Following the highly successful Climate Summit held last autumn, Constructing Excellence South West (CESW) announces the launch of the West Country’s first ‘Leadership in the Built Environment Symposium’, being held on Thursday 14^thMarch at Sandy Park.

The pioneering event, with platinum sponsors Kier Construction and further key sponsors TClarke Contracting Ltd and Midas Group, is expected to attract up to 150 delegates. It is also being well-supported by a number of local construction networking organisations including Women in Property (WiP), ECG and Exeter Property Circle. Open to members and non-members of CESW, the symposium is aimed at anyone working with, or within the construction or property sectors across the region; people who may be considering joining the sector; and those who seek to lead the future of the industry as we move into a post-Brexit era.

The full-day free symposium includes refreshments and lunch, networking opportunities with fellow professionals as well exhibition stands and break-out spaces to meet potential employers and leading local construction recruiters, Cathedral Appointments and RGB Recruitment. A full-packed agenda includes eminent speakers who will focus on how to encourage greater diversity, and specifically how to attract and retain the leaders of tomorrow within the construction industry.

David Greensmith CESW Chair of Sustainability adds: “We have an amazing line-up of speakers, all experts in their respective fields, discussing a diverse range of topics all relating to leadership in the built environment as well as breakout sessions offering one-to-one coaching, insight into recruitment and identifying leadership opportunities available in the industry within the South West.”

Leading the way is Emma Osmundsen, Managing Director of Exeter City Living Ltd. (Exeter City Council) & Chair of CESW. Emma selected the theme of ‘leadership’ in line with the CESW’s vision to make construction an industry of opportunity for everyone and to champion diversity. She said: “With unprecedented uncertainty and shifting economic conditions, it’s easy to forget that the construction industry is all about people, who are invariably a company’s greatest assets. The Leadership Symposium will ‘shine the light on what makes effective leaders in our industry, and what we can do to attract and promote the best talent to enter the construction and built environment arena.”

Appointed to the Board as a non-executive director of Kier in September 2014, Kirsty Bashforth will be speaking on ‘Recruiting for tomorrow’s Leaders’. She is the founder and CEO of Quayfive, which advises on organisational culture and has over 24 years’ experience in a variety of senior commercial roles with BP plc (‘BP’). During her role as Group Head of Organisational Effectiveness for BP, she led the global agenda on culture, diversity and change management.

As well as many interesting and inspiring presentations from some of South West’s leading practitioners and academics in leadership, the Symposium will be interactive, thought-provoking and career defining, including Kelly Denham-Reid managing director of Modern British Etiquette. She will help delegates maximise opportunities to improve their interpersonal and self-presentation skills by participating in short role play.

International management consultant Penny Wood presents ‘Communication as a Leader’ She concludes:“I’m delighted to be invited to speak at (CESW) as it’s a great opportunity to focus on how the construction industry in the South West will attract the leaders of tomorrow.”

www.constructingexcellencesw.org.uk

Read all about it: Express & Echo