A loan scheme which enables homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties is needed if the UK is to reduce energy consumption, cut carbon emissions and bring down consumer bills, says the leading professional body for the construction sector. The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), in its response
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) have jointly published a free guide to managing Safety-Critical Elements (SCEs) in building construction, for their members and the wider built environment sector. The Guide to Managing Safety-Critical Elements in Building Construction helps to identify high-risk elements in and around buildings. It outlines systems
The Chartered Institute of Building’s first ever Safer Buildings UK event was held yesterday [Thursday 26 May]. More than 200 professionals from across the built environment sector gathered to hear from many of the senior figures behind the UK’s new building safety regulatory regime. The event was organised by the
This Tuesday marked the official State Opening of Parliament, with the Queen’s Speech setting out the Government’s agenda for the 2022-23 session, outlining key policies and proposed legislation. This year, for the first time, the speech was delivered by the Prince of Wales in the Monarch’s absence. During the address,
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has responded to the Construction Industry Trade Body’s (CITB) latest report, Mental Health and Wellbeing in Construction. Daisie Rees-Evans, author of the Understanding Mental Health in the Built Environment report and Policy Officer at CIOB, said: “CIOB are pleased that CITB have launched their
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has launched a ‘Certificate in International Construction Management’. To reflect the increasingly international nature of the sector and provide construction professionals with the knowledge and skills in global construction management best practice, CIOB has produced a programme on international construction management. The course provides the learner with the skills and knowledge to
2020 Art of Building photography competition now open… The world’s biggest photography competition for the built environment, the Art of Building, returns on 12 October 2020. Each year the competition attracts thousands of entries, as keen amateurs and experienced professionals battle for international recognition and two £1,500 cash prizes.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak MP has today made a statement to the House of Commons on the Government’s plans to protect jobs through the winter. The Chancellor’s Winter Economy Plan includes a six month Job Support Scheme, an extension to the coronavirus loan schemes and the Self Employment Income Support Scheme,
The shortlist for the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Construction Manager of the Year Awards 2020 has been revealed. A total of 60 of the very best construction managers in the UK have been named in the shortlists for nine categories. The Construction Manager of the Year Awards (CMYA), run by the CIOB every
The shortlist for the Chartered Institute of Building’s (CIOB) first ever Rising Star Award has been revealed. A total of 12 of the very best construction professionals at the beginning of their careers have been named in the shortlist. The Rising Star Award is being run by the Chartered Institute of Building
A loan scheme which enables homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties is needed if the UK is to reduce energy consumption, cut carbon emissions and bring down consumer bills, says the leading professional body for the construction sector. The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), in its response to the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee’s recent ‘Heating our Homes’ inquiry has reiterated previous calls for Government to support the Construction Leadership Council’s National Retrofit Strategy. It includes a “help to fix” scheme which provides homeowners with an interest-free government loan to cover the full costs of home improvements. CIOB says previous government schemes such as the Green Homes Grant and Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) have failed for several reasons, most notably that homeowners were required to part fund energy efficiency work in a lump sum. For many this simply wasn’t an option at the time the schemes were on offer, and certainly isn’t amid a cost-of-living crisis says CIOB’s policy team. In February 2023, the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee noted if the current take-up rate of the BUS continues, only half of the allocated budget will be used. CIOB adds that a scheme where the full cost of home improvements such as double glazing, insulation, new heating systems and even bigger jobs like loft conversions or extensions, are covered by a loan, is the only way many homeowners could afford to have work carried out, and government should develop such a scheme if they seriously want to meet its energy and carbon reduction targets. David Parry, CIOB’s parliamentary and public affairs officer, said: “We and the wider industry have been calling for a national strategy for retrofitting for years now but we’re not being listened to. Poorly planned, ad-hoc schemes such as the Green Homes Grant have been failures because homeowners are still expected to find a percentage of the cost of having work carried out on their home and people just don’t have that disposable income. “A long-term initiative where homeowners can borrow the full cost of improvement works would in our view incentivise a big upturn in demand which in turn will help improve the energy efficiency and quality of the nation’s housing stock, reduce energy use and associated costs for consumers, while also cutting carbon emissions and accelerating the move to net zero. Factored into a wider strategy, developed with industry experts, which considers the training of a skilled workforce, a “Help to