Our councils

The Nation Councils deliver on a significant call from industry through

our last Consensus consultation and Government through the ITB Review, for CITB’s governance to be more representative of the Industry it serves.

1. Each Nation Council is charged with enhancing the evidence base from which CITB forms and develops its Strategic Plan, to ensure that the Board is cognisant of key industry issues, concepts and opportunities affecting both the individual Nation and the collective Nations.  From this collective evidence base CITB will reflect and prioritise the issues, as appropriate, into the formation and implementation of the Plan for Careers, Standards and Qualifications and Training and Development delivery across the three Nations.
   
   
2. Government guidelines, legislative and regulatory mandates will inform and guide the work of the Nation Councils.
   
   
3. With particular reference to the individual Nation, the Council will: 

• Provide insight into the challenges and opportunities for the Nation it represents;
  
  
• Steer and influence the Board on development and effective delivery of the Strategic Plan encouraging adjustments to delivery to reflect unforeseen events/changes that impact on the Nation/industry more generally;
  
  
• Debate and offer constructive challenge in relation to proposed allocation of resource against competing industry priorities across Great Britain;
  
  
• Provide National perspective on construction skills gaps against agreed forecast needs.

Current Members (as at May 2022) are: 

Sharon Llewellyn - Risk Managements and Projects Director, JPR Roofing and Flooring Ltd and CITB England Nation Council Chair

With a background of over 27 years in the NHS at both management and strategic level Sharon joined the building industry in 2010 to expand and develop her knowledge and experience in the private sector focusing on training, governance and risk management. With a reported national skill shortage, Sharon is passionate about developing a young, skilled workforce to support the future building infrastructure. She is currently working in partnership with CITB, schools, colleges, local businesses, building companies and manufacturers to raise the profile of the building industry and develop a programme whereby students aged 14 to 18 can prepare for and access apprenticeships and careers in construction. Through her experience in governance and business planning she can identify and prioritise opportunities across the building industry and work through a strategy of implementation which meets the pressures and needs of the industry both locally and nationally.

Kevin McLoughlin – CITB England Nation Council Deputy Chair and CITB Trustee

Karen Brookes - Director of People & Infrastructure, Sir Robert McAlpine

Karen is an Executive Director with over 30 years’ experience in Human Resources in both the public and private sectors, supporting businesses in the consultancy, construction, retail and sales and marketing industries. She has led and successfully implemented major business change programmes focussed on creating long term sustainable value through engagement and empowerment of employees and teams. Deploying teams in some unusual, diverse and hazardous locations across the globe, she has gained invaluable experience in ensuring their safety and security in such locations as Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia and Nigeria, whilst ensuring project delivery for the client. Karen is currently working as a Board Director with the construction company Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd, responsible for People and Infrastructure, including People, Property & Facilities and Marketing & Communications.

Chris Carr - Joint Managing Director of Carr & Carr (Builders) Ltd

Carr & Carr is a small family owned Housing Development Company established approximately 100 years ago in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire. Chris passed his City and Guilds in Carpentry & Joinery at Grimsby College before taking a JCB/digger course at Bircham Newton. He progressed to be a site manager in his mid-twenties and now runs the family business with his elder brother. Chris is on the Board of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Other roles Chris holds are: Construction Leadership Council Board Member (CLC), Director of the UK Business Council for Sustainable Development, Chairman & Secretary of the Grimsby District Builders Association, Chairman of the North East Lincolnshire Housing & Development Board, Advisor to the Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education’s Construction Industry Panel, and Member of the North Lincolnshire Construction Apprenticeship Partnership.

