Crane has over 40 years of experience in the industry, working directly on world famous skyscraper projects as well as acting as an agent for change as boss of construction industry reform bodies.
He told the Enquirer that the time had come for the industry to break the mould.
Crane said: “We are facing a period of economic upheaval and great change in the industry itself. We cannot afford to keep doing what we have been doing.
“Now is the time to think about where we are going, to shape the industry so it is fit for the future – a future that it has had some say in developing.
“We need to do things differently and tap into the young talent out there that will otherwise go to waste.”
Crane said: “If you believed everything you read at the moment you wouldn’t bother getting up in the morning.
“But I believe this industry and the CIOB must continue to adapt and be positive about what we can achieve.
“Until BIM can predict the future we’re going to have to create it,” he said.
“There is no more important place to start than with the people who make up this great industry. Everything else is a result of what they do and the skills they have.
“The CIOB wants to do more for workers and employers and for those thinking about a career in construction. We want to be at the heart of that – which means growing our work beyond membership.”
He said: “Our idea is to create something with increasing value using our relationships with universities, and other education providers, to give employers a bigger say in the curriculum.
“In fact we want to give them the biggest say they have ever had. For employees what we develop will truly increase employability.”
During his long career Crane has been responsible for the development and construction of some of the world’s most iconic projects, including Canary Wharf in London, Eurodisney, and Petronas Towers in Malaysia.
He has held senior positions within Bovis International, Travers Morgan Consulting Group and Christiani & Nielsen Group.
Following Sir John Egan’s Task Force Report ‘Rethinking Construction in late 1998 he was asked by Government and industry to establish and Chair the Movement for Innovation (M4i).
In 2002 he received a CBE for innovation and services to the construction industry.
In April of the same year, he became Chairman of Rethinking Construction and continued as Director of Constructing Excellence when Rethinking Construction merged with the Construction Best Practice Programme.
He is familiar with the workings of Whitehall and has been a strong advocate of construction as past chairman of the Construction Confederation, a member of the Construction Industry Board, the Strategic Forum of the construction industry and chairman of the Institution of Civil Engineers management board.