Fix” scheme could go a long way to achieving the goals the Government has set itself but is currently nowhere near meeting.” CIOB adds that funding isn’t the only reason previous schemes have failed, and issues with promoting them, consumer confidence and ensuring skilled tradespeople were available to meet the demand for their services, also contributed to their downfall. The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee also noted that public awareness of low-carbon heating systems is limited, and the promotion of the BUS was inadequate. This was echoed in CIOB consumer data, which indicated that, of 2,000 UK adults polled in February 2023, 53 per cent had not heard of the BUS, Home Upgrade Grant, ECO Plus/ECO+ Scheme or the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. Eurostat data and research from the Building Research Establishment indicates that energy consumption in buildings accounts for 45 per cent of the UK’s carbon emissions*. Notably the UK has one of the oldest housing stocks in Europe, with the smallest proportion of homes built after 1970 and the second highest proportion built before 1919.** Parry added: “Our response to the “Heating our Homes” inquiry has given us the opportunity to once again reiterate our belief, and that of the wider built environment sector, that a national strategy is required if progress is to be made on retrofitting UK homes. Any such strategy must be created with multiple future governments in mind and have a broad consensus across the political spectrum if its to deliver results at the pace and scale required so we hope our calls will no longer continue to fall on deaf ears.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) have jointly published a free guide to managing Safety-Critical Elements (SCEs) in building construction, for their members and the wider built environment sector. The Guide to Managing Safety-Critical Elements in Building Construction helps to identify high-risk elements in and around buildings. It outlines systems that should be adopted to ensure that SCEs are properly incorporated and will serve as an important tool to ensure good practice and deliver safe, high-quality buildings. The joint guide recognises the cross-industry need for a rigorous and structured approach to the design, construction and inspection of safety-critical building elements. The guide highlights elements that, if omitted or installed incorrectly, can pose significant risk to people in and around buildings, including: CIOB past President Paul Nash, who chaired the Safety-Critical Elements working group, said: “At its heart, this guide is about ensuring that the buildings we create are safe for those who use them. That means ensuring every element that goes into a building is designed and installed correctly and this is independently verified before a building is occupied. The guide is another step towards creating a safer built environment.” Former President of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA) and current member of RIBA’s Expert Advisory Group on Fire Safety Professor John Cole CBE said: “This guide is a spur to the industry. We have seen much evidence showing how poorly Safety-Critical Elements have been installed in too many buildings. We all have to stand up, be serious and take appropriate responsibility. We want to push the industry to ensure that, on every project, all SCEs that could potentially impact the safety of future building users are properly designed, installed and inspected, with supporting evidence of compliance.” Download the Guide to Managing Safety-Critical Elements in Building Construction. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Chartered Institute of Building’s first ever Safer Buildings UK event was held yesterday [Thursday 26 May]. More than 200 professionals from across the built environment sector gathered to hear from many of the senior figures behind the UK’s new building safety regulatory regime. The event was organised by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) to help drive the culture change needed to ensure buildings are constructed and managed to be safe for all those who create and occupy them. The conference brought together perspectives on the new regulatory system that will govern the design, construction and occupation of higher-risk buildings, described as the biggest change in building safety in a generation. Delegates heard from, among others, government ministers and industry experts on plans to implement the Building Safety Act and ongoing work across the industry to raise levels of competency and develop a culture of quality. Keynote speakers included Dame Judith Hackitt DBE, chair of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, and Peter Baker, Chief Inspector of Buildings at the Health & Safety Executive, who both thanked CIOB and many of the other professional bodies who are “aligned” to the need for culture change to support the implementation of the Building Safety Act. Caroline Gumble, Chief Executive of CIOB, said: “There was a clear appetite among the audience for today’s event, with the industry looking to implement the new building safety regime. We’re proud to be leading the conversation and today made it clear there’s a need for continued collaboration. It’s been heartening to hear from delegates that they are willing to come together, across the range of roles that make up the built environment sector, working towards a culture of quality in our industry.” Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