James Flannery - Owner of Cunard Construction Ltd

James is an experienced Company Director and current Chair of Constructing Excellence Liverpool City Region, with an entrepreneurial spirit and a unique mix of experience spanning 25 years in specialist market sectors in Construction, Education and Regeneration. He is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Building (MCIOB) and spent the formative years of his professional career with Balfour Beatty Construction, Tysons Construction and Thomas Armstrong Construction as an Engineer. He entered the Academic field as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire in 1998, Department of Built Environment. In 2004 he left the University for a sabbatical to manage the Construction Initiative in Liverpool, after which James established Atom Regeneration Ltd (2007). He grew the business and sold the company in September 2013. In 2015 he completed the Common Purpose International Leaders Award in India. Currently he is the owner of Cunard Construction Ltd and was elected as a Labour Councillor in May 2019. He is also an external examiner for Built Environment courses at Salford University, and sits on the Liverpool City Region Skills Commission for the Combined Authority and Metro Mayors office.

Alison Duckles – Professional Development Director, Chartered Association of Building Engineers

Alison has worked in Construction for over 20 years and in that time has covered every aspect of talent management, skills, training and development and has led the development of a number of new Apprenticeship Standards for the sector. Alison has responsibility for the strategy and delivery of all site, technical and apprenticeship training for the Laing O’Rourke Europe Hub to ensure that both current and future skill requirements are met. This has included the development of innovative and dynamic approaches to onsite learning to create an up skilled and competent workforce. Her role includes the management of third-party suppliers to ensure delivery of excellent service and value to the business, she works closely with leaders and stakeholders at all levels as part of her ongoing pursuit for ongoing improvement and vocational/training excellence. Alison is a member of the CITB Levy Strategy Committee and was a member CITB Investment Funding Committee and the former CITB Levy Working Party.

Bola Abisogun OBE FRICS – Founder & Chair, DiverseCity Surveyors

A Chartered Quantity Surveyor and Chartered Construction Manager, at the helm of an industry renowned entity since 2005, Bola has throughout his almost 30year career, been a force for good in the area of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, specifically within and across the global Surveying profession. His organisation DiverseCity Surveyors has generated much by way of impactful ‘structural’ change as part of their grass-roots schools engagement programme through to his ongoing personal support to an array of Russell Group Universities, both across the UK and internationally.

With strategic support from an array of key government stakeholders [including the Cabinet Office, Government Property Function, Mayor of London] and professional bodies, [including the CIOB, IET and RICS], Bola continues to promote the need for and demonstrate the digital skills urgently required. His efforts extend to all levels of industry participation, from school-leaver, to under-graduate, post-graduate and onto Senior Leaders as well as smaller independent business owners. His current view is that with the ever-increasing demands upon society to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the ‘digital-twin’ must become a key component of any future built environment solution(s).

Throughout his client facing career, he has via Urbanis Limited, acted both as PQS and Construction Manager, procuring and actively delivering in excess of £8bn in capital projects across London and South-East. Bola has maintained a particular focus on the public sector and specifically within that, social housing and education projects. His current workflow [as of June 2020], and ‘use-case’ delivered in conjunction with CDBB [a joint-venture between the University of Cambridge and government department BEIS] is promoting the emerging skills required to create, implement and administer the National Digital Twin Programme via an eco-system of connected digital twins. Purely from a professional skills perspective, he is particularly focussed on the global Cost Management profession, where his well-documented subject matter expertise in artificial intelligence and machine learning has equipped him to actively challenge his profession and promote the emerging future of the ‘traditional’ Quantity Surveyor, via industry initiative #PQS2030.

Bola is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS) and member of the RICS London Regional Board, a Member of the Chartered Institute of Building (MCIOB) a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors and a Non-Executive Director of both the Chartered Surveyors Training Trust and the South East Centre for the Built Environment.

Dave Sargent – Operation Training Director, RBF Construction Training Academy Ltd

Dave is the Operational Training Director for RMF Construction Training Academy Ltd, part of the RMF Group. His role combines all aspects of Construction Plant, Civil Engineering and Rail Training, targeting the harder to reach demographic, such as long-term unemployed, prison leavers and in-custody delivery. Client servicing, from bid management to project delivery, together with responsibility for strategic liaison with key Industry stakeholders such as the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), HMPPS and Tier 1 contractors/employers.

Prior to joining RMF, Dave was in post with Dudley College from 2013, firstly as the Centre Manager for the Energy Training Hub and then as the Construction Commercial Training Manager from 2017-20. Prior to his time in training, he spent several years working within the building services industries, both domestic and commercial.

