CIOB’s reasonable adjustments support inclusivity in construction
Levelling the route of membership for those with disabilities.
Think about a time in your life when you wanted to achieve something but were faced with obstacles that made the final destination seem almost impossible.
Did you give up or carve your own pathway to success?
Our member, Phillip Smith, was met with a barrier in his professional life that he thought was unachievable. He wanted to inspire others by sharing his experience of becoming a Chartered Member of CIOB despite the initial challenges that hindered him from previously taking this leap.
Phillip is a blind construction professional who has been working in the industry since 1974 up until his retirement. He now has a private quantity surveying practice and always wanted to become a chartered agent to receive recognition and grow in his profession. Once Phillip learned that part of the chartership process was to complete a written assessment, he was about to abandon his goal.
It wasn’t until Phillip came into contact with Sereena Kang, CIOB’s Regional Manager (Americas), that he was reassured his dream was not entirely lost and that there were alternative routes to becoming a Chartered Member. Sereena created a unique plan with CIOB’s team and discussed CIOB’s 'Reasonable Adjustments Policy' with Philip, ensuring that his visual impairment allowed him to take an interview route to achieve chartership, equipped with a mentor to support him on his journey.
Phillip’s ambition returned and he put his trust in the hands of the CIOB team and the support that was available to him from this policy. Within a matter of time, Phillip completed the interview and received an unexpected call from Sereena on her day off, eagerly telling him that she couldn’t wait until the working week to share the news that Phillip was now a Chartered Member of CIOB.
“Becoming a Chartered Member was one of the best days of my life”
Not only has this status helped Phillip’s confidence grow, but he has now been able to meet people at a high level in government and is involved in conversations that were not previously within reach. He sees his new title not only as a personal achievement, but something that can help benefit the construction industry as a whole.
“Since I've become a Chartered member, I'm actually involved in the decision-making from the highest level. My personal confidence has escalated so much and doors are now opening that were not open to me before.”
Phillip is a remarkable force who found the whole chartership experience fantastic, encouraging his colleagues and peers to follow in his footsteps and reach chartered status, whether they believe it’s achievable or not, as the CIOB team and our policies are there to support.
Feeling inspired? We have many different pathways and additional support methods that can help you reach chartered status. Find out more about our different routes and memberships here.
Listen to Phillip tell his story
Learn more about how CIOB’s reasonable adjustments supported Phillip's journey.