Mark Farmer is the second recipient of the CIOB President’s Award for his exceptional work in driving the construction industry’s modernising agenda, explains Mark Beard.
Supporting the construction industry to deliver high-quality buildings for its customers is central to the Chartered Institute of Building’s (CIOB) Royal Charter and has been a core part of our research, training and qualifications for many generations.
During the last two years we have proudly published our very own quality code and quality guide, which are now widely used across the industry. I am delighted to have supported during my presidential year the CIOB’s push to improve the quality of output from our industry.
Past presidents Paul Nash and Roger Flanagan have driven this work over many years and I pay tribute to their wonderful contribution to our industry.
However, there is one person who has done more than anyone else to introduce new ways of working into our industry, with a relentless focus on promoting modern methods of construction, with all its benefits for our industry’s profile, productivity, long-term profitability and overall product quality.
“There is one person who has done more than anyone else to introduce new ways of working into our industry, with a relentless focus on promoting modern methods of construction.”
The CEO and founding director of consultant Cast, with over 30 years of experience in construction and real estate, Mark Farmer has become a recognised expert on a variety of industry and policy-related issues. Perhaps most famously, he authored the Farmer Review, an influential 2016 independent government review of the UK’s construction labour model, entitled Modernise or Die.
In 2019, he was appointed as the government’s champion for modern methods of construction in housebuilding. His many other roles include being a member of the Construction Innovation Hub Industry Board, the Construction Leadership Council senior advisors group, a board member for Construction Scotland Innovation Centre, national co-chair of Constructing Excellence, while being a trustee of the MOBIE educational charity.
Mark is also an honorary professor at the University of Salford’s School of Built Environment and holds honorary doctorates from the University College of Estate Management and the University of Wolverhampton.
As an acknowledgment of his work in driving real long-term change in our industry and lifting quality standards, I am delighted to award Mark Farmer the CIOB’s 2020/2021 President’s Award.
Mark Beard FCIOB is chair of Beard Group and past president of the CIOB.