Jeremy Musselwhite - Director, Jem Musselwhite Ltd

Jeremy (Jem) Musselwhite has spent over 45 years in the construction industry following his father into the building trade in 1976 after leaving grammar school. Under the guidance of the CITB, Jem became an apprentice carpenter and joiner and through study on City and Guilds craft and advanced craft courses gained qualified status in 1979. Jem pursued his trade with a local building company before moving into local government in the 1980s. Whilst working within local government in the south of England and with his employer’s support, Jem went on to obtain ONC and HNC building studies qualifications and then through further study and extensive work experience became a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Building engineers C Build E FCABE. Jem finished his local government career as a Senior Building control officer with Bournemouth Borough Council.

Jem subsequently worked for Thorburn Colquhoun and Upton McGougan two nationally recognised consulting engineering practices before establishing his own business in 1996. Since 1996 and in tandem with running his own architectural design and building consultancy practice based in Winchester, Jem has also undertaken work with the University of Winchester as their Estates Surveyor and continues to work part time as a Monitor with the Considerate constructor’s scheme. Jem’s career today involves providing a range of professional services including design, consultancy, and specialisms to an extensive client base.

Outside of work Jem is a Governor of Eastleigh college, the college where he started his studies in the construction industry in 1976 and is a Freeman of the City of London. Jem is passionate about training in the construction industry and considers it to be an honour to be a member of the England Nation Council of the C.I.T.B.

Ian Dickerson – Head of Funded Learning, Kier Group

Ian is the Head of Funded Learning at Kier Group. His role combines all aspects of learning design and delivery, together with liaison with key Industry stakeholders such as the Government, CITB and other industry bodies. He joined Kier in 1983 as a junior buyer, leaving in 1987 for a role in sales and returning in 1989. He held a number of commercial roles until moving into HR in 2002.

Ian has sat on many CITB committees, including the Industry Funding Committee, Grant Scheme Working Party, the Training Committee and CITB Council until 2019. He has chaired the Northants Construction Training Group since 1999 and is the Chair of the ITG National Chairs Committee. He was a director of CSCS until December 2020 and currently sits on the Build UK CITB Reform Group and the CECA Training Committee

Maria Seabright – Finance & HR Director, Greendale Construction Ltd

To be uploaded soon

Current Members (as at May 2022) are:

Angela Forbes – Chief Executive, BuildForce and CITB Scotland Nation Council Chair

Angela Forbes gained a Bovis scholarship in 1997 as an undergraduate Commercial Manager and spent over 23 years with the Lendlease business. Angela has been a Commercial Director in the London construction business for the last 12 years. Angela is a Fellow on the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. Angela created the Lendlease ex-military initiative in 2008; is an ambassador of the construction industry within the Armed Forces and was a founding partner of BuildForce at its inception in 2011. Angela is currently Chief Executive of BuildForce, a not-for-profit company who support ex-Services personnel transition into long term careers in the construction industry. In addition, Angela has been a non-executive director of a housing provider and social regeneration charity East Thames; a board director of Be Onsite, a company dedicated to helping disadvantaged people, and a school governor at Chobham Academy in Stratford, East London (a Harris Federation school).

Tony Elliott - CITB Scotland Nation Council Deputy Chair and CITB Trustee

Tony Elliott has over 25 years of experience in the fields of talent, people and learning and is part of the senior team at Robertson, one of the UK’s largest privately owned construction and infrastructure services companies. Tony feels strongly about the development of people and the growing of internal talent, the attraction of new talent, and ensuring skillsets are enhanced and future-proofed within construction. Tony is also a member of several senior level bodies, including The Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board (EEG), The Scottish HR Leadership Group and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Scottish HR Leaders forum.

