• Meet CIOB event has become a highlight on the annual industry calendar in Northern Ireland 
• More than 100 experts, suppliers and students attended 
• Guest speakers discussed key issues including skills, EDI and sustainability.  

More than 100 construction experts, employers, suppliers and students gathered in Belfast last week for the Chartered Institute of Building’s annual ‘Meet CIOB’ event. 

The conference, which was held at the Europa Hotel, included talks from CIOB’s Ireland hub staff and its members who spoke about construction careers and pathways to CIOB membership. There were also talks on key topics for the industry including equality, diversity and inclusion, and sustainability. 

The free event also provided visitors with opportunities to network with each other and dozens of industry exhibitors. 

Sarah Hallinan, Regional manager for CIOB in Ireland and Northern Ireland, said: “It’s a privilege to bring together so many people from across Northern Ireland’s construction industry and showcase what an amazing sector it is. The event was also a great opportunity to lead discussions on the biggest challenges we all face, namely the skills gap, ensuring we’re a welcoming sector, and how we build without negatively impacting the environment. 

“It was encouraging to see some students there as they’re the next generation of construction professionals and we hope they felt inspired by what they saw and heard. Developing a strong pipeline of talent is vital for Northern Ireland’s built environment sector, which plays such an important role in the country’s wider economy.” 

Patrick McCafferty, a Chartered construction manager at WSP, said: “Attending the recent ‘Meet the CIOB’ event at the Europa was genuinely valuable for us. I had gone along to get clarity on the chartership route for a colleague and to understand the next steps for my own fellowship application, and we were able to speak directly with the right people and get clear answers to both. I also really enjoyed the range of information, the stalls, and the presentations – they were all very well put together. The relaxed, welcoming atmosphere made it easy to chat and network and overall, it was a very well organised and thoroughly worthwhile event.” 

CIOB’s Northern Ireland hub has more than 1,500 members who work across a wide range of roles including construction management, health & safety and design. For more information visit www.ciob.org