Terry Watts, who has taken up the new role of md at the CIOB, has the pedigree to drive real change.
It’s never been more crucial for the industry to deliver on the troika of interrelated challenges – modernisation, training and skills. In Terry Watts, the CIOB can be at the forefront of meeting them.
Watts joined the body in the newly created role of managing director in March and has the pedigree to grasp this pressing agenda, having spent seven years as the head of Proskills – the body set up by the government to advise on skills and productivity in the UK. He’s also been a principal of Oxford City College and notched up 15 years at global computer giant IBM in a variety of roles.
Speaking about the current climate, he says: “I think the time is ripe for change in construction and the industry has a real urgent requirement to understand where and what they’re spending money on when it comes to training.
Terry Watts CV
2015-2017 Activate Learning – Group international business director (interim)
2005-2012 Proskills UK – Chief executive
2001-2005 E-SKills UK – Deputy chief executive
1983-1987 IBM UK – Software business database manager
Education – Graduated in Chemistry in 1982, from Bristol University
Interests – Triathlon, rugby
“There’s a huge opportunity for companies to start thinking about investing in skills again and there isn’t really any leadership in skills generally, there is the CITB itself, but in terms of where the professional manager is going that’s where the opportunity for the CIOB is, to be a leader.”
Watts says the opportunities and challenges presented by new technology and a changing workforce is also what attracted him to his new post.
“There’s a wave of change going through the sector. If you’re below 40 you’re used to using technology and expect to use it every day in construction. If you’re over 40 you’re used to more manual processes. The challenge now is to harness and use new technology across the age groups.”
Other areas he is keen to focus on include strengthening connections with the grassroots of the CIOB, meeting members, visiting various hubs and establishing better feedback and communication in the new structure of the body (see p15).
In the interim between leaving Proskills and joining the CIOB, Watts worked in various parts of the world, including Vietnam, Ukraine, India and Egypt, mostly on developing vocational qualifications. He is eager to further the CIOB’s international reach: “The CIOB already has a presence in China, the Middle East and the Americas and I think this can be expanded elsewhere in the world.”
