The construction industry in Northern Ireland has an annual total output of £3.4 billion, employs 85,000 people and makes a contribution of 12% to Northern Ireland’s Gross Value Added (a measure of wealth creation that has replaced GDP). It is therefore one of our largest single industrial sectors.

The Construction Employers Federation (CEF) was formed at the request of Government in 1945 as the recognised body to represent the interests of the construction industry. It brought together county based Master Builders’ Associations that had existed since the 1860s.

The CEF is the only certified employers organisation for the construction industry based in Northern Ireland. It has a membership of over 1300 companies of all sizes and across all sectors of the construction industry, from civil engineering to general construction, house building and repair and maintenance. 85% of our members are small and medium sized business, yet CEF members account for 75% of Northern Ireland’s total construction output.

The CEF delivers strong representation to government and client bodies on all construction related matters. We also provide a wide range of services for all member companies including best practice advice on Health & Safety, Employment, Planning, and Tendering.

The CEF provides the employer representation to the Joint Council for the Building and Civil Engineering Industry in Northern Ireland. The Joint Council is responsible, with the Trade Unions, for agreeing wages, holidays and all other terms and conditions for employees working in the construction industry.

The CEF is at the forefront in promoting best practice in the industry including health and safety. In co-operation with the Construction Industry Federation in the Irish Republic, the Federation was responsible for the development of Safe-T-Cert, a third party accredited health and safety management system specifically for the construction industry. Currently some 650 companies are certified through Safe-T-Cert in Northern Ireland.

Associated companies based at the CEF headquarters at 143 Malone Road, Belfast are responsible for the administration of the industry wide Pension Scheme, the Holiday Pay Scheme and the Construction Skills Register, all of which are owned by the Joint Council for the benefit of all operatives in the construction industry.

The Construction Skills Register scheme ensures that anyone holding a CSR card has undergone basic health and safety training together with an assessment of his or her skills. It also ensures mobility of labour through mutual recognition arrangements with the appropriate schemes in both the Republic of Ireland and in Great Britain. Over 100,000 CSR cards have now been issued in Northern Ireland.

Click here to Download CEF Code of Conduct

Click Here to Download Annual Report 2009 - 2010

Click Here to Download Annual Report 2008 - 2009

Click Here to Download Annual Report 2007 - 2008