CIOB CEO supports Midlands levelling up

CIOB CEO Caroline Gumble lent her support to the levelling up of the Midlands on a recent visit.

As part of a three-day tour of the region, she hosted a roundtable event at Aston University where education providers, regional policymakers and leaders in the built environment came together. Andrew Bridge, senior customer engagement manager at CITB, chaired the discussion.

The key message from the session was the need for better collaboration between business and education. To allow the industry to inform young people of opportunities within the built environment, as well as to feed into the course materials and provide stable work opportunities. Bridge remarked on the passion in the room about providing this collaboration.

Gumble’s tour also included visits to projects under way. First was the University of Wolverhampton’s School of Architecture and Built Environment, where she officially inaugurated the new CIOB branded spaces.

In Wolverhampton, she learned how the Grade II-listed Royal Hospital has become a wellbeing scheme for over-55s as part of a digital twinning project. This project was the brainchild of Paul Dockerill, CIOB trustee and director of energy and programme management at Jessup Brothers, in collaboration with local digital expert Deeo.

Other visits included the One Centenary Way project in Birmingham by Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM). The first part of phase two of the Paradise development, this will overlook the transformed Centenary Square and, with its unique exposed steel frame, provide a visual gateway to Paradise and a new city landmark.

Gumble heard about the work SRM is doing around early adoption and implementation for the Building Safety Act. The tour took in the Perry Barr Regeneration Scheme, which aims to transform the area, enhancing infrastructure and providing homes. A highlight was meeting people working on the scheme under the Kickstart programme with Lendlease.