NIBuilder 35-3 June-July

THE BIG INTERVIEW

COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR DAVE THOMPSON HIGHLIGHTS CIS’ COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING TRUSTED AND VERIFIED INDUSTRY INSIGHT, AS WELL AS THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FACING THE NI CONSTRUCTION SECTOR…

Bringing construction intelligence to your fingertips Construction Information Services (CIS) has been a leading provider of construction intelligence in the Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland markets for more than 50 years. CIS offers an online portal with real-time data and in-depth coverage of future and ongoing construction projects in NI and RoI, generated by dedicated research teams and supported by leading-edge technology in Banbridge and Dublin. In 2021, CIS was acquired by Byggfakta Group, which also includes Glenigan, a trusted provider of global construction project sales leads, industry data, analysis, forecasting and company intelligence. Commercial Director Dave Thompson outlines CIS’ evolution since the acquisition, and the key challenges and opportunities facing the NI construction sector. When did you join CIS and what is your background? I always worked in Software-as-a-Service platforms, initially in the healthcare, medical devices and pharma industries. I joined Glenigan almost six years ago and, after the acquisition, also became commercial director of CIS. I knew both Glenigan and CIS as trusted sources of construction intelligence, insights trends and forecasts to aid decision-making, and being able to join them was a really exciting opportunity.

Dave Thompson, Commercial Director at CIS.

“The private housing sector is expected to continue its growth trajectory, which is being fuelled by demand for new homes across Northern Ireland.”

How has CIS developed since the acquisition? CIS is now the most comprehensive intelligence platform for the Irish construction industry, which is something we are extremely proud of. Since the acquisition, we have been able to bolster the quality of the content and information that is going into the platform. At CIS, we share vital insight, analysis and techniques to ensure that there are strategic benefits to our clients in both the north and south of Ireland. As well as having access to a range of industry reports, our subscribers can access information on approximately 140,000 construction projects in NI and ROI. Thanks to significant improvements in data quality, CIS is now an official supplier of construction data to the Central Statistics Office in ROI, which is a testament to the experience and expertise of our team.

How does the CIS research team boost data quality? The CIS team specialises in market research and business analytics. It plays a pivotal role in ensuring data quality through its expertise, rigorous quality control measures, industry connections, adaptability and adherence to ethical standards. In the past 50 years, the team has continually evolved, incorporating cutting-edge data research and analytics technologies. What are the key challenges and opportunities facing the NI construction sector? One major factor that affected planning and construction works in Q1 2024 is the housing crisis. 19,000 homes are reportedly being held up by wastewater capacity limits. NI Water has said that limits to its funding mean that it can’t

“The CIS team specialises in market research and business analytics.”

46 | NI BUILDER

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