BEPE project handed over to the CIC

The Construction Industry Council (CIC) is to take over the Built Environment Professional Education (BEPE) project from the Department of Work and Pensions.

The government launched the Built Environment Professional Education project on the International Day of Disabled People in December 2013 to build upon legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The London Olympics highlighted the benefits of inclusive design within construction, with the BEPE project tasked to encourage changes to professional standards and competencies and raise awareness of the issue amongst educators and students.

Two years after its foundation, with the backing of the government and the Greater London Authority, the BEPE project will now placed in the hands of the Construction Industry Council who will be tasked to take scheme forward.

The CIC is the representative forum for the professional bodies, research organisations and specialist business associations for professional services providers within the construction sector.

The Council plans to include a new Award of Awards to be presented at the Construction Industry Summit Dinner to be held in London in September. This newly created award will choose a winner from existing award winners rewarding exceptional and inspired inclusive design in the built environment.

The CIC will assume responsibility and manage the project from the Department of Work and Pensions in 2016/17, on behalf of the construction industry.

CIC Chairman, Tony Burton, said: “Inclusive design that creates truly accessible and inclusive built environments for everyone in society, including the disabled, the elderly and families with small children, has to be the industry’s ambition, and embedding inclusive design into built environment education is an important step towards that goal.

“Our efforts now will benefit generations to come and add value to our buildings, places and public spaces in the long term. Let industry make this its legacy.”

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