The CIOB’s move from its Victorian country house headquarters in Ascot is vital for the continued modernisation of the Institute, CIOB president Peter Jacobs said this week.
Peter Jacobs
The CIOB announced its decision in August to move from its Englemere HQ, its home for 40 years, to modern offices in Bracknell. The CIOB is also setting up a representative office in London, bringing itself alongside its sister institutes in the construction sector and other industry influencers.
Jacobs said: “We have been in leafy Ascot, close to the racecourse, since 1971. This imposing country house, the former home of Lord Roberts the famous Victorian General, held happy memories for many of the trustees, members and staff. But it simply was not fit for purpose as a facility and location from which to run a modern international professional institution. He said that the move “will enable us to make a step change in our ability to meet our objective “to put the CIOB at the heart of any career in the built environment”.
There is an analogy to draw between the modernisation of the CIOB and the current situation in the UK construction industry
Jacobs, managing director of Morgan Sindall in London said that the move is part of the Institute’s wider strategic plan. “The CIOB has, as part of gradually modernising the organisation, changed its governance structure, revised the Professional Review process and both rebuilt and re-launched its website. There is an analogy to draw between the modernisation of the CIOB and the current situation in the UK construction industry.”
“The industry is full of great people. Everybody is working very hard. We all know that we have to become more efficient as an industry in order to deliver “more for less”.
The CIOB has said that with membership continuing to grow internationally, the decision by the Board of Trustees responds to the increasing demand to keep up with advances in information and communications technology which is being limited by the current building.
It sees the web as becoming central to its activities and plans to increase its adoption of digital and web-based technologies, where members will have greater opportunities to connect and share knowledge with each other. The CIOB is scheduled to move into its new HQ by February 2014.
