
Hosted by WTW · ENGLISH

Historically, the construction industry has been behind compared to other industries in terms of embracing technology. But things are changing, and construction companies are starting to utilize technology in a variety of different ways and creating their own intellectual property, their own solutions, leveraging technology in a variety of different ways. By definition, intangible assets are those that are not physical in nature, or identifiable, and can be bought and sold independently of the owner. In this podcast, we discuss a first party product that is meant to ensure the intangible assets themselves and the specific intangible assets that we're focused on are the non-public proprietary intangible assets owned by companies. In this episode of Construction Blueprints, Tom Grandmaison, Construction Chief Client Officer, is discussing with our special guest Kim Cauthorn, Global Intellectual Property Leader, how organizations can protect themselves against financial loss resulting from accidental or malicious insider actions that cause loss, or leakage, or damage, or destruction of those intangible assets. You will also hear more about WTW's new construction offering - an intangible asset protection solution.

High inflation is undoubtedly putting more pressure on all businesses and the construction industry is no different. We're starting to see a gradual upward trend in disputes driven by high inflation. Naturally, inflation impacts require more attention to the level of current and requested escalation and final adjustment clauses to assure proper recovery in the event of a claim at any point in the construction schedule. In this episode of Construction Blueprints, Philippa Pearce, Project Management Lead, GB Construction, is discussing with our special guest Dr Kieran Dineen, Civil Engineer and an independent consultant, the impact of inflation on construction contracts and disputes. Dr Kieran Dineen also provides helpful perspective on the effect of inflation on pricing and explains the three key ways contracts are priced. We also dive into the methods that can help deal with inflation outside contracts such as better design phase, offsite construction, modular build options and more.

It's no surprise that many industries are experiencing severe labor and skills shortages on a global scale. This of course is a complex issue with multiple root causes, some of which are shorter term and others more structure in nature. In this episode of Construction Blueprints, Julie Ragsdale, Director, Construction and Real Estate, is joined by Adam Hall, Senior Director, Employee Experience, to discuss some of the more specific causes of labor shortage that are impacting the construction industries. Dr Adam Hall also provides helpful perspective on the potential solutions that are driving transformational change such as shifting the immigration restrictions in some markets.

As industry leaders we need to think proactively about how women within construction can feel supported and encouraged to build their long-term careers. Creating a more diverse and inclusive construction workforce takes time but there are actions we can take now to inspire the next generation. The industry has a great number of career and educational pathways that lead to success. In this episode of Construction Blueprints, Jennifer Cate, Midwest Construction Broking Leader, is joined by Manuela Spyrka, Canadian Construction Broking Leader, and Jessica Rasulo, Northeast Construction Practice Growth Leader, to discuss why representation and diversity in construction are so important. Hear what actions organizations can take to help nurture an inclusive workplace culture.

As we continue our journey towards net zero, the energy industry is evolving at a faster rate than ever to get us there, by producing and connecting more clean energy. This means more innovation, more technology and a lot of creativity. In this episode of Construction Blueprints, Michael Venables, Head of GB Broking Construction, is joined by Maria Sanchis, Global Construction Exec, Steve Munday, Global Renewable Energy Leader Natural Resources, and Alan McShane, Global Head of Engineering Natural Resources, to discuss the challenges in the Renewable Energy Sector that wwners, operators, underwriters and brokers alike experience from both a technology and project risk standpoint.

As we continue our journey towards net zero, the energy industry is evolving at a faster rate than ever to get us there, by producing and connecting more clean energy. This means more innovation, more technology and a lot of creativity. In this episode of Construction Blueprints, Michael Venables, Head of GB Broking Construction, is joined by Maria Sanchis, Global Construction Exec, Steve Munday, Global Renewable Energy Leader Natural Resources, and Alan McShane, Global Head of Engineering Natural Resources, to discuss the challenges in the Renewable Energy Sector that wwners, operators, underwriters and brokers alike experience from both a technology and project risk standpoint.

Current global conditions and high inflation are having serious impacts on the construction industry. From supply chain issues, rising costs of materials and commodities, to labor shortages and project delays. In this episode of Construction Blueprints, Mike Scott, Managing Director, Global Construction is joined by industry experts John Marsicano, Senior Director of SDI Claims and Financial Advisory Services, and Adam Denno, Technical Services Lead, to discuss what should businesses be doing to mitigate the impact of inflation and ensure they continue to get the cover they require. Our experts also shed light on what they are currently seeing in the market as well as their predictions on what's coming in Q2 and Q3.

A multifaceted challenge and opportunity, ESG requires a multidimensional approach. The environmental agenda is a high priority across all industries and as you connect your ESG and sustainability efforts to company purpose and business priorities, the opportunity to reflect that commitment in your people, risk and capital strategies will become increasingly urgent. But what does ESG mean for the global construction industry? In this episode of Construction Blueprints, our Global Head of Construction, Bill Creedon is joined by ESG experts Lisa Lipuma and Julien Hornacek, to explore the global ESG opportunities for organizations and what it means for the construction industry in the long term.

We are delighted to launch the WTW Construction Blueprints podcast series and have dedicated our first episode to mental health in the industry. Did you know that the number one reason people don't seek help is because of stigma and fear of judgement by peers? Mental health should be a priority across all industries, but due to the nature of the construction sector it ranks as the second highest in suicide rates among major industries. Traditional industry risk control efforts focus entirely on physical loss and greatly ignore mental health. Safety professionals in the construction industry can create and foster a culture that puts psychological safety first.