Website promotes industry issues to researchers and policy-makers.
The CIOB has launched a new website to amplify the voice of the Institute and the construction industry on key political, economic and social issues.
The new site aims to improve access to industry knowledge for policy-makers and researchers, providing a repository for information, data and perspectives that illustrate the role of construction professionals to UK society. It will also highlight ongoing consultations where the CIOB is preparing a response, allowing members to post comments and views.
As the portal highlights, construction is a major player in the future of the UK, employing more than 2.2 million people and making up 6.4% of the economy.
But the CIOB believes that despite its impact on many aspects of life in the UK, the industry’s voice is not heard often enough within government agendas.
“Whilst this site won’t in itself bridge the gap between industry and government, it is another tool in construction’s growing armoury where information can be more easily accessed and exchanged.”
Eddie Tuttle, CIOB
The site holds a catalogue of CIOB data and research that has been collated over the past 10 years. It includes analysis of skills shortages in construction before, during and after the 2008 recession, the impact of ageing populations on the built environment, migration in construction, crime and corruption reporting and the value of professionalism within the sector.
Eddie Tuttle, principal policy and public affairs manager at the CIOB, said: “Fostering active collaboration has many mutual benefits and whilst this site won’t in itself bridge the gap between industry and government, it is another tool in construction’s growing armoury where information can be more easily accessed and exchanged.
“Through the CIOB, the industry has shared its perspective on issues like migration and modern slavery that traditionally government has not looked to us for. Influencing the big debates happening in Whitehall and the regions and also the devolved administrations is helping promote the value and importance of construction as a whole. Industry participation is key.”
The website is part of the CIOB’s ongoing efforts to improve engagement with MPs and members of the devolved assemblies, along with the policy-makers for the respective legislatures.
At a local level, the portal details construction’s activity across the UK so that MPs wanting to engage with the industry in their own constituencies can get a better feel for its influence.
The portal is at policy.ciob.org