This Tuesday marked the official State Opening of Parliament, with the Queen’s Speech setting out the Government’s agenda for the 2022-23 session, outlining key policies and proposed legislation. This year, for the first time, the speech was delivered by the Prince of Wales in the Monarch’s absence. During the address, the Prince declared that Government’s priorities are to “grow and strengthen the economy, and help ease the cost of living for families”, as well as to “level up opportunity in all parts of the country, and support more people into work”. In total, thirty-eight Bills were announced, including legislation to drive sustainable investment in public services and empower local economic growth through regeneration. Five existing Bills were also carried over from the 2021-22 parliamentary session, such as the High-Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill. CIOB (the Chartered Institute of Building) welcomes the Government’s focus on the built environment in the legislative programme for 2022-23, most notably the alignment of net zero and sustainability priorities, with the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. The Bill is wide-ranging and contains devolution measures, a government duty to report annually on the twelve levelling up missions, metrics of inequality across the UK and elements from the Planning Bill, which stalled following internal disagreements within the Conservative Party on proposed reforms to the planning system in England. CIOB is also pleased to see enhanced focus on cultivating the development of greener and smarter placemaking, whilst simultaneously seeking to address quality, sustainability and safety in the sector. The new Energy; Leaseholder Reform; and Transport Bills all afford opportunities for the construction sector to lead the way in safety and quality, while hitting the UK’s net zero ambitions and housing needs. Responding to the announcement, Caroline Gumble, Chief Executive of CIOB, said:“CIOB is pleased that the built environment is a focal point for the Government’s legislation agenda and will play a pivotal role in addressing the UK’s social, economic and environmental ambitions. The aims of the new Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, particularly through increased community involvement in planning proposals and redevelopment projects are sound, but the absence of an Employment Bill to support these initiatives could be a missed opportunity. The Covid-19 pandemic has clearly exacerbated persistent labour and skills shortages across the construction sector which has implications for those employed and seeking employment. Without a future pool of talent coming into the sector, any ambitions to build the necessary homes and infrastructure as part of the Government’s levelling up agenda will cost more and potentially reach a hard stop within a short space of time. Separately, questions remain on changes to permitted development rights (PDR), which – if implemented without significant safeguards – could lock in unacceptable standards of development, going against the fundamental desire to improve building quality and safety as set out in the recent Building Safety Act. The Government must therefore be explicit about links to existing and proposed legislation. We also welcome the announcement of a Procurement Bill, aimed at making it simpler for smaller businesses – who often struggle to secure local authority projects – to bid for public sector contracts. As part of this, Government should recognise the role of qualified professionals in ensuring professionalism, quality and value in public sector projects and programmes, and work with the sector to embed value-based outcomes as part of qualifying for public sector contracts. CIOB continues to champion these mechanisms for enhancing social value and how it can be used as a lever for improving quality, enhancing energy efficiency, promoting business best practice and improving access to the profession.” To read the transcript of the Queen’s speech, click here.
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has responded to the Construction Industry Trade Body’s (CITB) latest report, Mental Health and Wellbeing in Construction. Daisie Rees-Evans, author of the Understanding Mental Health in the Built Environment report and Policy Officer at CIOB, said: “CIOB are pleased that CITB have launched their new mental health report which has gathered examples of best practice across the sector to inspire companies to accelerate their activities in this area before we lose more lives. Our own research conducted prior to the Covid-19 pandemic investigated the state of mental health in the industry. It found that 26 per cent of workers had thought about taking their own life in 2019. We are glad to see that our research has been utilised to further develop the case for addressing mental health in construction, particularly at a time where the Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on so many lives during the past 18 months. Tackling mental ill-health is a significant challenge that the industry, Government and professional bodies must work together as a collective to address the underlying issues and improve worker’s wellbeing.”
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has launched a ‘Certificate in International Construction Management’. To reflect the increasingly international nature of the sector and provide construction professionals with the knowledge and skills in global construction management best practice, CIOB has produced a programme on international construction management. The course provides the learner with the skills and knowledge to plan, develop and execute construction projects, whether in foreign markets or within their home countries. The course comprises three technical modules running over six months, looking at best practice, the fundamentals of understanding global markets, rules and regulations, and managing international projects throughout the construction cycle. In addition, the course will also contain a short module with essential information on CIOB and how to become a member or fellow of the institute. The course is being led John Hayes, a Fellow of CIOB and industry veteran, with more than 30 years’ experience as a quantity surveyor and commercial director. John has extensive experience of multi-million pound global framework and construction projects in the UK, Europe and Australia. The course begins on 20 April 2021 and you can register here.
