CIOB joins coalition of more than 60 professional bodies to create the sector's first global ethics standard

Today, a coalition of more than 60 professional bodies and standard setting organisations worldwide, launch a global consultation on ethics principles for those working in land, property, construction and infrastructure.  

Property and the built environment play a huge role in our lives as well as being a major contributor to the economy worldwide. Ethics guides the behaviour of property professionals and builds trust in the profession. Producing one set of International Ethics Standards for real estate and related professions will help to bring greater transparency and consistency to global property markets. 

Collectively representing many hundreds of thousands of professional practitioners, 10 UK organisations are signed up to the IES Coalition which calls on those in the built environment to submit their feedback on the new International Ethics Standard. 

Peter Bolton King, Chair of the International Ethics Standard Coalition said: “The new standard has been written by a group of independent industry leaders and international ethics and compliance experts appointed by Trustees of the IES Coalition. Included in the group are prominent real estate representatives from Russia, China, France, the USA, Germany, Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, Canada and the UK. The IES Coalition is organising this three month consultation to ensure that the final version is high quality, understood and accepted by all participating organisations, practitioners and their clients. Relevant organisations and individuals throughout the world are invited to respond.”

Chris Blythe, Chief Executive of the CIOB said: “Ethics is central to being a professional. Construction is a challenging environment and that will only increase as national players and agendas mix together on the international stage. It is crucial that professional ethics are implemented throughout the supply chain, particularly in markets that are susceptible to differing standards. By joining the IES and developing a collaborative and consistent approach to ethics we can ensure that with greater standardisation professionalism across the globe will be raised.”

The International Ethics Standard is the first of its kind for the sector and will align the ethics principles adhered to by professionals in land, property, construction and infrastructure. The Coalition believes that this will de-risk property and BE markets for investors, businesses and the public at large and help to reassert the role that ethics plays in the global property profession.

The latest list of professional bodies, associations, NGOs and standards setting organisations that have signed up to develop and implement the International Ethics Standards can be accessed here: http://ies-coalition.org/members/