Our Work In The Devolved Nations

Our Work In The Devolved Nations

The CIOB works across Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales— to influence policy, promote high standards, and support local construction priorities. We collaborate with governments and industry bodies on areas such as building safety, quality improvement, procurement, and net zero, ensuring its professional standards align with each nation’s legislation and needs.

The Challenges We Face

Across the nations, CIOB faces a number of diverse issues:

  • Scotland: Scotland faces skills shortages, especially in net zero, retrofit and traditional construction. Clearer routes into the industry and better alignment on training are needed. Building safety, cladding remediation, housing quality and reducing embodied carbon remain key priorities.
  • Wales: Wales faces a growing skills gap, economic pressures and difficulty meeting housing targets. Its older housing stock and geographic challenges add pressure, while a “brain drain” to jobs in England and south-east Wales impacts local sectors and communities, including Welsh-speaking areas.
  • Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland’s built environment faces key challenges such as addressing housing need, upgrading ageing infrastructure, tackling skills shortages, and meeting ambitious net-zero and climate-resilience targets.
  • Ireland: Ireland’s built environment faces major challenges including housing shortages, infrastructure capacity pressures, skills gaps, and the need to accelerate climate-resilient, low-carbon construction. 

What We're Doing

We are working across all four nations to strengthen the built environment, champion professionalism, and support policies that create safer, more sustainable places to live and work.

  • Scotland
    CIOB Scotland works with Parliament, Government and industry to tackle skills shortages, support retrofit, and influence policy. We chair the Retrofit Roundtable and regularly give evidence on issues like RAAC, cladding and housing while contributing to groups such as the Construction Accord and Building Standards Futures Board.
  • Wales
    CIOB contributes to new Welsh legislation, including the Social Partnership and Public Procurement Act, and works with public bodies to address skills gaps, such as using VR in prisons to inspire construction careers. We also submit evidence on housing decarbonisation, building safety and other key industry legislation.
  • Northern Ireland
    The CIOB’s policy work in Northern Ireland focuses on improving construction quality, supporting skills development, and advocating for a sustainable, well-regulated built environment.
  • Ireland
    The CIOB’s policy work in Ireland centres on promoting better building standards, strengthening the construction workforce, and driving sustainability and innovation across the built environment.

Our Research

See below for recent outputs: 

Scotland

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Wales

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Northern Ireland

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Ireland

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