CIOB People launched to tackle industry skills gap

The Chartered Institute of Building has launched a website to address construction’s yawning skills gap.

CIOB People aims to support the information needs of any industry professional in the UK and internationally whose role includes recruiting and developing people.

Topics covered will include women in construction, mental health, equality, diversity and inclusion, apprenticeships, learning and training, employee engagement, leadership, flexible working and much more.

Content will range from video interviews and podcasts to expert guides and webinars.

CIOB People’s editorial strategy will be steered by a panel of Construction People Champions, drawn from experienced industry leaders, and a group of CIOB Tomorrow’s Leaders, who will bring perspective from people newer to the built environment sector.

The panel line-ups will be announced in the next few months.

CIOB People will also be central to CIOB’s five-year Corporate Plan, unveiled in last month’s Construction Management, which set out a new strategy for modern professionalism in construction around key themes of the skills gap, sustainability, quality and safety.

The editor of CIOB People is Nadine Buddoo, who has more than a decade of built environment journalism experience.

She said: “The construction industry faces a skills gap that is pressing like never before, exacerbated by issues such as Brexit and an ageing workforce.

“Through CIOB People, I am looking forward to speaking with the built environment sector’s senior leaders, its HR and training professionals, and providing insights on how to tackle this major issue.

“It is great that CIOB has thrown its weight behind this initiative. CIOB is ideally placed among construction’s professional bodies to lead on people development because of its range of members, ranging from clients through to the supply chain.”

Caroline Gumble, CEO at CIOB, said: “At the heart of CIOB’s work is the setting of standards for professionals in construction. We have long supported people’s development and career progression, not just in construction techniques and processes, but also in areas such as ethics, EDI, mental health and social value.

“These are key issues, and especially important in attracting young people and career changers into this important industry.

“That’s why I am delighted we are launching CIOB People, a brand new resource to support the development of modern professionals in construction. It will help CIOB members, built environment HR professionals and the wider construction community to understand the challenges in recruiting, developing and retaining people.”

CIOB People will be published by Atom, on behalf of CIOB. Atom also publishes the CIOB titles Construction Management, BIMplus and Global Construction Review.

Atom carried out market research last summer on the appetite for CIOB People among built environment professionals. They gave it an average usefulness score of 76%.

Topics identified as being of most interest were leadership and mental health. Respondents also asked for more help providing training in ‘competency’ and ‘energy efficient construction’.