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Comments by RICS for 35th Anniversary of CIC on 1st Nov 2023

Posted: 24th October 2023

Gary Strong

Global Director of Building Standards

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) was one of the founding members of the Construction Industry Council (CIC) back in 1988, with our President David Harris Robert Yorke launching this new body as it was then, at RICS HQ. The noble aims of the Construction Industry Council at that time, have largely held true and good for the past 35 years, namely one of collaboration across professional bodies and ensuring that through CIC there is one consistent voice to Government and other stakeholders.

The construction industry has seen many challenges since 1988. The rise in alternative methods of procurement such as design & build, fundamentally changing the model of design, tendering and construction; a rise in Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), and various acts of parliament along the way such as The Construction Act, more recently the Building Safety Act 2022 and issues of competence, climate change, and issues such as RAAC has meant the CIC has never been more relevant.

Drawing down on the expertise of it’s professional body members, facilitating meetings of experts, driving a common purpose, is something that industry cannot do on it’s own particularly the smaller bodies who naturally would struggle to achieve all this singularly. It needs a co-ordinated effort, as we saw in the immediate aftermath of the Grenfell tragedy 6 years ago when all members of CIC committed at a meeting facilitated at the RICS to commit to working together to address this challenge.

Over the years there have been reviews, refreshed branding, all to keep CIC relevant. If there was no CIC, it’s clear we would end up reinventing it.

Congratulations to CIC, and it’s dedicated excellent staff driven by a CEO with a vision of collaboration, and long may it see at least another 35 years ahead!

Best wishes from all at RICS.

Gary Strong

Global Director of Building Standards

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

Gary is the Global Building Standards Director at RICS; Chair - International Fire Safety Standards (IFSS) Coalition, a UN supported collaboration; Chair of Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) Fire & Life Safety