Making passionate places

Sep 24 2007 The Journal

THE construction industry in the North-East has experienced dynamic growth in the past decade, out-performing other regions and being transformed. The Construction Industry Council (CIC) is a pan-industry organisation for professional bodies, research organisations and specialist business associations in construction.

THE construction industry in the North-East has experienced dynamic growth in the past decade, out-performing other regions and being transformed. The Construction Industry Council (CIC) is a pan-industry organisation for professional bodies, research organisations and specialist business associations in construction.

CIC North-East, working collaboratively with the professions and other regional industry bodies, aims to raise regional achievement further in helping make better places, creating infrastructure and in the design, development and regeneration of enjoyable environments in which to live and work.

Property is the nation’s greatest investment and its investment and asset value is central to our quality of life in economic, social and environmental terms.

CIC North-East actively and continuously engages with industry bodies, including the sector skills councils, the Skills Observatory and Constructing Excellence to provide one of the best integrated construction industry structures in the UK.

The housing and economic strategy for the North-East presumes a supply of homes, offices and leisure facilities which have sustainability and quality at the heart of their design and implementation.

We see CIC NE helping in the actions needed, not just towards delivering these aims, but also in assisting our membership bodies advance the sector which is itself such a driver in the regional economy and a major employer at every skills level.

Later this year, a review of new aims, emerging knowledge and service requirements will be organised to ensure skills, education and training in construction align not only with employment opportunities but also with the sustainable communities, energy and climate change agendas.

Our industry is experiencing fundamental change in customer focus, performance and quality which is essential in supporting the region’s need to build competitiveness in a globalising economy.

Enterprise, innovation and research will continue to be supported by CIC as architects, engineers and surveyors help their clients to achieve better asset values from their construction investment.

The emerging knowledge economy requires the efficiency, productivity and quality of life which the industry can, at its best, create.

Meanwhile, those within continue the transition in labour markets, collaborative working and intelligent service delivery. This year has seen sustainability being placed at the forefront of procurement in the public sector.

It has also witnessed the publication of fully-modernised consultant contracts from CIC, which currently publishes industry-leading national guidance and collateral warranty agreements.

In an industry which is becoming increasingly driven by new and evolving methods of construction and energy performance, it is essential the skills and knowledge of the related workforce are kept up to date.

This work starts in mainstream education, through excellent work and links with organisations such as the University of Northumbria’s School of the Built Environment.

It continues through our region’s colleges and training in the working environment, with the efforts of our region’s industry bodies and the employers themselves.

More holistic and better integrated consultant teams demand better co-ordination of professional development, learning and training. We see this as an important development for CIC North- East.

Successful infrastructures and effective buildings can retain and build passionate places throughout the region. CIC NE will be helping to ensure this is achieved.

John Burns, chair of CIC North-East, is a chartered architect and director of Mackellar Architecture. CICNE can be contacted through Catriona Lingwood at Constructing Excellence on (0191) 383-7435.