If there is one thing that I have not come across in recent times it is someone who works in the construction industry who is not busy! As a sector we set ourselves high standards, going further and further to meet the demands of clients and to raise the bar higher and higher.
To this end, we are the victims of our own success, trapped in a cycle of pushing the boundaries to deliver, only to find that this raises clients’ expectations, and we then need to go further to once again top what we have previously achieved.
Whilst this has no doubt pushed us all to new levels, it strikes me that we all need to make sure that we get the work/life balance right. All the evidence shows that we are at our most productive when we are fresh and focused on our tasks. It is all too easy to accept another Teams or Zoom invite, but it is also important to prioritise what is really important. Not working together as frequently also means that we don’t always spot when someone is struggling. As lockdown restrictions have eased, I certainly have to remind myself that it is normal to take a break, take part in things that we used to and make plans for the future.
CIOB Summer Social BBQ Event
To that end, the CIOB Belfast Hub has been busy in recent months. We have decided that the sensible thing to do is reschedule our annual black-tie dinner event to May 2022. However, this has opened a gap in our calendar, which we are going to make the best of – look out for our ‘Summer Social BBQ’ to be held on Friday, August 27, 2021 at the Crowne Plaza in Belfast. For the golfers amongst you, we also hope to get an outing earlier that day at Dunmurry Golf Club.
Upcoming CIOB Graduation in Belfast
We also expect to go ahead with a Graduation ceremony in November of this year. If you have obtained FCIOB or MCIOB in the past couple of years, this is your opportunity to have the day you deserve to recognise your achievement.
CPD events
This is in addition to our usual CPD events, such as webinars on Lean Construction on July 21, (continuing our excellent co-operation with the CIOB Dublin Hub), Communication in a Virtual World on September 30, and Thermal Properties and Building Regulations in relation to Lintels on October 13.
New Committee Member
On the CIOB Belfast Hub Committee, we welcomed Clare Mahon of Ulster University as a co-opted member. Clare will drive forward some new initiatives in the field of Education on behalf of members locally.
CIOB Awards
Finally, June also saw the launch of the CIOB Awards Ireland, which includes the long-established Ireland Construction Manager of the Year award. Full details on how to enter can be found on the CIOB website, and we hope to see a strong representation from the Belfast Hub region.
