JCT’s annual student competition will be running for 2017, opening in October 2016 and closing in March 2017.
Once again, the overall winner’s prize will be £1,000, with two runner-up prizes of £250 also available.
Following the success of last year’s competition, this year’s competition will continue the same focus on creativity and innovation.
In recognising the different learning requirements of construction courses and disciplines, the competition will be open to receiving entries in a variety of media, including video, photography, photographic essay, drawings or designs, written essays, articles or any other creative format.
However they present their submission, students must base their entry on one of the following topics:
- Skills shortages – A huge issue facing the industry, particularly in economic uncertainty, is how demand can be met with the current level of skills shortage. What does this hold
for the future of the industry? Can this be
addressed through education alone? - Sustainability – Construction has a vital role in meeting the challenges of sustainability and climate change. Do you have an idea to improve waste management, reduce fossil fuels, increase the use of renewable energy, conserve or re-reuse materials, or improve building performance?
- Collaboration – Inefficiency and inflexibility in working practices can have a negative impact on project management, time-scales, cost and morale. With the industry under increasing pressure to improve its efficiency, what are your ideas on how the industry can be more collaborative?
- BIM – The UK government has mandated that all centrally procured projects should reach BIM level 2 by 2016. However it still faces many challenges in order to be used effectively including standardised software, ownership, and the impact on smaller firms. What are your ideas to take BIM forward?
- Technology – Developments in technology have had a large impact, particularly with off-site construction, and robotics which are being used to take on a range of roles such as brick laying. How can technology continue to assist in the construction process, what technology ideas do you have to improve
construction efficiency? What will the impact of technology be on jobs in the future? - Health and Wellbeing – Health, safety and well-being are of paramount importance for all those involved in the construction process, be it workers in offices or on sites, or the local community. What ideas do you have to improve effectiveness, performance and reduce potential risks through the promotion of health and well-being initiatives?
Students can enter the competition at http://corporate.jctltd.co.uk/initiatives/education-students/jct-student-competition/, which includes all the information about the competition, including the brief, helpful hints, entry form and terms.