The fifth inquiry of the APPGEBE, Building on Brexit, published in July 2017, looked at how leaving the EU must drive modernisation and training in the built environment. Its recommendations were intended to stabilise, attract, future-proof and be more enterprising.

The APPGEBE is keen to revisit some of the issues raised in that report, but with a special focus on how the recruitment and retention of more women can help to achieve the skills base that will be required.   

The group has therefore established its seventh Commission of Inquiry to address this important subject. It is now calling on organisations, businesses and individuals to submit evidence on how the recruitment and retention of more women could be achieved within the construction industry and the built environment professions; and, in parallel, how this may help the industry replace migrant skills, which may be lost after Brexit.  

The APPGEBE is keen to hear from witnesses on what government could do to mitigate this impact, and what the industry could be doing itself to increase the talent pool.  

The Commission is seeking clear evidence to identify and attract more women into the sector, and exemplars of initiatives and activities which have already succeeded in bringing more women (or keeping women) in construction and the built environment professions. 

The APPGEBE Commission of Inquiry comprises cross-party members of both Houses of Parliament, senior members of the construction professions, and key influencers and decision-makers in other aspects of society.    

The Commission will be chaired by APPGEBE chairman Eddie Hughes MP, and other members will include Helen Hayes MP, the Earl of Lytton, Lord Best, Robert Courts MP, and Lord Stunell.

Written submissions are requested to be received no later than May 14 2019. They should be no longer than six A4 pages in clearly legible type, possessing a clear conclusion and recommendations for action, and must be accompanied by all relevant appendices.

They should be sent electronically to the APPGEBE secretary Graham Watts OBE c/o appginquiry@cic.org.uk

The Commission of Inquiry will examine written submissions and will set up two roundtable sessions, at which oral evidence will be presented to the Commission directly. It is hoped that these will provide an opportunity for a candid and open discussion, exploring alternative viewpoints and leading to a pragmatic consensus.