MERIT provides experience of and training in:

• Company, business and financial management
• Issues of competition not only for work but also staff.
• The role of technical work and its contribution to commercial operations
• Understanding the whole business of the construction process

There are a range of experiences within MERIT and this depends on the role allocated to the individual team player.

Below is an overview of the broad range of issues that team players will experience:

The benefits of using the MERIT simulation as a learning vehicle are based upon principles of adult learning. It is widely accepted that adult learners acquire knowledge in a different way from the typical classroom environment.

Recognising that, MERIT utilises learning methodologies and tools that help transfer knowledge, skills and competencies that are needed to improve the business skills and understanding of young engineers so that they in turn deliver improved performance for their organisations.

In the jargon of education, MERIT is an action-learning exercise designed to anchor important lessons of business success with the participating teams. Thinking strategically, performing in the midst of chaos and balancing risk and reward, all play out in the simulation which most of the participants find engaging.

The simulation evolves and incorporates evolving legislative, regulatory and sector practices keeping the challenge of MERIT modern and relevant. Examples of changes introduced over the period of operation have included:

• Tools to enable detailed interactive analysis of key business areas
• Learning enhanced by detailed powerpoint tutorial, and participants can ‘trial’ the simulation prior to the start of a competition
• Move from a contracting company to a PLC with ability to invest in other businesses
• Enhancements to the 2-stage tendering process
• Developments of risk, and its affect on bidding and job progression
• Changes to the use of project managers to reflect what happens in the real world e.g., ‘golden hellos’, resignations, grudges
• Labour fluctuations in the market
• Expansion of the key performance indicators in line with industry trends
• Introduction of Quality and Health and Safety into the overhead function
• Client relationships impact on more areas of the business

Over 20,000 young engineers have been trained in company and financial management through the MERIT experience. For 20 years MERIT has serviced an important training need as is evidenced by extensive support and sponsorship from industry. Through simulation MERIT creates a realistic, challenging and stimulating training environment which is greatly enjoyed by the participants. The MERIT experience expands the horizons of the young engineers and encourages further study. Supported by its own full-time staff MERIT is continually updated maintaining it as a modern and evolving training vehicle.

MERIT 2012 Champions - IMF (Impossible Mission Force)

MERIT is an acronym for Management, Enterprise, Risk, Innovation and Teamwork and is a WEB based computer simulation that allows participants operating in groups of up to six, acting as a board of directors and managers, to manage their own construction company competing initially against the simulation and in final rounds against the other teams.

MERIT provides experience of and training in:

• company and financial management
• issues of competition not only for work but also staff.
• The role of the young engineers technical work and its contribution to commercial operations
• Understanding the whole construction process

If you are playing MERIT 2012, please download the MERIT 2012 Team Module software and Tutorial from your team's dedicated download page

The following downloads are for the MERIT 2011 games.

• The MERIT Team Module software
  • If when installing you get a 'Version Conflict' message and are asked whether you want to replace newer existing files with old ones, 'KEEP' the newer ones.
  • You will also need the update below.
    
• MERIT Team Module update
  • This update fixes a bug whereby a graph wasn't displaying.
    It is not an essential update (unless you want to view that graph!).
    
  • Download, unzip, and replace your existing Merit3te.exe
    

• Trial Data
  Link has beed disabled while MERIT 2012 trialling is taking place.
  Please use the Trail data file found in your Team's download page if you are playing MERIT 2012

Install Instructions

1. Download the MERIT Team Module software (see link above)
2. Extract the MERIT.zip file
3. Run the setup.exe
4. Click 'OK' (MERIT Team Module Setup box)
5. Click on the button that has an image of a computer on
6. Click on the option button that KEEPS more recent files for every popup box.
7. Once setup is complete, download the Trial data file from the web site
8. Extract the trial2011.zip to somewhere where you can easily find it.
9. Run the MERIT software (Start -> Program Files (or All Programs) -> MERIT -> MERIT Team Module).
10. Click the 'Next' button
11. 'Browse' for the trial2011_t1p5.dat file (its in that place where you can easily find it - from step 8).
12. Click on the 'Main Menu' button.

Tutorial

The tutorial is best followed using the interactive Powerpoint version, but if you'd like to be able to print it out, download the PDF version.

• The MERIT 2011 Tutorial (Powerpoint format)
• The MERIT 2011 Tutorial (PDF version)

To find out more about MERIT in Universities, please see the following page: MERIT for use in Universities

University Registration

To Register your University to play MERIT, please complete the on-line form.

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While registration for MERIT 2012 has now closed (closing date was: Wednesday 25 January 2012) we still can fit you in. Use the Contact Us  page to get in touch.

The fee for taking part is £425 (+ VAT*) per team.      (VAT would NOT apply to companies outwith the UK)

Please note, we do need a Purchase Order number before we can accept a teams full registration. However, we have provided a facility for you to pre-register, pending you getting hold of the all important Purchase Order Number.

Full Registration

There are two ways to register for MERIT 2012.

• By using the On-line Registration Form
• By downloading, completing and returning the Paper Registration Form

Pre-Registration

Pre-registering will give you access to trialling when it becomes available, so that you can be ready for when MERIT 2012 starts. Once we receive the Purchase Order number and Accounts details, you will then be added to the main game.

• Pre-Registration Form

Training Grant

• A Training and Development Plan Grant is available to eligible employers registered with CITB-ConstructionSkills.
  
  A maximum of two training days per individual participant may be claimed. The team members will need to obtain the achievement certificate following their participation in MERIT, identifying they have obtained the two ICE CPD points.
  
  For further details, please contact your local office http://www.cskills.org/contact-us/offices.aspx or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Our Accounts Details

Please use the following details if we need to be placed on your suppliers list:

MERIT 2012 has been set up to model a construction industry operating in an economy emerging from a recession with up to date bank interest rates and charges and current corporation tax. Learning to survive as a construction business in tough market conditions with fierce competition is the knowledge currently needed by our industry executives.

After completing eight rounds simulating two years of trading the top six teams will be invited to Loughborough University to experience a further two years of simulated trading in the MERIT 2012 final, the winning team will be presented with the ICE’s Silver Salver and named the 2012 MERIT Champion.

Registration

• Sep 2011 - Feb 2012

Trialling

• Mid. Dec 2011 - Late Jan 2012

Submissions  

• Round 1 - 18:00 GMT, Thursday 26 Jan 2012
• Round 2 - 18:00 GMT, Thursday 02 Feb 2012
• Round 3 - 18:00 GMT, Thursday 09 Feb 2012
• Round 4 - 18:00 GMT, Thursday 16 Feb 2012
• Round 5 - 18:00 GMT, Thursday 23 Feb 2012
• Round 6 - 18:00 GMT, Thursday 01 Mar 2012
• Round 7 - 18:00 GMT, Thursday 08 Mar 2012
• Round 8 - 18:00 GMT, Thursday 15 Mar 2012

Final at Loughborough University

• 03 & 04 April 2012