2020 Art of Building photography competition now open… The world’s biggest photography competition for the built environment, the Art of Building, returns on 12 October 2020. Each year the competition attracts thousands of entries, as keen amateurs and experienced professionals battle for international recognition and two £1,500 cash prizes. Last year’s winners included Alexandr Bormotin, from Ivanovo in Russia, who won the Public Choice Award for his incredible futuristic image of a new underground train station in Moscow, entitled Metrostation, and Pedro Luis Ajuriaguerra Saiz, a professional photographer from northern Spain, who was awarded the Judges’ Prize for capturing Hemisferic, a science museum in Valencia, designed by Santiago Calatrava. The competition is free to enter and open to anyone aged 18 or over. Entries can be made from 12 October 2020 until 15 November 2020. Up to three photographs per person may be entered. Winners will be announced on 26 January 2021 following the voting rounds. There are two awards to be won: the £1,500 Judges’ Prize, chosen by the judges, and the £1,500 Public Choice Award chosen by the public through an online vote. Entries will not be accepted outside of the advertised closing date or if they are embedded with borders or locks. Caroline Gumble, Chief Executive of the CIOB and part of the judging panel for this year, said: “I am proud to be involved again this year in my second CIOB Art of Building competition. Every year I am inspired by the beauty that the public see in the world’s structures, and I greatly look forward to seeing what’s submitted this time. As someone who can’t resist taking photos of buildings, construction sites and architecture, I know there must be lots of people out there with amazing and stimulating images to share.” For more details about the competition and to enter, log on to www.artofbuilding.org The competition can also be found on Instagram at www.instagram.com/charteredinstituteofbuilding About the CIOB’s Art of Building: Art of Building is an annual international photography competition run by the Chartered Institute of Building. The competition is open to anyone aged 18 or over. Art of Building is free to enter and entries are welcome from anywhere in the world. Pictures can be taken on any style of equipment, but they must be in digital format. Art of Building 2020 timeline: Open for entry – 12 October 2020 Closed for entry – 15 November 2020 Public vote begins – 7 December 2020 Public vote ends – 11 January 2021 Winner announced – 26 January 2021
Chancellor Rishi Sunak MP has today made a statement to the House of Commons on the Government’s plans to protect jobs through the winter. The Chancellor’s Winter Economy Plan includes a six month Job Support Scheme, an extension to the coronavirus loan schemes and the Self Employment Income Support Scheme, and flexibility for VAT repayments. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been felt acutely by businesses operating in the built environment, with projects facing supply chain issues, a halt to planning and inspection timetables and new health and safety measures changing the way the industry works. The CIOB welcomes the Chancellor’s announcement of these measures, and particularly the extension of the coronavirus loan schemes, which have been an important lifeline to construction businesses over the past months. Small and medium sized enterprises make up around 99% of the construction industry, and support for these businesses is essential for their survival. Despite these challenges, construction professionals have remained optimistic throughout the crisis and have worked hard to adapt and operate safely to support the economy and provide vital infrastructure, including the NHS Nightingale field hospitals. The Construction Talent Retention Scheme is helping businesses to quickly recruit talented individuals and reduce skills shortages within the industry. The construction industry has a crucial role to play in safeguarding employment and supporting the economy through the coming winter months. While The CIOB recognises that now is not the time to outline long-term plans, it is important that thought is given to a stable pipeline of future work for the industry. The industry will need confidence if it is to retain its existing skills base, as well as attract new entrants and train or retrain them in the low carbon skills of the future. The CIOB is calling on the Government to build on its £2 billion Green Homes Grant scheme (GHG) and make progress towards its manifesto commitment of £9.2 billion to improve energy efficiency in homes, schools and hospitals. The CIOB also recommends that the Government implement a ‘Help to Fix’ interest-free loan scheme, predicated on energy efficiency, to improve the quality of the nation’s housing stock and encourage the uptake of retrofit measures by homeowners not covered by the GHG. This will help to protect existing employment and provide new, green jobs across all regions of the UK.
