www.mpani.org
As the only certified representative body for the construction industry in Northern Ireland, the Construction Employers Federation (CEF) has for many years worked with our partners in the Mineral Products Association Northern Ireland (MPANI) to deliver positive change for the local construction industry. Members of both organisations should be proud of the role that they played during the Covid-19 pandemic – not just in assisting the repurposing of many of our healthcare facilities for the challenges that they faced, but also for keeping crucial works going as many other sectors of our economy were unable to properly function. Looking to the future, many of the key themes that we advocated in our Manifesto for the 2022 NI Assembly Election are shared as mutual areas of focus for our respective trade associations. These included:
・ Greater consistency in procurement practice across the public sector, accompanied by the establishment
of a Procurement Review Service, which seeks to avoid costly and time-consuming legal challenges.
As we continue to adjust after the implications of COVID-19, there remains the vital climate change emergency. We continue to respond by working with our members, their clients, fellow professionals and all other stakeholders. This really is not an issue that can be put aside for another day. It is real and we have
WE ARE ESSENTIAL! REALISE IT, COMMUNICATE IT
seek to drastically speed up decision making processes. ・ Setting an ambitious target of completing a minimum of 9,500 new homes for each of the next 15 years in order to meet our housing need.
・ Agreement of a multi-year capital budget that delivers key projects such as the remaining Executive Flagships, the York Street Interchange and the A1 Junctions as well as an absolute commitment to funding NI Water’s infrastructure programme over the coming decade.
・ A significant package of measures to enable the drive to net zero that must include a funded and ambitious housing retrofit strategy.
・ Substantive changes, by way of a new Planning Act, to our two-tier planning system, which
At a time of significant political and economic challenge, we look forward to working alongside MPANI over the coming year to continue to highlight the importance of construction industry and its extensive supply chain to the success of Northern Ireland’s economy.
・ The establishment of an independent Infrastructure Commission as well as delivering fundamental reforms to the governance and financing structure of the Housing Executive and NI Water.
CIAT is a dynamic, forward-thinking and inclusive global membership qualifying body for Architectural Technology and as such we continue to tackle and work on some very real challenges at this present time; those which affect the discipline, the industry and society in the UK and globally. All of this work demonstrates also the vital importance of a partnership approach between all of us working within the built environment sector, the wider business community and governments to see Northern Ireland move forward alongside all the other nations.
Mark Spence
MANAGING DIRECTOR, CEF
a duty to respond in collaboration with our clients and all stakeholders in an effective way. As Chartered Architectural Technologists, we are best positioned to delivering a greener and sustainable environment by examining how structures are performing and how they shape the community that we live in. The world has changed in many ways and will continue to transform, led by four key factors (including climate change). These have, and will, impact the way we live, work and socialise now and in the future, which will provide opportunities for Architectural Technology professionals to lead on to create
Eddie Weir PPCIAT MCIAT
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT, CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGISTS
new environments and solutions. These four impacts are ・ COVID-19.
・ Climate change.
・ Building and life safety.
・ Brexit.
All four compound with each other, are interrelated and consequently how we respond to them must be cohesive, real and focused. The built environment plays a crucial role in how people understand and value the world around them and the essential pivotal discipline of Architectural Technology is at the centre of this.
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