PROFILE
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Profile
‘A JOURNEY TO A BETTER TOMORROW’ Like everyone else in construction, the thoughts of Mark Beard have been dominated by covid-19 since March. The chairman of Beard Construction and new CIOB president remains deeply concerned about the pandemic’s impact on the institute’s members and everyone employed in the construction industry – but is hoping to take some positives from a difficult situation. “For CIOB members and anyone in construction who has been laid off, furloughed or taken a pay cut – it has been a very difficult time and I empathise with what they are going through,” says Beard. “These are uncertain times for everyone working in the industry; the ongoing Grenfell inquiry is not painting us in a good light. “Conversely, the covid-19 crisis has shown that construction can step up to the mark when required. Working in unison, through the Construction Leadership Council and with government support, we found a way to keep sites going and delivered the new Nightingale hospitals incredibly quickly. “We have to look at the positives and find a way forward; we must raise the bar on quality and put professional pride into the industry. Things are not easy at present for many people in construction, but I strongly believe we are on a journey to a better tomorrow.” Quality is top of Beard’s agenda in his presidential year, along with changing the industry’s image among younger generations and supporting CIOB CEO Caroline Gumble’s international
DIANE AUCKLAND / FOTOHAUS
DESPITE THE PRESSURES OF COVID-19, THE GRENFELL INQUIRY AND BREXIT, NEW CIOB PRESIDENT MARK BEARD URGES MEMBERS AND THE INDUSTRY TO THINK POSITIVELY AND EMBRACE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT LIE AHEAD. BY WILL MANN
16 | CONSTRUCTION MANAGER SEPTEMBER 2020
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