CIOB CEO: ‘Wherever I go in the world, people have a problem with a lack of skilled workers’

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It takes a little bit of time to arrange the interview with Caroline Gumble, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Builders (CIOB) but that’s to be expected when you are trying to pin someone down to a specific date and time who oversees an organisation with approximately 47,000 members in more than 120 countries around the world.

“I spend my life on the road, so it’s very unusual that you find me in an office environment,” she comments towards the start of our video interview. “I’m out there engaging in the industry nearly every day of the week. I get overwhelmed with the stories and the good practices.”

The CIOB operate as a professional body and educator policy influencer and have a royal charter committing them to work in the public interest to drive quality and to encourage high standards in the industry. Gumble says that they are a “broad church” with over 80 different roles in its community, “everything from design all the way through to demolition.”

Skills shortage

Gumble travels all over the world speaking to those in the construction industry and, while there are certain issues that are more prevalent in some countries than others, there are some that are universal. “Wherever I go in the world, everybody will say to me, ‘we have a problem here with lack of skilled workers’. It doesn’t matter where I am; that is absolutely consistent,” she reveals.

The other big issue is that of sustainability and how the sector can reduce its emissions. According to the World Green Building Council, buildings are currently responsible for 39% of global energy related carbon emissions: 28% from operational emissions and 11% from materials and construction. Sustainability has changed, says Gumble, from being a ‘nice to have’ to essential.

“I think it’s accepted, and it’s been fully embraced, certainly by the tier one contractors in the industry. Clients also generally see that this is essential. The whole life value of a product of a building is to be taken into consideration. Not just the build phase, but of its whole life. And then it’s demolition,” she says. “It’s widely understood now that there’s social responsibility for it. That’s really important.”

The CEO makes the point that it’s not just about the new builds though, with estimates that 80% of the buildings worldwide that need to be carbon neutral by 2050 have already been built, so refit will be key. This is a good point, but it is worth highlighting how impressive some of these new buildings are, from a sustainability point of view. Gumble says that on one of her recent trips she was shown a building, the Samwoh Smart Hub Singapore project, that was ‘carbon positive’ – that gives back more energy into the environment than it takes.

Fast growing regions

Caroline Gumble (Image: CIOB)

Gumble says that for both the CIOB and for the industry in general the Middle East and North Africa are two of the fastest growing regions. “When I look at the Middle East, they’re very innovative,” she reveals.

“Particularly when it comes to sustainability and trying things; they don’t seem to have any fear. Big projects, big innovations, trying new ways of working, trying new products – that does stand out. They have these giga projects alongside major structural, civil, and development projects.”

To meet the growth of activity in the Middle East and North Africa, CIOB is investing in more staff and regional hubs in the area to support an expanding membership. When it comes to membership overall, Gumble is clear that she favours the right members, rather than simply growing the organisation to get higher numbers. “I’d rather have fewer members but have the ones with the right values and ethics. We are not a trade body – it’s about having the quality of ethical practitioners in the industry that can be trusted,” she says.

One of the hot topics that the industry and CIOB members are grappling with is construction technology. The CEO mentions Building Information Modelling (BIM) as something that is increasingly being used, albeit more by the tier one contractors, the increasing impact of drones for surveying, as well as the vast potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI). However, she mentions that an issue for some is the sheer number of different options available.

“What I do hear is that there’s so many different platforms, software and systems. I know of many working in the industry, even in the same company, sometimes having to use numerous different platforms and programs. I think there needs to be, at some point, a rationalisation, and better consistency. Things are moving so quickly that when companies invest it can already be out of date; at some point there needs to be more of consolidation.”

Lack of diversity

One of the key focuses of Gumble’s tenure as CEO ties into the skills shortage – the desire to increase diversity in the construction industry. So, how do we go about doing that?

“First of all, what we need to do is showcase the individuals who are already being successful in the industry. We spend a lot of time trying to do that because it’s the old saying – ‘If you can see yourself, then you can become yourself’. It’s really important to do that.

“It isn’t about tick boxes. There must be a real shift in making people feel part of the industry and feeling that they’re welcomed and encouraged. It’s going to take lots of generations to have an industry that replicates the communities that the industry is part of.”

There are no doubts challenges to working in construction and Gumble acknowledges that it can be a hard industry to work in regarding working hours and the physical exertion required. However, these things are evolving and the benefits in the industry are numerous.

“You can rapidly progress your career in this industry; probably faster than in most others. The other thing is to respect it as a profession. Recognise the industry as a profession, not as a job.”

Gumble is passionate about the industry that she serves and describes being able to speak to construction professionals about their work and see the passion that they have is a “privilege”.

It certainly sounds like it was a rare day that I caught her in the office and, after the interview is over, she says goodbye cheerfully before, no doubt, starting to prepare for the next trip to another country where she’ll learn about the challenges – and massive opportunities – that the construction industry faces.