Ian Brant steps up to a key role on the Construction Industry Council, knowing that a year of political change lies ahead. He speaks to Will Mann.
Ian Brant was appointed Construction Industry Council (CIC) deputy chair in March, knowing that a new government will be in power by the time he becomes chair in June 2025.
This means a busy year ahead for the CIOB trustee, fellow and new CIC deputy chair, who also runs his own consultancy, Brant Construction Quantum Experts, specialising in dispute avoidance and resolution.
“The CIC’s mantra is bringing built environment professionals and the professional membership bodies together, drawing on an unrivalled breadth of knowledge,” he tells CM.
“Obviously each body has its own priorities for the next election, but there will be some high-level topics that are of interest to all built environment professionals.
“On those topics, it makes sense for CIC to speak with one voice both as an industry and on behalf of the professions. The general election will inevitably mean change. Therefore, industries speaking with one voice will ensure that key professions are both heard and influential when delivering government policy.
“CIOB has a broad-church membership and is unique in this. We have members who are clients, contractors, consultants and who work across the supply chain. There are obvious parallels here to CIC’s broader spectrum. CIC is looking at the whole built environment, covering issues like planning reform which could benefit the whole industry, including CIOB members.
“So, it is not only Eddie Tuttle and his policy team that go into bat for CIOB members, ensuring that the public interest is considered strongly across the political spectrum in the UK and at Westminster. CIOB is also at the heart of the CIC that is working hard to effect positive change.”
Speaking with one voice
A longstanding challenge is ensuring that the industry speaks to the government with one voice – and CIC works very closely with the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) to deliver this.
“It is for the professions, for the CIC, to be involved with issues like defining competence and quality and implementing the Building Safety Act. Because you have got half a million members across the CIC membership who will be responsible for these issues at the coal face, and the CIC can channel knowledge and policies down through that membership.”
The CIC, like its constituent member bodies, is working on its election manifesto, Brant says. Key issues will share common ground with CIOB’s top priorities, including quality, building safety, skills, climate change, EDI and digital innovation.
“The general election will inevitably mean change. Industries speaking with one voice will ensure that key professions are both heard and influential.”
“Building safety is obviously a huge topic, and I’m up to speed with the Building Safety Act and the secondary legislation that is coming through,” he says. “I am by no means an expert on it, but I know where to go to get the questions answered if I need to.
“I chaired the CIOB’s External Affairs Board for two years, working with Eddie Tuttle and the likes of Paul Nash, who sits on the Industry Safety Steering Group and is now on the Building Advisory Committee (BAC). CIOB also played a key role in developing the competency programme that CIC initiated and is now with the Building Safety Regulator for implementation.”
Brant’s day job involves looking into disputes, which may be ideal for the complex legislative matter in his CIC role. “You need to be a ‘details’ person to understand disputes, and that’s what I like to get into,” he says.
Wide range of knowledge
His career has included working for two global contractors on sectors including commercial, education, housing, rail and utilities, so he has a wide range of knowledge to draw on.
Looking ahead, Brant sees increased opportunities for collaboration between CIOB, CIC and its other member organisations. “There are a number of subcommittees within CIC that are doing similar work to our advisory panels in the CIOB and similar structures within the other bodies on key issues and I am keen to collectively work together where we can on this through CIC as part of the one-voice mantra.
“Greater collaboration through the CIC can really benefit CIOB members when you look at the breadth of the CIC membership.
“And from a CIC point of view, the more we can join up our thinking, the more likely that we will enhance an ear from the next government, who will recognise that we are speaking on behalf of half a million built environment professionals and ensuring that the public interest is both considered and met, and CIC is uniquely placed to help deliver this.”
