MIPIM 2023 Preview: Simon Dingle

It’s a third MIPIM for me and I’m excited to be attending one of the world’s leading real estate expos. As Regional Director for Sisk in The West Midlands it gives me great confidence that there is real enthusiasm with investment in the region, HS2 being a key factor that will provide a vital link into the main arteries of the West Midlands.

At Sisk we have been working to meet clients demands in the evolving building environment and recently rolled out our new strategy internally to our staff titled: Breaking New Ground. Made up of five key strategic priorities, this will act as a roadmap for the next 3-5 years for the business and we will be briefing our clients in the months ahead with more detail.

One of our five core strategic priorities across our business is Net Zero. We will transform the mindset, culture and capability of our business to be leaders in the delivery of Net Zero buildings.

The West Midlands has one of the highest clinical trials bases in Europe and is home to more than 17,000 jobs in the life sciences sector, supporting 600 companies.

Sisk is in the process of the construction of No.1 Birmingham Health Innovation Campus (BHIC) marking a major milestone for the region’s rapidly growing life sciences sector.?

The development of No.1 BHIC forms the first phase of a ten-year masterplan for the Campus being developed by Bruntwood SciTech (a 50:50 joint venture between Bruntwood and Legal & General) in partnership with the University of Birmingham.

Sisk is supporting Bruntwood SciTech’s ongoing commitments to sustainability. Targeting BREEAM ‘Excellent’, No.1 BHIC will incorporate a number of design measures to reduce carbon emissions, help to mitigate the effects of climate change and protect and enhance the local environment.

High-Resi capability

Sisk completed 82 West India Dock Road which includes London’s largest and tallest Premier Inn hotel, alongside new homes, adjacent to Westferry DLR station.?This landmark scheme for Rockwell at Canary Wharf also includes a restaurant, café, gym facilities and a landscaped pocket park, alongside communal gardens for new residents.

In July 2022, Sisk completed Birmingham’s tallest residential tower, MODA, The Mercian. This is the first major tower in Birmingham city centre at 42 storeys and has delivered an ambitious Chicago-style building which includes 35,000 sq. ft of mixed commercial, retail and leisure space.

Modern Methods of Construction played a major part in the delivery of this project and MMC forms part of our new strategy were we will offer a flexible range of off-site innovative solutions to clients. The Mercian utilised state-of-the-art high-rise technology including the Doka SCP core construction rig, four-storey Hunnebeck safe screens with integrated staircase, formwork hoist and lightweight Dokadek panel falsework. It also includes 3,678 unitised panels installed, all constructed offsite.

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People and Culture

People and Culture is one of our key strategic priorities and we will embed an inclusive, compelling and energising people experience that attracts, develops and retains our people.

This Mercian is the vanguard for high-resi construction projects in Birmingham with the legacy it has created. Supported by a ￡100,000 fund from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), Sisk also worked alongside partners at the Birmingham City Council to hire 300 local people, 24 apprentices and 22 work placements.

If you would like to discuss any future projects in The West Midlands or high-resi sector please connect with me on Linkedin.

Simon Dingle,

Regional Director, West Midlands

John Sisk & Son