Craig Bruce - Managing Director, Pert-Bruce Ltd

Craig is the seventh generation of his family to run the business dating back to 1871 and he has 30 years' experience in the industry. He started in the family firm as a joinery apprentice at 16, serving his time in the workshop, onsite and carrying out maintenance, before progressing to the office and eventually to MD in 2007. He merged the business in 2007 with another local family company to increase capability and service delivery, increasing his original 25 employees to as it stands, directly employing 100 staff, 16 of which are trade apprentices. As MD of Pert Bruce Construction, Craig has experience in carrying out a varied roster of work ranging from £25,000 domestic projects all the way up to £4m historic/listed house conversions, with clients ranging from private individuals through to blue-chip industrial clients, architects and leading developers. Craig also owns a property development company building new homes, converting listed buildings and building affordable homes for RSL Partners. Craig currently sits as a Director of the Scottish Building Federation, President of the Dundee and Angus Association, Council member of SBATC (Scottish Building Apprenticeship &Training Council), CITB Levy Strategy Committee, CITB Scottish Council, Founder & Director of Angus Shared Apprentice Scheme and a Director of a north east based safety group (SAFE) and has previously been on CITB GSWP and as a founder of the Angus Training Group also sat as Chair of the local Group and Training Group National Rep. Craig was also a member of the former CITB Levy Working Party.

Marion Forbes - Homes Director, Mactaggart & Mickel Homes Ltd

Marion is Director of HR, Health & Safety and Business Support teams for Mactaggart & Mickel Homes Ltd having worked for the organisation for 13 years. Marion and has been instrumental in our Homes division being recognised as an Employer of Choice and gaining Platinum Investors In People and Silver Investors in Young People accreditation. Marion also Chairs a youth group and volunteers as a youth leader.

Susan Jackson – Joint Managing Director, Campion Homes Limited

Susan is Joint Managing Director of family-owned Housebuilder, Campion Homes, a regional housebuilder headquartered in Fife. The business was formed in 1989 by her father, who retains the position of Executive Chairman within the Company. Susan joined the company in 2013 as Finance Director and was appointed Joint Managing Director in September 2017. Within the business she has responsibility for Finance, HR and IT and works closely with her fellow Joint MD on all strategic areas. Susan is a qualified Chartered Accountant and member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland. Prior to joining Campion, she worked for Deloitte for 12 years, latterly in the Corporate Finance department as an Assistant Director of Transaction Services, a role which saw her involved in mergers and acquisitions across the globe within a wide variety of industries. Susan is a Board member of Homes for Scotland, the membership organisation that supports the new homes building industry in Scotland and holds the post of Non-Executive Finance Director on the Board of Commonwealth Games Scotland.

Karen McGahan – Finance Director, William Waugh & Sons (Builders) Ltd

Karen is the Joint Managing Director for William Waugh & Sons (Builders) Ltd, a Company based in Dumfriesshire which has been trading since 1815. Her role is predominantly Finance which involves preparation of the Company accounts, internal financial controls, and treasury management. Other aspects of this role include completion of procurement documentation, company policies and procedures, HR & employment matters, training implementation and renewal and ensuring compliance with the company Health & Safety arrangements and that employees are adequately trained to carry out their duties safely. She is also a keen advocate of attracting new recruits to the construction industry.

Prior to joining the Company Karen was a Management Consultant looking after a regular client base with a variety in industries from fishing to top quality kitchen and bathrooms. Her main roles have always primarily finance related but has always had a keen interest in employment law and health & safety.

Karen holds Advanced M.A Dip (CIMA) Qualification together with IOSH Managing Safely and is a Certified Workplace Mediator.

Kevin Urquhart – Construction Director, Barratt & David Wilson Homes

Kevin is the Construction Director for both Barratt Homes North Scotland and David Wilson Homes North Scotland. In his role, Kevin leads the Construction Department and Customer Service Department for the business whilst also overseeing all Safety, Health and Environmental requirements for the business.

Kevin joined Barratt Homes as an Apprentice Joiner in 1995 and has continued to progress his career with Barratt Homes for the past 26 years working in various Site Management Roles and Senior Construction Roles. In 2017, Kevin was appointed Construction Director a role that he continues today. Kevin for a number of years has overseen the recruitment, management and development of the Apprentices within the division and has watched them all successfully complete their apprenticeship to become quality trades people and industry professionals.

