Blogs

Maybe photography is the narrative this industry needs more of?

Taking our team forward with a Training Partnership

At Baxall, the majority of our technical directors are members of the CIOB, and have been for some time. We understand the value of being part of this professional body and how it can support us in our careers, so we were encouraged when we began noticing a trend amidst our employees’ aspirations in their appraisals to also become chartered.

Brexit provides the opportunity for a revolution in the construction industry

Many people seem to think that innovation in construction is something that happens as a matter of course. From Palaeolithic caves to living in Neolithic mud brick houses; from Greek lintels to Norman arches; and from massive stone walls to slender steel frames, improvements in design, content and material efficiencies are a signal feature of progress over time. While it appears that living conditions improve naturally as history moves forward, in reality progress requires conscious human intervention to challenge and change the old, less efficient, less imaginative way of doing things.

Return to work with support from industry

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.

Getting more from my membership

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.

Equipping construction with the skills for the future

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.

Making a difference with my membership

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.

From strength to strength: 10 years of Novus

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.

Novus on Board

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.

Construction Quality: It’s about our values

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.

Collaboration on quality: getting on track

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.

Question time: a Novus interview of Rebecca Thompson

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.