Leigh Renshaw FCIOB has completed his two year-long tenure as chair of the Manchester Hub, stepping down from the role at the end of June. Renshaw, associate director construction with Astra Zeneca and a CIOB client champion, is a great advocate for neurodiversity and was nominated for the CIOB EDI Award. He is an active CIOB member having taken part in many CPD/Initiatives during his time as chair and has made a great impact.
Renshaw has been an active CIOB member since securing chartership in 2013.
“I have always seen MCIOB as my greatest professional achievement and I finally got there via the old-school student, ACIOB, ICIOB, degree and formal interview pathway,” he said.
“Fellowship always seemed out of reach, but when I saw applications for the Manchester Committee, I thought that may be a great way to progress towards FCIOB.
I was welcomed into the committee by ex-chair Tom Francis in Q4 2019, and I attended one committee meeting face-to-face in Manchester and we all know what happened next!
“Coming out of the pandemic, we finally got more traction in and around the hub and started to engage again effectively with our regional Members.
Fast forward another couple of years, and I found myself in the vice-chair position and 18 months later became chair.”
Key themes of cross-committee collaboration, skills-gap, talent pipeline, and EDI were the key objectives under his tenure, Renshaw said, citing the past two years as “the most rewarding of my career”.
Fellowship aspirations were originally a primary objective of signing up to the Hub, Renshaw admits but says “the networks, friendships, and career opportunities have truly come out on top”.
“Under his leadership, the Hub didn’t just grow, it thrived. Leigh brought people together, championed meaningful initiatives around neurodiversity, skills, inclusion, and collaboration, and created opportunities that will have a lasting impact on both members and the wider industry”
Passionate about underrepresented talent Renshaw used this topic as the basis of his successful FCIOB application.
Remembering other key highlights in his time in the committee Renshaw points to the Cape Town and Belfast Members Forums, the friendships created, hub links to academia and the wealth of reference visits across Manchester.
“Looking back, I am incredibly proud that our steering committee delivered over 35 initiatives, including 14 SMART goals, five webinars, five reference visits, 10 sessions with academia, nine super-region joint ventures, and many, many more. Leaving the committee in June will be strange at first, but Rob Gutteredge will continue to steer us in the right direction, and my work with the CIOB will continue with my CIOB Client-Champion role under Linda Stevens and Ayo Allu FCIOB.”
Bee Younis from the Hub said it is “difficult to put into words the impact that Leigh has had, not only on the Manchester Hub but on everyone fortunate enough to work alongside him”.
“From the moment he joined the committee, his professionalism, vision, and genuine passion for people and progress were unmistakable. Under his leadership, the hub didn’t just grow, it thrived. Leigh brought people together, championed meaningful initiatives around neurodiversity, skills, inclusion, and collaboration, and created opportunities that will have a lasting impact on both members and the wider industry.
“What stands out most is not just the impressive achievements or the countless initiatives delivered, but the relationships he built along the way. Leigh has a rare ability to inspire, connect, and lead with authenticity. His legacy is one of dedication, innovation, and community and while he may be stepping away from the committee, his influence will be felt for many years to come.”
