Congratulations

CABE’s Immediate Past President Jayne Hall has passed the baton onto new President Stewart McArthur in a joyful inauguration event at Lutyens House.

Each May, the Association inaugurates the new President who will help ensure a steady course for the year ahead. Historically, this ceremony is held at the House of Lords at Westminster, London, thanks to CABE Patron, Lord John Lytton. For the second year in a row, the Association had to make alternative plans to keep in line with Covid-19 safety guidelines. This year, we were delighted to host a scaled-down event in the comfort and safety of Lutyens House (CABE’s headquarters).

Members of the Presidential Team, Executive Team and Board gathered under an open marquee on the fresh lawns of CABE’s Northamptonshire property. The building recently received an impressive renovation and with the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, the event also acted as a small opening of the refurbished building. Details on the vision and sustainability ethos of the renovation project have been outlined in previous Building Engineer articles, yet the actual unveiling, albeit limited in numbers, was greatly received. The ease of movement within the building and utilisation of the gardens were enjoyed by Board Members, who were finally able to see the dark-emerald walls, the dynamic tech equipment for large-scale meetings and the inviting coffee lounge for both staff and guests to relax in.

Jayne Hall, CABE President 2020-2021, arrived to formally hand over the Presidential Chain of Office to Stewart McArthur, marking the end of her presidency and the start of his. Hall has steered the Association with great consideration and success during the challenging times surrounding the pandemic. CABE Chief Executive, Gavin Dunn, opened the ceremony with thanks to Jayne for, “Her work on improved diversity, sustainability, mental health awareness and the preparation for the rising tide in safety reform, among many other efforts that will be remembered as part of her legacy”.

In Hall’s final speech as President, she shared that, “To sit on the board of a growing, commercially aware organisation has been a real eye-opener, to see how it functions strategically on members’ behalf”.

Before formally inaugurating McArthur, she expressed to the guests: “Stewart is a man truly passionate about CABE. We have had many lengthy conversations and I know him to be a person who cares deeply about integrity, as well the plight of the homeless. From professional ethics, competency and wellbeing awareness, I know Stewart is not a man to brush these issues under the carpet.”

President Stewart McArthur

With more than 30 years’ experience in the house-building industry, including obtaining a degree in Fire Risk Engineering from Glasgow Caledonian University, McArthur entered building standards before moving into the warranty sector. More recently, he has been working as the Regional Risk Surveyor at Q Assure Build Ltd, broadening the experience that he brings to the house-building industry and to his presidency with the Association.

McArthur has been a member of the Association since 2001, fittingly becoming President exactly 20 years later. He has also spent the last decade actively involved with the Scottish regional committee.

In the weeks leading up to his inauguration, McArthur told CABE: “My passion for the house-building industry will be focused on the homelessness crisis, I will be working across the country to innovate MMC [modern methods of construction] to allow greater flexibility to the construction sector.” The new President expressed his sincerity and interest in this field as coming from a life-long interest in improving access to low-cost, quality housing – a sentiment reiterated before the board on the day of his inauguration.

McArthur gave an impassioned speech about the lay of the land as we enter a post-Covid industry and the importance of engagement, stating: “As President of the Chartered Association of Building Engineers, I will work towards greater interaction between professional bodies to develop improved professional standards. Our Association is leading the way in ensuring competence in our sector and improving the confidence of the public. After the recent pandemic, we need to focus on engagement and the best ways to support both the industry and homeowners in an ever-evolving environment.”

Dunn toasted McArthur as the new President of the Association, expressing that as we move into the next presidential year, we have much to do as, “The reform agenda for building safety, sustainability, carbon abatement, diversity and inclusivity remain big and urgent challenges – and CABE will continue to put competency at the heart of everything we do”. 

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Welcome to the Board:

Richard Smith, new Vice-President, commenced his employment as a YTS trainee in building control back in 1989 and has progressed his career to become the Head of Standards and Innovation and Research at the National House Building Council. He has previously sat on the CABE Board, allowing him to bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role. 

Tony Harvey-Soanes is currently Managing Director of Vantage Building Control, Corporate Approved Inspectors, a company he founded with his business partner in 2019. He has extensive experience of the application of Building Regulations within the procurement, design and construction management processes.

Paul Grinyer has been working in the construction and engineering sector, progressing his career to become Managing Director of his own structural and building engineering consultancy, Paul Grinyer Associates, where he uses his experience to assist clients with construction projects. 

Credit Image | Paul Mockford