Route to Fellowship with Pat Edwards FCIOB

Pat is currently a construction management trainer, delivering a range of Higher Education construction programmes, inclusive of site engineer; quantity surveying; site supervision and building services engineering, to employed individuals and employers UK wide.  

A brief walk through my career… I was previously a Chief Executive of a medium sized charity, engaged in the delivery of employment related programmes for young people, adults and employers, incorporating the development and management of a chain of early years settings in East London, UK. Employing over 150 staff members and championed the ‘Hub and Spoke Business Model’ and merger and acquisition of distressed companies. 

Prior to this, I have held roles including being an Executive Director within a national (London, Liverpool and Bristol) Homeless Housing Association – remodelling homeless shelters to hotel quality standard whilst providing job opportunities to a range of excluded individuals. I was also able to incorporate a secondary school, for the most vulnerable, into the portfolio of the organisation.  During this period, I was the Chair of a national charity speculating in positive action training for undergraduates and postgraduates.

The very first phase in my career…I started my career as a Designer at a medium sized construction company, providing design solutions to blue chip companies; this was after completing a three-year apprenticeship in Architectural Metalwork, where I twice won Apprentice of the Year London and the South East of England. I furthermore, worked for two large London based local authorities as a Building Surveyor and Building Engineer with project responsibilities for school remodelling, Town Hall refurbishment and revitalisation of a well-known North London housing estate. I was also instrumental in developing a procurement strategy incorporating a performance specification; the first in the country.

Educationalist…I started my teaching career as a Lecturer in Design and Construction Technology, and then progressed, within a year, to a Head of Department of Construction and Engineering and then a Vice Principal at a large North London Further Education College. Within this period, I set up several innovative projects related to a Digital Arts Centre and an off shoot Cultural Arts Business Centre and was also recognised for my teaching abilities by a visit to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen. My own academic accolades include; graduating with an MBA specialising in project management and an MA in Management Practice specialising in the implementation of diversity strategies in the UK construction industry.

I became a Fellow of Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) in 2017, and since then a range of wonderful opportunities has opened up to me. Firstly, I was appointed a Hertfordshire Leader of Governance with the objective to carry out interventions with schools in special categories. I also led the first grant-maintained school to merge with a prestigious private sector school in England. In addition, I became a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Building Engineers to recognise my competence as a building surveyor. Furthermore, I gained educational recognition by becoming a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Further Education. 

In recent times, my organisation was awarded the Queen’s Award for Innovation based on the leadership and employability programmes designed to secure meaningful jobs for young people and also in recognition of my contribution to the Greater London community engagement, I have become a Deputy Lieutenant.  

Within the remit of the CIOB, I am a Fellowship Assessor for the Fellowship pathway and a member of the CIOB Degree Accreditation Panel. In addition, I am a member of the CIOB Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Panel. My roles also extend to that of a qualified Executive Coach, Mentor and End-Point Assessor.

Since becoming a Fellow of the CIOB, I have won the UK Chief Executive of the Year; the Charity of the Year Award; the Board/Senior Leadership and the Small to Medium Sized Business Award. I have also won the British Quality Foundation (BQF) – Excellence in Diversity and Equality Award.

In my spare time I have taken on Trustee roles of two prominent London based charities and remain passionate about providing innovative learning solutions to engage the most disadvantaged individuals in society to inspire their aspirations. 

So, what are the benefits to securing CIOB Fellowship? 
There are many possibilities: the professional credibility and confidence to engage with a range of individuals outside the field of construction; recognition of reaching a gold standard as a professional construction manager; easy access to a network of like-minded and high-level construction professionals and groups; and access to a range of professional learning and development resources and specialist information. 

Apply for your Fellowship today!