The sector skills council for construction, ConstructionSkills, yesterday announced a steer towards funding projects focusing on sustainability and innovation through its Management and Supervisory Development Programme (MSDP), at meeting of construction federation representatives at Wembley Stadium. Alistair Collin, head of the ConstructionSkills Future Skills Unit – the new department responsible for MSDP funding – outlined that 30% of the £2.2m pot in 2010 will be ring fenced for innovation and sustainability. The move is in response to the government’s targets to reduce the carbon output of the UK by 80% by 2050, ensuring that management of construction companies are equipped and sufficiently trained to deal with the need to innovate and use sustainable methods of construction to meet the ambitious target. Mr. Collin highlighted that 47% of the UK’s annual carbon output comes from buildings and the need to focus on the refurbishment market, not just new build, to reduce carbon emissions was imperative with the majority of the UK’s 2050 building stock already erected. Gavin Killip of Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute presented some of his findings from a report he conducted on behalf of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) entitled ‘Transforming the UK’s existing housing stock’. He stated that there is a lack of knowledge within the construction industry of thermal performance and which construction methods and materials businesses can use to meet the environmental benchmarks. Mr. Killip highlighted that to bring about a change training was the only answer and the MSDP fund was a great conduit to facilitate this within the industry. The WITForum currently accesses MSDP funding on behalf of BWF members which will be funding courses as part of its