The world of construction is always changing. Our blogs uncover the latest developments in the industry and provide insight into the work CIOB and our members are doing for the built environment.
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At Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure, we’ve recently opened our second Returnships programme for applications after our initial scheme, which was successfully launched in October 2017, saw over ninety applicants with a range of skills and experience apply to return to employment after a career break of 18 months or more.
There have been two sides to my career journey to date. I have always been open and flexible in considering various career opportunities; however I have also been focused on achieving defining milestones along the way. This is demonstrated by the fact that I started as a graduate design manager for Balfour Beatty building schools in Birmingham and now find myself managing Procurement Delivery in Tarmac, the UK’s largest building materials business.
In June 2018, the UK government commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to carry out a full review of the composition of the shortage occupation list (SOL), to explore what skills are most in demand as the UK prepares to exit the European Union.
I know I’m fortunate to work for an organisation that encourages and promotes pushing your professional development and supporting you to be the best you can be in this industry. After completing an architecture degree at Sheffield Hallam University and entering an architectural practice, it dawned on me that this wasn’t what I wanted to do. I wanted to get hands on and see the site. I changed tact and entered the Wates Graduate scheme in 2016. Whilst doing my degree, I had been working towards Chartership with RIBA but now that architecture was no longer my calling, I didn’t want to lose that focus and I began my PDP route to CIOB membership in January 2017.
When members first came together in a London pub in 2008 and started to discuss what the CIOB could do for young professionals, the concept of Novus was born and little did they know it would continue to go from strength to strength. During Members’ Forum 2013 in Yorkshire, a spotlight was given to Novus and members from across the globe were influential in creating the Novus Global Strategy document and Terms of Reference, cementing its place firmly within the institute.
As part of our celebrations for ten years of Novus, we caught up with two members who represent Novus on CIOB Board’s. Jessica Lloyd is Assistant Project Manager at Mott MacDonald, part of the Bristol Novus Group, and has been on the CIOB’s Business Development Board (BDB) since August 2018. Dean is Project Manager at Mace, Chair of the Truro Novus Group, and has been on the CIOB’s Education, Qualification, Standards and Practice (EQSP) Board since October 2017. We asked them both what Novus means to them and why giving a voice to the young professional at Board level is important.
I recently asked a question online. It was a simple question and yet, it started a conversation about Construction Quality Management that I think we can all learn from. This was the question I asked: "If you were to improve Quality Management within construction, what's the first area you would focus on and why?" The response was overwhelming. Comments came from a wide variety of professionals across our industry. Some themes soon emerged.
Earlier this year, I represented the CIOB to announce the launch of the Building in Quality initiative with RIBA and RICS. We signed a Joint Memorandum of Understanding with the aim of establishing a chain of custody for quality that would link those who commission buildings with those who use them. It was a positive example of collaboration and a recognition that, in light of recent events, we needed to act to improve the quality of the built environment for the benefit of society.
Winner of our Novus 10 anniversary competition, Jamie Young, won the opportunity to interview CIOB Past President, Rebecca Thompson FCIOB. Jamie is senior design manager for Wates and the Chair of Cambridge Novus.
Noreen is Executive Director for Hollywood Associates, a consultancy based in Dubai, and is currently on the CIOB Local Hub Committee for the Dubai region and was recently elected on to the CIOB’s Education, Qualification, Standards and Practice (ESQP) Board. Here she tells us what a difference it's made being an active member of the CIOB.
This week James Brokenshire, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, has announced that a New Homes Ombudsman is to be created. He said this will ‘champion homebuyers, protect their interests and hold developers to account’. Importantly, the new homes ombudsman will be enshrined in statute, with legislation requiring all ‘new developers’ to belong to this new ombudsman.
Modern slavery is a pernicious and hidden crime. We’re only just beginning to understand the level of risk it poses to UK supply chains. But as our knowledge increases, corporate response to the Modern Slavery Act remains lacklustre. With many organisations in paralysis, the arguments for and against taking action can be distilled into three words: attitude to risk.