The shortlist for the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Construction Manager of the Year Awards 2020 has been revealed. A total of 60 of the very best construction managers in the UK have been named in the shortlists for nine categories. The Construction Manager of the Year Awards (CMYA), run by the CIOB every year since 1978, celebrates extraordinary individuals who go above and beyond to deliver buildings that make a positive impact on the lives of the people who use them. The finalists will be whittled down to one winner in each category when the awards are presented at a glittering ceremony on 25 November 2020 at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel. The overall Construction Manager of the Year winner is chosen from the category winners and is awarded the prestigious title and the trophy at the ceremony. Further details of the night and how to attend can be found here. The announcement of the finalists for each category follows a rigorous assessment process which sees the CMYA judges assess paper applications, as well as panel interviews. Caroline Gumble, Chief Executive of the CIOB said: “These awards are the most rigorously judged in the industry and a unique barometer for management talent in our sector. To reach the final is a major achievement and a sure sign that the very highest level of professionalism is on show.” The finalists are: Residential under 10 storeys Tony Gallagher – Durkan Ltd Matt Hamilton – SEACON Ltd Dominic Jankowski – The Power House, Gunpowder Mill Paul Jeal – St George West London Tomasz Magiera – WRW Construction Ltd Michael Saunders – Lovell Partnerships Mark Woollen – Willmott Dixon Residential over 10 storeys Brendan Conway – McAleer and Rushe Caroline Heraghty – Ardmore Construction Ltd Terry Kirby – Berkeley Homes East Thames Alistair MacPartlin – JJ Rhatigan Building Contractors Anthony Mitchell – ISG Patrick Phillips – Durkan Limited Gerald Ward – Bennett Construction Ltd Primary education Laura Allison – Morgan Sindall Mike Castle – Knights Brown Mark McElwee – Morgan Sindall Michael Pyatt – Morgan Sindall Stephen Sear – Morgan Sindall Construction Thomas Prince – Willmott Dixon Construction Massimiliano Crea – MID Group Schools John Blundell – T J Evers Andrew Miles – Kier Construction Daniel Morrish – Morgan Sindall Mark Prince – Eric Wright Construction Graham Thompson – Willmott Dixon Higher education Neil Adams – Willmott Dixon Interiors David Clarke – Wates Construction Frank Connolly – Mace Ltd Anthony Cooper – Interserve Construction Karl Crisp – Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd Glyn Jones – Willmott Dixon Lee Mullett – Willmott Dixon Construction (Midlands) Adam Price – Beard Ian Rainbow – BAM Construct UK Lee Wayper – Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd Richard White – ISG Construction Ltd Leisure Jamie Beard – Willmott Dixon Construction Theresa McErlean – Heron Bros Danni Oliveira – VINCI Construction UK Jonathan Roberts – VINCI Construction UK Nick Stoyles – Willmott Dixon Construction Paul Turner – VINCI Construction UK Offices Kevin English – Lendlease Paul Epton – Robertson Construction Central East Richard Kirkpatrick – Skanska Daniel Miller – Wates Construction Ltd Ian Rowe – Oakmont Construction Limited Craig Stokes – Laing O’Rourke Public and infrastructure Kevin Alden – Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd Kristian Cartwright – Willmott Dixon Paul Clarke – Willmott Dixon Brian Hanlon – Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd Russ Parks – Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd John Stedman – Morgan Sindall Construction and Infrastructure Ltd Simon Whittingham – Willmott Dixon Construction Healthcare Matt Gavin – Kier Construction Tom Millard – Willmott Dixon Construction Lewis Blake – Willmott Dixon Interiors Robert Palmer – Kier Regional Building London and South East
The shortlist for the Chartered Institute of Building’s (CIOB) first ever Rising Star Award has been revealed. A total of 12 of the very best construction professionals at the beginning of their careers have been named in the shortlist. The Rising Star Award is being run by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) for the first time this year, as an extension to their prestigious Construction Manager of the Year awards (CMYA). This brand new category is for rising stars who have been in the construction industry for seven years or less, and demonstrated excellence in their work, the industry and amongst their peers. The finalists have been whittled down by a panel of CIOB and construction professionals to Silver and Gold winners. The awards for the first ever CIOB Rising Stars will be presented at a glittering ceremony on 25 November 2020 in London, with the Rising Star winner being handed their trophy at the CMYA celebration event. Further details of the night and how to attend can be found on the CMYA website: www.cmya.co.uk/. Caroline Gumble, Chief Executive of the CIOB said: “These awards are a wonderful way to acknowledge the hard work and dedication shown by the emerging talent in our industry. I’m thrilled that we had so many nominations for our first ever Rising Star award and I’m looking forward to finding out who takes the title this year. My congratulations to everyone who’s made the shortlist.” The finalists are as follows: Kelly Attwood – Morgan Sindall Sam Bambury – Barratt London Vasiliki Bowler – Faithful + Gould Ellie Carswell – Faithful + Gould Annabel Clark – Faithful + Gould Cedric Fournier – Prime Pillar Group (Mauritius) Nicola Hodson MCIOB – Wates Group Graham Kinnear MCIOB – Graham Kinnear Property Consultant Ltd Mercy Ogunnusi MCIOB – Student & part-time lecturer at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen Lindsey Platt MCIOB – Orbit Housing Association Benjamin Valliquette – Gillam Group (Toronto) Robert Watson – NHBC
