Communicating Construction Insight, Experience and Best Practice

This book is a wide-ranging exploration of PR and communication in the construction industry, with a strong emphasis on communications theory, strategy and technique. The editors begin with an introduction to the UK construction industry and its supply chains, as well as various elements of PR in relation to the construction process. Subsequent chapters provide a strategic overview, practical examples, success stories, case studies and personal perspectives on PR for different parts of the built environment and reputational issues in construction. Chapters include expert advice on communications for architecture, planning, building consultancy, building products and manufacturers, general and specialist contractors, construction technology, infrastructure and communicating sustainability in the built environment. The conclusion looks at the current and upcoming reputational priorities for communicators in construction, as well as the top ten priorities for implementing PR as a strategic management discipline in the industry. This book is essential reading for all construction PR teams, students studying both for built environment and PR/marketing degrees and CPD courses, and anyone working in the built environment sector who needs to consider PR and marketing as part of their role.

1 Introduction Liz Male and Penny Norton 2 Communications for planning: effective communication through consultation Penny Norton 3 Communications for architecture: telling the stories about our places and cities – communications strategies for architecture and urbanism Dan Gerrella 4 Communications for major contractors: embracing twenty-first-century communications challenges Andrew Geldard 5 Communications for specialist subcontractors: demonstrating value in the specialist supply chain Cathy Barlow 6 Communications for construction products: promotional practices from specification to installation Louise Morgan 7 Communications for infrastructure: successful stakeholder engagement on transport and infrastructure projects Jo Field 8 Communications for building consultancies: strategies, methods and examples Tom Smith 9 Communications for construction technology: adopting a strategic approach to a rapidly changing sector Paul Wilkinson 10 Communications for sustainability: sustainability communications in construction and the built environment Liz Male 11 Conclusion: the future of communicating construction Liz Male and Penny Norton

Liz Male MBE is the founder of LMC (Liz Male Consulting Ltd). She has 30 years’ experience of marketing communications, corporate reputation and issues-led PR for the property and construction industry in both agency and in-house roles. Penny Norton has worked in construction PR for 20 years, during which time she has covered all elements of communications for the built environment, from preplanning consultation through to media relations for completed schemes. Penny is the author of Public Consultation and Community Involvement in Planning: A Twenty-First Century Guide and she writes extensively for construction publications.