Sajedah Maka MCIOB, district surveyor, Lancashire County Council
My resolutions for the coming year revolve around being more proactive and more efficient with my paperwork. As a district surveyor I supervise works across 60 different public buildings and it is easy to get bogged down with the paperwork or say I’ll do it later. I’d like to speed up with certain aspects of my work and be more organised with the work we have to do over the summer, traditionally the busiest period for me as that’s when all maintenance and small buildings works get carried out on local schools.
This year I’m determined to be more proactive in terms of gearing schools up much earlier for the sort of works they need done. I’d also like to get more involved this year with the CIOB.
Alan Crane FCIOB, Immediate Past President, CIOB
I have three. First I intend to become modern comms literate or whatever the term is so that I can work more remotely for clients and thus avoid much of the overpriced, hellish experience of transport to and from our major cities.
Second, I intend to establish a Construction Education Forum which engages: industry leaders who are prepared to say what they want rather than what they don’t and are prepared to do something about it; further and higher education providers willing to listen, digest and change; and professional bodies that will do things differently.
Finally, I’d like to get a politically non-aligned group together that will tell all the political elite that they are failing not just us but future generations by not getting on with our desperately needed Infrastructure now, not in 2025 or 2030.
Graham Robinson, executive director, Global Construction Perspectives
I’ve been working flat out during 2013 and only managed to get five days holiday so my resolution for 2014 is to make more time to relax. I’m determined to stop working to midnight, take more holidays that get me completely away from work and to take up golf lessons.
Jamie Barrett MCIOB, managing director, Evolution 5
I am really excited about the possibilities Building Information Modelling offers a company like Evolution5. We have spent the last couple of years going through the usual cycles of initial enthusiasm followed by disillusionment and then concern over BIM. Now there seems to be a general consensus about what BIM is and what it can deliver, through demonstrable case studies, we’ve got our enthusiasm back!
The opportunity to improve the way we work and collaborate more efficiently with others is very exciting and will enable a small business like ours to become an early adopter, as I don’t believe there are many project managers and quantity surveyors fully embracing BIM. So our New Year’s Resolution is to embed BIM into our working culture.
Emma Nicholson FCIOB, chair, Women in Sustainable Construction and Property
I’m looking at doing some training in 2014, I’m doing a free course at the moment that would allow me to become an assessor for BREEAM Communities. So I’m looking to polish up my skills to benefit potential clients and keep myself up to date. I might also look into some leadership training for 2014.
Another resolution is to embrace opportunities when they come along, for instance I was recently involved as a judge for the CIOB’s Innovation and Research award which was a great experience. That doesn’t mean being a “yes” person who takes up everything on offer, but if it’s beneficial I’ll see what comes along.
We’re also planning some really interesting events for Women in Sustainable Construction and Property – we’ll be theming the speakers and events more next year. The first event in 2014 is in February.
Going into 2014 feels loads better than this time last year, for a lot of people I know 2013 was a funny year with lots of ups and downs – maybe it was something about the number 13!
