ICE review

One of the most agreeable tasks for new ICE presidents is a visit to every region in the UK. I started off with Scotland and Northern Ireland, which were both enjoyable and encouraging. I also made a visit to Dublin, where I received the customary warm welcome from Engineers Ireland.

While there, I spoke to a group of leading Irish businesspeople on the theme of my presidential address – engineering a digital future. I noted that infrastructure clients are playing a big part in the introduction of digital technology as well as adopting truly collaborative approaches.

Much of the change is due to the spirit of mutual trust and co-operation fostered by ICE’s now globally used NEC contract suite, the fourth edition of which appears in June. Never before have clients shared so much knowledge and experience among themselves and with the outside world.

I am optimistic that such open collaboration coupled with use of digital technologies will help define a golden age of infrastructure.

Continuing the theme of digital engineering, ICE’s latest flagship policy report in TheState of the Nation series looked at the extent to which emerging digital technologies are transforming the civil engineering and infrastructure sectors.

Published in March, the report made recommendations on how to harness digital technology developments for the benefit of economic growth and local communities. ICE used a broad-church approach in making the case in the report for national infrastructure investment, and particularly how this will benefit the country following its withdrawal from the European Union.

The report can be downloaded from the ICE website at www.ice.org.uk/media-and-policy/state-of-the-nation.

ICE recently held its membership certificate presentation ceremonies in London and Hong Kong. Over 300 engineers in London and 280 in Hong Kong were awarded various forms of ICE membership. They join over 90 000 ICE civil engineer and technician members across the world who create and maintain society’s infrastructure.

There was positive feedback across all grades of those attending. Aside from recognising the celebratory aspect to the event, many commented on the warm welcome they received from members and staff alike. A relation of a newly chartered civil engineer, who had travelled from Northern Ireland, commented on the ‘humanity’ of the event and how the impression he would take home was one of pride and a sense of family.

For me one of the highlights was meeting Dominik McCormick in London, an 18-year-old apprentice who works for Aecom’s transport division in Birmingham. He is now officially the youngest ever person to be awarded EngTech MICE status. I presented him with his certificate, watched by his proud father Paul – a former colleague of mine at Halcrow and now a director at Aecom.

With young technicians like Dominik sitting alongside our more venerable fellows, the certificate presentation ceremony is a truly inspirational event. It reinforces our core message that ICE membership is a journey which can be joined at any career stage, with guaranteed help, support and direction throughout that journey.