The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has held its Parliamentary Reception in the House of Commons, hosted by Jo Churchill MP.
Speakers at the reception included Nick Boles MP, Minister of State for Skills, Angela Eagle MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, and Paul Nash FCIOB, Senior Vice President of the CIOB.
The reception brought together senior representatives from across the industry to discuss the importance of UK construction and ways of improving its image to attract more people to a career in the sector. It also provided an opportunity for construction management professionals to speak directly to parliamentarians about the key long-term issues facing the industry, and where CIOB can help provide solutions.
Commenting on the discussion, Nick Boles MP said: “High quality apprenticeships are vital for attracting talented people to join the construction industry and ensuring the sector has the skills it needs to boost productivity. We are working with leading employers to develop new construction apprenticeships in roles including civil engineering site manager and quantity surveyor.”
The event also explored the relationship between government and the construction industry and looked at ways professionals and professional bodies can help policy makers address some of the challenges facing the sector.
The reception built on the findings of a report commissioned earlier this year by the CIOB. The report, entitled: ‘Understanding the value of professionals and professional bodies’ identified five key areas where professional bodies add value. These areas include productivity, social mobility, governance and ethics, international development and policy formation.
Paul Nash said: “We know from our own research that professional bodies command significant trust from parliamentarians and the public and are uniquely placed to help deliver solutions to some of the challenges facing the sector.
“With construction output in the UK expected to grow by 2.9% per annum until 2030, it’s imperative that the sector is given a clear and effective channel to engage with policymakers. We welcome the opportunity to discuss with parliamentarians the key issues and look forward to building a world-class industry.”
