WIREDGOV

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) welcomes the final report by the Panel on Fair Access to the Professions. This timely and thorough report underpins the importance of Government and Professional Bodies working together in the development of lifelong learning opportunities and professional skills.

The report stresses the need to give equal access across all the social and economic groups of the UK, to ensure that Britain realises the social benefits of a huge potential growth in professional employment in future decades. Globalisation also demands that investment now in training and skills will help ensure that UK industry is well placed to succeed in the future.

Michael Brown, Deputy Chief Executive of the CIOB commented: “The CIOB is a good example of how a professional body has successfully extended access to professions through widening the scope of its intake. This has been achieved without lowering the standards of entry, but by addressing the barriers that exist to obtaining the required qualifications. We believe our experience could be applied to other industries.”

The CIOB has already highlighted a number of areas where increased Government funding should be considered and barriers that need to be removed if access to the professions is to be improved. In particular, barriers that prevent people from retraining and moving in to a new profession must be addressed by government. The lack of career advice to young people has been identified as a major issue, and the CIOB recommends that funding be provided to support the training of career advisors. This will ensure a better understanding of the diversity of roles available and the overall importance of the built environment to the economy and to our quality of life.

To view the full CIOB submissions please go to www.ciob.org/about/ciobpolicies.



NOTES TO EDITORS

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) represents for the public benefit the most diverse set of professionals in the construction industry.

Our Mission

To contribute to the creation of a modern, progressive, and responsible construction industry; able to meet the economic, environmental and social challenges faced in the 21st century.

Our 7 Guiding Principles

· Creating extraordinary people through professional learning and continuous personal development.
· Promoting the built environment as central to the quality of life for everyone everywhere.
· Achieving a sustainable future, worldwide.
· Advocating exemplary ethical practice and behaviour, integrity and transparency.
· Pursuing excellence in management practice, and technological innovation rooted in evidence based science.
· Being socially responsible and working responsibly.
· Enabling our members to find an emotional resonance with the Institute; their success is our success.

We have over 40,000 members around the world and are considered to be the international voice of the building professional, representing an unequalled body of knowledge concerning the management of the total building process.

Chartered Member status is recognised internationally as the mark of a true, skilled professional in the construction industry and CIOB members have a common commitment to achieving and maintaining the highest possible standards within the built environment.

Further information is available by contacting Saul Townsend CIOB Press and Communications Manager on t: 01344 630 766 or e: stownsend@ciob.org.uk.