CIOB at this year’s party conferences

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) will be at the Conservative and Labour party conferences this year to talk to parliamentarians, policymakers and partner organisations about the need for professionalism in the industry and how diversity and skills development in construction should be higher up the agenda.

The CIOB has four events planned, including two that are open to members at which they can meet fellow construction industry professionals and hear from senior politicians.

In chronological order, these are the events the CIOB is running or participating in:

Labour Party Conference, Liverpool

Building the next generation: Skills, diversity and the built environment

Monday 24 September 2018, evening event

This event is being jointly hosted by the CIOB, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). It’s a panel debate, followed by a drinks reception, focussing on the sector’s need to draw on a talent pool of people from all backgrounds in order to build the next generation of skilled workers. Speakers include:

·       Helen Hayes MP, member of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee

·       Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods MP, Shadow Minister for Housing, Communities & Local Government

·       Chithra Marsh, Associate Director for Buttress Architects

·       Dr Claire Handby MCIOB, Director at Deloitte Real Estate

This is outside the conference secure zone so those not attending the conference but based in or able to travel to Liverpool will be welcome, along with those already at the conference. It’s a free event but registration is required. Venue and registration details here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/building-the-next-generation-skills-diversity-the-built-environment-tickets-48831784181?ref=estw

Building the Industrial Strategy: How to obtain best value from construction investment

Tuesday 25 September 2018, morning event

The CIOB is also running an invitation-only roundtable event with the New Statesman which will examine the ways in which policymakers can better understand the construction industry as a central pillar in the wider economy, sustaining growth and improving the built environment. Speakers will include Peter Dowd MP, Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Conservative Party Conference, Birmingham

Diversity and skills in the built environment

Sunday 30 September, 17:30 – 19:00

We’re running this event in partnership with ConservativeHome and RIBA, RICS and RTPI. It’s a discussion session, followed by drinks, with senior figures from the leading industry bodies plus the Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP, Secretary of State for Education. The discussion will cover the need to increase the talent pipeline and create a more inclusive industry to meet the current skills crisis. It will also address how the industry can offer opportunities to all as research suggests that firms in the top quartile for gender diversity are 21 per cent more likely to enjoy above-average profitability than companies in the bottom quartile.

This is an open event at which members are welcome but it is inside the secure zone so those wanting to attend will need a party conference pass. If you have a pass for the conference and are interested in attending this event, please email Kayleigh Hadjimina - [email protected]

Building the Industrial Strategy: How to obtain best value from construction investment

Tuesday 2 October 2018, afternoon event

The CIOB is running another invitation-only roundtable event with the New Statesman, as a sister event to the Labour Party Conference roundtable, to examine ways in which Ministers can better understand our industry as a central pillar in the wider economy, helping to sustain growth and improve the built environment. Speakers will include Richard Harrington MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.

Chris Blythe OBE, Chief Executive of the CIOB, said: “The construction industry has rarely had a higher profile in this country following the recent stories about the quality and impact of the built environment. It’s therefore arguably never been more important for the sector’s professional bodies to join together to make policymakers aware of the issues - raising standards, focussing on quality, examining the skills we have within in the industry – and will need in the future. We’re going to take these opportunities to talk about, among other things, the skills, knowledge and professionalism of our members and their work to ensure the highest standards are met in the built environment.”