Mark Beard FCIOB, the new president of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), has used his first address to warn that too many buildings are being constructed that "are not fit for purpose".
Speaking at the CIOB’s first virtual Members Forum, the chairman of Beard Construction called on all construction professionals to adopt the CIOB’s new Code of Quality Management, and to make quality "part of our industry’s culture".
"The construction industry delivers many great buildings, for which we can be truly proud," he said. "However, there are still too many completed buildings that are not fit for purpose. We need to work together to ensure all work delivered by our industry is of the highest possible standard; embracing fully the requirements of the forthcoming building safety legislation."
He said the issue of quality would be the focus of his year as the institute’s 117th president.
"I plan to build on the work of the CIOB’s quality commission and encourage all construction professionals to embrace the Institute’s new Code of Quality Management as we make quality part of our industry’s culture," he said.
Beard, who has worked in the UK and Australia construction industries for more than 30 years, also acknowledged the difficulties construction professionals face in the coronavirus.
But he added that it showed how the industry is also able to adapt.
"The Covid-19 pandemic is an extraordinary, unprecedented event that nobody could have seen coming," he said.
"I empathise fully with all CIOB members and everyone in construction as we all go through these challenging times with many people facing furlough and reduced pay. However, Covid-19 has shown us that we are far more capable of change than we may have imagined before and together we will get through this very difficult time."
Beard has a variety of outside interests, including being a member of Construction Manager Magazine Editorial Advisory Board, member of Henley Business School Advisory Board, Governor of Christ Church Cathedral Choir School, a patron of Alexander Devine Children’s’ Hospice, a patron of Nexus, founder of Beard Charitable Foundation and High Sheriff in Nomination for Oxfordshire for Shrieval year commencing April 2022.
Immediate Past President of the CIOB Professor Charles Egbu FCIOB said, "Mark will be a great President for the CIOB, and he is right the industry is capable of great change. We need to all pull together to make that change happen, but we know it is within us. Mark’s firsthand experience of leading organisations during this period will be invaluable over the coming weeks and months, as the CIOB further responds to the needs of our members and the broader industry. I congratulate him on his achievement and look forward to supporting him in the year ahead."
Image: Mark Beard FCIOB, chairman of Beard Construction, is the 117th president of the Chartered Institute of Building
