‘Collaboration is key’, say Building the Future commissioners

Leading figures from the construction industry have spoken about the importance of collaboration through the Building the Future Commission, ahead of the ambitious project’s launch later this month

A total of 19 major figures from across the construction industry have signed up to help guide the work of the Building’s 12-month commission, which launches later this month.

The panel of commissioners will help Building develop lines of inquiry and assess potential solutions and radical new ways of thinking as part of the commission launched to mark Building’s 180th anniversary in 2023.

The final line-up of commissioners includes figures from the world of contracting, housing development, architecture, policy-making, skills, design, place-making, infrastructure, consultancy and legal (see box below).

The commissioners include Lord Kerslake, former head of the civil service, Katy Dowding, executive vice president at Skanska, Richard Steer, chair of Gleeds, Lara Oyedele, president of the Chartered Institute of Housing, Mark Wild, former boss of Crossrail and chief executive of SGN and Simon Tolson, senior partner at Fenwick Elliott.

Dowding said “no one company” can provide the solutions to help create a sustainable future, and that it requires “collaboration and collective thinking to solve the challenges we face”.

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>> Click here for more about the project and the commissioners

Dowding said: “The commission has a great opportunity to bring us together with no bias or agenda other than improvement. I’m looking forward to working with my fellow commissioners to accelerate a step-change in areas of our industry that need acceleration, such as productivity, collaborating working, smart procurement, digital, diversity, inclusion and many more.”

Another commissioner, Simon Wyatt, sustainability partner at Cundall, said net zero is likely to be the “biggest challenge our industry faces over the next generation” and said collaboration is going to be the key to driving success.

“I look forward over this year to participating in the conversation and see what we can achieve together,” he said.

The project will kick off this month to look at proposals for change in eight areas: skills and education, energy and net zero, housing and planning, infrastructure, building safety and project delivery and digital (see box below)

Andrew Mellor, partner at PRP, said: “I’m so pleased to have been asked to be one of the commissioners, in what is such a celebratory year for Building.

“I’m passionate about building safety and spent the last five years advocating for change and supporting the industry to do so, working with building on this commission will allow me to further promote building safety matters and well as ensuring people in the industry are made aware of the issues.”

The commission will run all year with a report published at the end of 2023.

Building the Future will also undertake a countrywide tour of roundtable discussions with experts around the regions as part of a consultation programme in partnership with the regional arms of industry body Constructing Excellence. It will also set up a young person’s advisory panel.

We will also be setting up an ideas hub and we want to hear your views.

>> Email buildingfuturecommission@building.co.uk to get in touch