East and West Kent
Beverley Lawrence, your Kent Centre Administrator, is available to discuss any events advertised and helps co-ordinate and promote events that are organised by the Centre. You can contact Beverley on Tel: 08450 706099, Email: blawrence@ciob.org.uk or post: CIOB Kent Centre, Engelmere, Kings Ride, Ascot SL5 7TB
Alternatively, please contact Dave Mills ICIOB, Kent Centre Chairman on Tel: 07803 261193 or Email: dave.mills@fgould.com
Introduction from the Kent Centre Chair The economic climate within the general construction industry remains mixed and very competitive. As we begin to enter a double dip recession the extent of the impact has yet to be fully seen. In a time where jobs are becoming more scarce generally and particularly in the construction industry it is becoming more paramount that we demonstrate our success to the world. The on time delivery of the infrastructure for London 2012, and the official opening of the Shard, show others are leading by example. The construction industry is about far more than bricks and mortar and encompasses a huge range of generally unsung heroes. If you think of the iconic picture of the New York steel erectors having lunch as the Empire State Building was constructed, this is show casing then men who built it. Are the designers, managers and other specialists ever immortalized in such a prominent way? Many people could name the man who designed The Shard but how many would know who the M&E engineer, structural engineer, site manager or project manager was. Without these unsung heroes Renzo Piano's Shard would be nothing more than a drawing. Many of these projects are unique examples of construction innovation, use of skills and new materials and the development of construction techniques. Needless to say the skills and the experience gained during the construction process are a way of keeping individuals and by implication your companies ahead of the competition. So too is education. The recent rise in university fees has made it even more important that we promote our industry and consider encouraging people to join. One of the CIOB's aims for 2012 is to encourage others to enter the construction industry and join the Institute. We will therefore be looking to engage further with schools and colleges to promote the built environment and encourage the under 18's into the interesting, varied, creative and challenging world of construction. There are several colleges in Kent running construction related courses at various levels. These colleges represent Kent when they take part in the Annual CIOB Student Challenge. Mid Kent College and the Royal School of Military Engineering have had remarkable success year on year in the SE Branch Heats held in Southampton. Mid Kent College then went on to achieve a third place in the national final held at CIOB Head Quarters Englemere, in Ascot. This proves the adaptability of the students as this final competition in April was a different format competition. Clearly the students are of high calibre and very employable. The Kent Centre remains keen to encourage younger members of the institute who will ultimately be our future in the construction industry. There are other methods of gaining construction knowledge besides formal study. This could be by mutually beneficial contacts, mentoring and the sharing of experiences or by keeping up to date with industry developments, for example: We are looking to enhance the networking opportunities ahead of each CPD event through joint events with other professional institutes. Planning of an event with Association for Project Management is underway. Looking into the immediate future, we are all going to have to consider how to get and retain the best people and encourage new members of the right calibre to join the institute from an early age. The CIOB generally, and in Kent particularly, are keen to help and encourage new younger professionals into full membership through the proposed Kent Novus group which is in initial stages of development. The committee is keen to hear from members of any grade who would like to join Novus, assist with its implementation or would be able to assist younger members with mentoring or providing work experience or sandwich placements. Novus is about developing the future generation and helping others to achieve the coveted status of MCIOB. As a final reminder Kent CIOB CPD sessions provide a cost effective way of meeting your professional obligations to undertake sufficient and relevant CPD. The committee and I look forward to welcoming you to the next event. Dave Mills ICIOB 7 July 2012.
Kent Centre Committee 2013-14 Chair Dave Mills ICIOB Vice Chair Keith Etheridge MCIOB Immediate Past Chair Kenton May FCIOB Treasurer Peter Smith FCIOB Chair CPD committee William Preston FCIOB Colleges representative Geoff Rose FCIOB New members representative Stuart Hirst MCIOB Committee member Kevin Hogwood MCIOB Committee member Oma Megbele ICIOB Committee member John Ware ACIOB |
