses and business leaders. The programme will support businesses to develop their capability, improve their resilience to successfully navigate current and future environments, and enable them to grow in ways that are aligned with the Accord’s mid-term goals. The Construction Activator will include:

• an Activator Hub that will form an online community to network and share knowledge. It will provide a platform with resources and pathways available to businesses of all sizes and levels of maturity.
• Foundation and Deep Dive Workshops for business capability development.
• regular information-sharing Connect Events which will be held both virtually and in-person.
• mentorship and capability development for businesses through the Regional Business Partner 1:1 Business Advisory Service.
• an Accelerator programme which will utilise Callaghan Innovation's established research and development skills to accelerate the development of innovative construction products and services.

Next Steps

The Accord is starting work to convene a Construction Futures Think Tank. Learning from other leading countries, the Accord will bring together a group of leaders from inside and outside the sector that will challenge conventional wisdom. The think tank will be future-focussed and explore global mega-trends while also taking into consideration the size, scale and vision for New Zealand’s construction sector.

The Accord Agencies will be set up a new Productivity Delivery Groups initiative. Productivity delivery groups are inter-agency forums to share good practice and learnings to increase knowledge and capability. While this initiative sits under the Networks enabler, it has close linkages to the Client Leadership, Innovation and Environment focus areas.

The Accord has a busy upcoming schedule of Beacon case study development over the coming months and will conduct a review in late 2023 to assess the impact of the Beacon case studies on the construction industry.