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Building professional body pledges £50k support for teaching room

28/07/2022

The Chartered Institute for Building (CIOB), the world's largest and most influential professional body for construction management and leadership, has pledged £50k to sponsor teaching facilities at the University of Wolverhampton’s School of Architecture and Built Environment. 

The room was officially opened recently by Caroline Gumble, Chief Executive Officer at CIOB and Tim Steele, Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University and will offer a dedicated room and facilities for students studying for Built Environment courses at the University’s construction super-campus based at Springfield. 

CIOB has members working across the world in the development, conservation and improvement of the built environment. 

The new School, which opened in August 2020, won the Conservation and Regeneration Award at the Constructing Excellence Midlands Awards 2021, scooped the New Build Award at last year’s Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) Awards and was named by framework provider Pagabo as its ‘best project above £15m’.    

The new building is the latest addition to the University’s £120m investment in a new construction excellence campus at the former Springfield Brewery site in the city - a brownfield regeneration project which has transformed the site.  

Caroline Gumble, Chief Executive Officer at CIOB, said: “It’s a great pleasure to be here. Our valued partnership with the University and our formal collaboration started in 2017 when we introduced our first qualification in Building Control.  

“We have developed ever closer ties since then, integrating CIOB into the education provision of the School of Architecture and Built Environment which includes the tailoring of CIOB assessments in integrated Degree Apprenticeships like Building Control where learners can achieve Chartership very early on in their careers so they are recognised as a professional right from the beginning. 

“This is a purpose-built education centre for tomorrow’s construction professionals.  CIOB has funded these spaces including the state-of-the-art CIOB room along with a dedicated pod in the atrium to provide visibility and accessibility to students and staff and home for our dedicated CIOB Liaison Manager. Our ambition, as always, is informed by our Royal Charter and our commitment to serve public interest.  We also want to raise standards, promote professionalism and support new entrants into this important industry and, of course, grow our community and bring more people into Chartership.” 

Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University, Tim Steele, said: “I was really delighted to welcome Caroline and the team from CIOB to the University to officially open the sponsored lecture room – one of only two in the world so we are really privileged to have one of these in our fantastic building at this fantastic campus. 

“This partnership is key to the University and it’s a strategic part of our vision not only in the UK but overseas.  We share many key priorities such as driving professional standards, innovation and influencing the places where we are based as well as strengthening the talents of those who are based in the industry. The support we get from the CIOB for our courses, not just here but internationally in places like Hong Kong is invaluable to our staff and our students – they are the future leaders of the industry and we hope that having this facility here in our learning environment will be a source of inspiration for them as they prepare to move into their careers. 

“This campus is all about sustainable construction and it’s our intention to make this campus internationally and nationally recognised as a centre of excellence to make this a destination of choice for students, learners, researchers and industry partners across the region.” 

The new School of Architecture and Built Environment offers specialist teaching and social learning spaces, design studios, specialist labs, multi-disciplinary workshops, lecture theatre, cafe, offices, meeting rooms, ICT rooms and a top floor super studio with double height ceilings. 

The School specialises in supporting skills in architecture, construction, civil engineering, building control, building services, facilities management, quantity surveying, planning, construction management, housing and commercial. 

CIOB also sponsored three Graduation Prizes at the July ceremonies held at The Grand Theatre recently which were presented to students who have excelled in their studies. 

  •  For anyone who already has the results of their qualifications, applications can be made through Clearing from Tuesday 5 July 2022. The University’s Clearing webpage provides further information on all the courses available in Clearing. Applications can be made either by calling the Clearing Team on 01902 51 8585 or through the University’s social media channels on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.   
  • For anyone who is awaiting the results of their qualifications, they can register their interest and book a phone call with a Clearing Adviser on results day, Thursday, 18 August 2022.  
  • For more information our next Open Day is on Saturday 20 August 2022. 

Picture caption from left to right: Tim Steele (Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University), Caroline Gumble (Chief Executive Officer at CIOB) and Dr Paul Hampton (Head of the School of Architecture and Built Environment at the University).

ENDS

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.

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