Mandatory sharing of ground investigation data under the proposed Geotechnical Data Sharing Bill is “critical” to cutting project cost and risk, AtkinsRéalis geotechnical engineer and Engineering Geology chair Dr Jacqueline Skipper told NCE. Skipper argues that making borehole logs, in situ test results and laboratory data publicly accessible would reduce duplicated site investigations, improve desk studies and help identify legacy hazards earlier in design. For contractors and consultants, she says the Bill could materially change tender pricing, contingency allowances and early-stage geotechnical risk allocation.

Future Homes Hub has created an Embodied Carbon and Resource Efficiency Board (ECREB) to lead delivery of the New Homes Sector Transition Plan on embodied emissions from materials, transport and construction processes. The board, co‑chaired by Department for Business and Trade deputy director Fergus Harradence and Barratt Redrow group sustainability director Bukky Bird, convened its first meeting on 16 March. Early work will focus on resource efficiency and waste reduction to cut embodied carbon and cost, complementing the forthcoming Future Homes Standard for operationally zero‑carbon‑ready homes.

Members of the Institution of Civil Engineers can now apply for the Kenneth Watson Travel Award and the Queen’s Jubilee Scholarship Trust (Quest) Travel Award to fund overseas study of infrastructure and engineering practice. Both schemes support early-career and mid-career engineers to investigate specific technical themes abroad, such as major bridge projects, geotechnical innovations or climate-resilient flood defences, and bring findings back to UK practice. Applicants must propose a structured travel plan with clear learning objectives and dissemination routes, making these grants useful for targeted technical upskilling rather than general travel.