ICE review Free

It quickly became evident after Britain voted to leave the EU that the UK construction industry needed to speak with one voice on the challenges and opportunities ahead, thereby ensuring that international trade negotiators are properly informed. In July, ICE established a built environment leadership group, including experts from Atkins, Pinsent Masons, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Skanska, Aecom, KPMG, BSI and the Construction Leadership Council.

The group, which I chair, started by taking a strategic overview of what a ‘post-Brexit’ UK can achieve and our sector’s role in contributing to that vision. This was followed by consideration of what is needed to meet the vision, looking across investment, skills, standards, research, innovation and procurement.

Our contribution – which has been informed by a wealth of knowledge from the industry alongside the expertise of the individuals on the group itself – has been greatly valued by the government and our engagement with negotiators and officials continues. The group has also been feeding into cross-disciplinary work being undertaken by the Royal Academy of Engineering.

ICE’s flagship State of the Nation report was launched in June, focussing on devolution and how to ensure this fundamental shift in decision making impacts positively on the UK’s local, regional and national infrastructure networks. The report backs the government’s efforts to rebalance the economy, with the focus on infrastructure as the key driver, and the creation of new combined authorities and transport bodies.

We did however recommend some improvements to the current arrangements to help authorities deliver the maximum benefits of devolution. Our ten-point plan calls for the bodies to be granted greater access to flexible financing streams to supplement central government funding, enabling investment in infrastructure that is transformational, and the skills needed to deliver it.

Furthermore, we believe an infrastructure strategy based on need should be established for every current and emerging economic area so that money is directed towards the right projects. Our report also recommends that all new devolution proposals clearly set out how they will improve environmental sustainability and quality of life, as well as drive growth.

ICE’s new infrastructure learning hub will open in November, offering the built environment community a place to tell the story of how they are shaping the world and driving forward human progress.

Located at ICE’s London headquarters, the hub will be home to a series of exhibitions explaining civil engineering in an interactive and engaging way. It will offer insight into how the built environment community is tackling new and complex challenges such as climate change and increasing urban populations. It aims to motivate and engage young people by bringing engineering to life, and supporting thought leadership and skills development.

The first exhibition will be on bridge engineering, delivered with the support of Cemar and Tony Gee. Those visiting the hub will discover the transformative power of bridge engineering on society and learn how bridge building has developed over the centuries.

The hub is supported by Aecom, Atkins, Carillion, Costain, John Laing, Kier, Mace Foundation, Mott MacDonald, Ramboll, Vinci Construction and WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff.