Pension and insurance provider B&CE is acquiring Constructing Better Health (CBH) from CSCS. CBH is a national scheme established in 2004 for the management of occupational health in the construction industry. The aim of the scheme is to improve the health of the industry workforce.

B&CE says occupational health in construction continues to rise up the industry agenda as it becomes clear that more needs to be done to provide simple and easy-to-use services to improve occupational health in the sector.

The transition will take place over the coming months and, subject to finalising legal agreements, B&CE will initially take over the running of the current CBH operational model. Building on market analysis and research already undertaken, B&CE will engage with the sector to reform the current CBH offering with a view to meeting the current and future needs of the industry.

B&CE says this engagement will identify quick wins for the improvement of the existing model as well as setting out the strategic plan for future industry provision. This work will be supported through the formation of a number of working groups, taken forward jointly with the construction industry (clients and employers) and the Health & Safety sector to identify future needs.

Patrick Heath-Lay, Chief Executive Officer of B&CE, says: “This is a great opportunity to take forward the important work of strengthening occupational health within the construction sector. We want to build on the work that Constructing Better Health has done over the past few years and, following a period of intensive engagement with the sector, launch a new proposition that really delivers for construction workers and employers.

“B&CE is proud of the work that it has done in providing simple financial and welfare benefits to the construction sector over the years. We will bring our knowledge and experience to deliver a valued occupational health scheme. We provided financial support to the CBH pilot scheme and have supported the work of Constructing Better Health from day one. We know that we can deliver a new scheme that will benefit construction even more than the existing scheme does.”

Graham Wren, Chief Executive of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS), says: “Since Constructing Better Health was established in 2004 the organisation has grown and now has around 340 employer customers. However, the importance of occupational health in the UK construction industry has grown in recent years and the CSCS Board have concluded that further growth opportunities for CBH can be better realised as part of B&CE.

“The Board considers the ability to offer occupational health alongside existing employee benefits to be a good strategic fit with Constructing Better Health, benefiting from the resources and experience of B&CE in order to invest and grow occupational health services to the benefit of the construction sector.”

B&CE is a not-for-profit organisation founded in the construction industry back in 1942. It offers a workplace pension, employee accident cover, employee life cover and employee healthcare. It manages assets of more than £2.6billion with more than 3million members and 18,500 corporate accounts.

In November 2011 it announced the People’s Pension to help employers comply with their automatic enrolment duties. It is suitable for any organisation in any sector. In November it launched a streamlined version for small employers. Anyone who employs anyone must have them on an auto-enrolement pension unless the employee specifically opts out. Even then, the pension must be available to them.

The People’s Pension has won a number of awards, including the Defaqto Five Star Rating for auto-enrolment last year and DC Provider of the Year at the UK Pensions Awards the year before.