CIOB NEWS
CHIEF EXECUTIVE CAROLINE GUMBLE OUTLINES HER RECENT VISIT TO CB CONTRACTS AND ULSTER UNIVERSITY IN BELFAST TO VIEW THE HIGH-QUALITY AND INNOVATIVE WORK TAKING PLACE ACROSS THE REGION… CIOB leaders meet the next generation of built environment experts
I recently had the pleasure of visiting Belfast alongside CIOB President Professor Mike Kagioglou FCIOB, to talk to our members and see firsthand some of the high-quality and innovative work taking place across the region. It was a fantastic way to round off a busy and productive week, which had also seen us spend time in Wales and Dublin. Our first stop on the Northern Ireland leg of our itinerary was CB Contracts, where we were welcomed by Colin Bunting MCIOB and his team. We toured their academy facilities, which are currently upskilling over 300 apprentices in plumbing, engineering and welding. Their commitment to addressing the industry’s skills gap is commendable - and with plans to expand their training offer to include painting and flooring, they are making a real and tangible contribution to closing the long-standing skills gap. I’ve written about this many times before but tackling the skills gap in our industry is one of CIOB’s three headline areas of focus. As a consequence, seeing what CB Contracts is doing, not just in developing their own workforce of the future, but in bringing new people into the industry is truly heartening. This is attracting talent into the sector in action, giving those individuals a route into long-term, fulfilling and often well-paid careers – and it is great for the future of our whole industry. Their efforts to include social value in their projects are also to be applauded. One example is their decision to pay above the required hourly rate for their apprentices, plus a programme to train and upskill people from areas of social deprivation. CIOB has reported in recent years on social value in construction, and we know our sector has huge opportunities to make positive change. Social value programmes can bring benefits to the
L-R: Robert Clements, Gary Callaghan and Jonathan Payne, CIOB NI, Caroline Gumble, CIOB, Dr Bryan Magee, UU, Julie Fitzsimmons, CIOB NI, Mark Hamill, UU, and Yvonne Conway and Nicola Laight, CIOB NI.
companies who run them, and they also deliver for neighbourhoods, communities and the wider industry. Next, we visited Ulster University, a CIOB Accredited Centre, to host a lunch with staff from the university’s construction programme and CIOB members from the area. This was a fantastic opportunity to strengthen the working relationships between academia and industry, fostering collaboration that will benefit both students and practitioners alike. Following this, Mark Hamill, Course Director, led an engaging discussion with students about their aspirations in the industry. These conversations are always inspiring, as they highlight the enthusiasm and ambition of the next generation of construction professionals. It is also clear that they understand their professional roles are more than just jobs – they are opportunities to leave a legacy and deliver buildings, big and small, which can benefit their communities. Engagement with CIOB members
and other industry leaders is always valuable, offering insights into the challenges and opportunities facing construction today. I am grateful to everyone who took the time to meet with the CIOB team and contribute to meaningful discussions about the future of our industry. A special thanks to the CIOB teams across Ireland, who work to support our members and organise an excellent programme of events throughout the year. If you want to keep up with our activities in Northern Ireland or get in touch with the CIOB team, please do feel free to join our CIOB Ireland LinkedIn group. I also want to invite the construction community in Northern Ireland to save the date for our celebration of the best built environment companies across Ireland – the CIOB Ireland awards are set to be held at Croke Park in Dublin on September 18 and tickets are available now at: www.ciob.org/events/
Julie Fitzsimmons, Member Services and Events Coordinator ‑ Northern Ireland T: +44 (0)1344 630 729 - M: +44 (0)7760 164 101 - E: jfitzsimmons@ciob.org.uk www.ciob.org
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