Kevin is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Building (MCIOB) and was awarded Chartered Construction Manager Status by the CIOB in 2015.

Jennifer Phin – Managing Director, A. C. Whyte & Co

Jennifer Phin is Managing Director of award-winning family business A.C. Whyte & Co. Ltd, one of Scotland’s most experienced major refurbishment and energy efficiency Main Contractors, established over 48 years ago. Jennifer leads a team of experts including a management team with over 360 years collective experience and a fully trained, directly employed workforce of over 160 operatives. Her skilled team have delivered projects with 22 of the 32 Local Authorities in Scotland and over 40 Housing Associations.

Jennifer took over as Managing Director in 2015 and has previously sat on the INCA Board & Scottish Committee, NIA Scottish Committee and Energy Efficiency Scotland - Quality & Skills Working Group in development of the Installers Skills Matrix.

The construction industry, specifically the refurbishment sector is weighted under immense opportunity. With world leading, ambitious targets for net zero, Scotland requires a carbon army, and it is essential that we attract talent to our sector. This is something Jennifer is passionate about, and in 2018 key members of the team worked in partnership with West College Scotland and more recently South Lanarkshire College to design and launch the unique, industry leading A.C. Whyte Skills Academy. The Skills Academy has proven to be an effective alternative model for delivering a sustainable pipeline of talent.

Current Members (as at May 2022) are:

Leigh Hughes - CSR Director, Bouygues Construction UK, and CITB Cymru Wales Nation Council Chair

Leigh is currently Chair of Cardiff Capital Region Employment & Skills Board and represents the Southeast Wales region on Welsh Government Employment & Skills Board (WESB). He has worked in the construction industry for 30 years and is CSR Director for Bouygues Construction UK and its entities. Bouygues UK, Bouygues Energies & Services, Bouygues TP and VSL deliver construction, housing, development, regeneration, energy performance and management including smart cities innovative solutions using our global and local experience across private and public sectors. The company employs around 4,400 people across the businesses in the UK.

Gareth Davies - Construction Director, Knox and Wells Limited

Gareth is the Construction Director for Knox and Wells Limited. His role combines all aspects of Client servicing, from bid management to project delivery, together with responsibility for strategic liaison with key Industry stakeholders such as Welsh Government, CITB and CIOB. Prior to joining Knox and Wells, Gareth was in post with Britannia Construction Ltd from 2010 as Regional Director (Wales), Wales Regional Director for Carillion Building (Mowlem Building prior to 2006 takeover) and from 2001-5 was Wales Construction Director for Mowlem Building. During a thirty-five-year career in the construction industry Gareth has been responsible for delivering many prestigious projects in south Wales, Southwest England and Jersey, across a variety of sectors. Gareth is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building (FCIOB) and was a member of the CITB National Council from 2015 to its reorganisation in 2018. He chaired the south-east Wales Regional Construction Forum from its inception in 2010 to its re-constitution in 2018. Gareth is also an active member of Constructing Excellence in Wales and a Professional Assessor for the CIOB and has been a judge and Panel Chairman on the CIOB's Construction Manager of the Year Competition since 2004. Gareth was also a member of the former CITB Levy Working Party and is now a member of the Levy Strategy Committee.

Terry Edwards - Managing Director, John Weaver Contractors

Terry Edwards has been the Managing Director of John Weaver Contractors since March 2015. Terry started his construction career as a CITB apprentice bricklayer and then progressed through the ranks as a management trainee with Fairclough Construction, during which time he completed his Advanced Craft in Bricklaying, ONC and HNC in Building Studies. Terry then moved on to work for Gee Walker & Slater as Site Manager, Brunswick Construction (Project / Contracts Manager), Andrew Scott (Deputy MD / Operations Director), MIDAS (Regional Manager) then JWC as their current MD. Terry became Chartered in 2005 then gained Fellowship to the Chartered Institute of Building in 2008. Terry plays an active role in the implementation and management of the JWC Apprenticeship Training Programme whereby the firm takes on two apprentices every year, and currently employs 5 apprentices. Three of the former apprentices have now progressed through the ranks and are currently employed as assistant site managers.

