James Wates has been appointed as the new chairman of the Industry Training Board, CITB-ConstructionSkills, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has announced. James Wates will take the chairmanship from Sir Michael Latham at the end of March, having previously served on the board for nine years. The job is one of the construction industry’s most influential positions, leading the CITB-ConstructionSkills Board in making strategic decisions about training and shaping the future direction of the construction industry. Skills Minister Kevin Brennan, said: ‘I am very pleased to confirm James Wates’ appointment as the new chairman of CITB-ConstructionSkills. James’ experience of working on the CITB-ConstructionSkills board and with other skills organisations means he is well placed to lead the training board. ‘The construction industry has struggled during the downturn, but we are seeing the first signs of recovery within the sector, and we must support this by providing the right training and skills opportunities to allow for growth and to secure the industry’s future.’ The role of Chair is key to the construction sector. Since 2002, Sir Michael Latham has been one of the industry’s leading voices, representing construction at the highest level. However, the recession has made this role even more crucial and the new chairman will be called upon to represent the industry with an influential voice both politically and with other industry leaders. James Wates said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to take on the Chairmanship of CITB-Construction Skills at this critical time for our industry. The economic pressures create challenges for the whole training and skills agenda but if we are to maintain a world class construction sector in the future we have to continue to invest – but I think we have to be much smarter in how we go about it.
‘The importance of CITB-ConstructionSkills to the industry is clearly demonstrated by the commitment of my predecessors in this role and I am honoured to follow in the footsteps of such industry luminaries as Sir Cliff Chetwood, Hugh Try and, of course, Sir Michael Latham.’ James Wates has worked in the construction industry all his life, starting on site as a schoolboy during holidays. He read Estate Management at college after which he joined Wates Construction as a management trainee, progressing through line management to running sites before taking on a General Manager role in 1989. Since then he has progressed through the company to be Deputy Chairman of the main Wates Group Board. Outside of the Wates Group, he is involved with several industry bodies. He chairs the UK Contractors Group, he is Senior Vice President of the Chartered Institute of Building and a Vice Chairman of the CBI Construction Council. He is also a Board Member and Treasurer of the British Council for Offices, a Governor of Emanuel School, a trustee of the Wates Foundation and the Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for the Disabled, a member of the London Skills and Employment Board and he also sits on the London Regional Council of The Prince’s Trust. He was appointed a Commissioner for the UK Commission for Employment and Skills in April 2009 and since October 2009 has taken on the role of lead National Diploma Employer Champion with a particular focus on the Construction and Built Environment Diploma.
