The establishment of a construction A-Level has been one of several priorities outlined ahead of the Northern Ireland Assembly elections next month.

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) published a comprehensive manifesto, setting forth a series of action for the MLAs to implement.

The key priorities as outlined in the CIOB's manifesto include: 

• Create a stable policy environment for the construction sector with long-term strategies for housing and retrofit, a national development plan, and accompanying financial commitments

• Ringfence funding for the development of an A-level in construction and help support the pipeline of talent coming into the sector 

• Introduce public procurement measures that require employers to sign-up to sector-led Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Charters

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• Develop retrofit education and training to support construction technicians and professionals in developing the skills they will need to decarbonise the existing building stock.

The manifesto also calls for a commitment to adopt a Wellbeing of Future Generations Bill in Northern Ireland, based on the Welsh Wellbeing of Future Generations Act (2015). The Act in Wales, the first of its kind, looks to combat the short-termism inherent in modern democracies and has the potential to ensure that policy is joined up and works for the long-term, particularly when it comes to the built environment.

CIOB's manifesto has been researched and written by the Institute's Hub members, many of whom are key players in the industry in Northern Ireland, along with Joseph Kilroy, the CIOB's Policy and Public Affairs Manager for Ireland.

"The last two years have seen the launch of a Skills Strategy for Northern Ireland, a Housing Supply Strategy, a Programme for Government Framework, a Climate Change Bill, and a series of reforms to public procurement, all of which directly impact the built environment," said Joseph Kilroy.

"CIOB has contributed to each of these initiatives through consultation responses and direct engagement with public bodies. With this upcoming election, 2022 is the time to drive each of these policy areas forward, and to equip Northern Ireland to deal with the challenges that will face its built environment for the remainder of this decade. It is with this in mind that we are setting out CIOB’s vision for the future of Northern Ireland's built environment in this manifesto."