Andrea Green – Business Development Director, Octavius Infrastructure

Andrea has more than 20 years of experience in the construction industry, working for both regional and national business. Following an early career as an engineer and Project Manager, she has a deep understanding of the challenges facing the industry, and the customers and communities that will be impacted. She focusses on delighting customers and has a passion for ensuring construction is a truly inclusive industry and continues to the push the boundaries through innovation.

Owain Jones - Director, Richard Jones (Betws) Ltd

Educated at Ysgol Gymraeg Rhydaman and Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, Owain studied for a Higher National Diploma and B.A. (Hons) in Business & Finance at Swansea and later returned to the University of the West of England, Bristol where he was awarded an MSc in Construction Management. He also holds a NEBOSH qualification relating to Health and Safety in Construction. A Director of T. Richard Jones (Betws) Ltd “TRJ” a company established by his Grandfather in 1935, Owain has led the development of the company over the last two decades, building on its firm foundations as one of the leading SME’s in the region. The company currently directly employ a workforce numbering 190 including trade apprentices and management trainees. In recognition of Owain and TRJ’s long standing support of Apprenticeships the company was recognised in 2015 as CITB Apprentice Employer of the Year for both Wales and Great Britain. Owain sits on the Wales CITB Nation Council and Chairs the Southwest Wales Construction Forum. He is a past Chair of Carmarthenshire Construction Training Association Ltd CCTAL and continues to sit on its Board of Directors. Owain is a founding Trustee and Chairs the Board of Directors of Cyfle Building Skills the largest Construction Shared Apprenticeship Scheme in the UK which currently offers employment to over 170 young people and was recognised with a Queens Award for Innovation in 2017. Owain was also instrumental in the setting up of the Southwest Wales branch of the Engineers for Overseas Development (EFOD) Charity. Owain is a member of the Southwest Wales Regional Learning Partnership Construction Cluster Group. A fluent Welsh speaker, Owain is a passionate supporter of the Welsh language and culture.

Paul Tedder - Founder, Atlantic Dwellings

Paul founded Atlantic Dwellings in 2006, creating a building company that delivers high quality houses and extensions, with a team of employees who are proud of their work. All the team are encouraged to learn new skills and apprentices are mentored on site by master craftsmen. Paul is passionate about training and allowing people to develop to their full potential. Prior to setting up Atlantic Dwellings he worked initially in the paper industry and as a senior manager in the fast-moving consumer goods sector for Pepsi International. Paul holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and post graduate diploma in Electrical Engineering. He is an active member of the Federation of Master Builders Wales board and Chairman of the Cardiff Branch.

Andrew Dobbs – New Business Director, Willmott Dixon Construction

Andrew is the New Business Director within Willmott Dixon Constructions’ Wales and West Region. His role combines all aspects of customer engagement from business development, social value, marketing, sustainability, diversity and bid management.

During a thirty-six-year career, starting out as a Trainee Quantity Surveyor, he has been involved in many projects around South Wales and has long standing relationships with customers, consultants and supply chain partners.

Andrew is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Building (MCIOB)

Monique Jones – Operations & Business Development Manager, J Randall Roofing Contractors Ltd

Monique is the Operational and Strategic Manager at J Randall Roofing Contractors Limited which is a family run business. Her role combines all aspects of Client servicing, from bid management, procurement to project delivery, together with the responsibility for strategic liaison and with key Industry stakeholders such as the Government, CITB and CIOB.

Prior to joining J Randall Roofing Contractors, Monique has worked with Schools, Colleges and Supportive Associations in leadership, Mentoring and teaching, with in depth knowledge in the areas of Autism and Asperger’s. Supporting and building good working relations is her field, supporting individuals to upskill to their desirable goals. Monique has advocated for the Construction Industry for the past 25 years, always looking to support and engage to improve the development of the construction industry.

Monique believes upskilling in the Construction Industry is paramount, embracing in the next generation, guiding Apprentices to reach their full potential and this can only be achieved by the employers working together.