The View of the Road Ahead
FPC AGM
Alasdair Reisner
Chief Executive
CECA
Alasdair Reisner Chief Executive
Civil Engineering Contractors Association
The trade body for infrastructure contractors in the UK
Around 300 member companies in England, Scotland and Wales
90%+ of tier 1 roads contractors are members, with similar
support in the supply chain
Provide support to members through:
liaison with key customers;
making the case for investment;
and managing issues of concern
Alasdair Reisner Chief Executive
UK highways – recent history
Since CECA was formed in 1996 highways has been the dominant
sector…
…until 2012, when sector saw catastrophic fall-off in workloads
Quarterly output fell by 50 per cent between Q2 2011 and Q2
2012
Estimated that at least 10,000 employees left the industry as a
result
Alasdair Reisner Chief Executive
UK highways – recent history
40
20
0
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Major roads
-20
Local roads
Roads (ONS)
-40
-60
-80
Alasdair Reisner Chief Executive
Hot of the press
Local - current workload
Strategic -current workload
Local - current orders
Strategic - current orders
Workload in 12 months time
Orders in 12 months time
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Alasdair Reisner Chief Executive
Will highways sector face a ‘capacity crunch’?
August 2013 – Department for Transport asks representatives of
industry to determine likely impact on capacity
Survey finds that most firms are confident that the proposals will go
ahead, with many firms already starting to invest
However pinch-points identified including:
Mid-level/senior staff, planners, project managers, designers
Asphalt layers, hauliers, train drivers, site supervisors
Haulage vehicles including insulated trucks
Quarries, asphalt plant, concrete plants
Alasdair Reisner Chief Executive
Delivering a world class highways supply chain
Cross-industry alliance established to address these issues
before they become a problem
February 2014 – Industry summit in London kicks off the work
Series of work stream developed to address areas of concern
Alasdair Reisner Chief Executive
Current actions
Produce proposals to address identified skills gaps, including
major programme of upskilling for existing workers to be
delivered in 2015
HM Treasury activities to address inflation and skills issues
across the wider infrastructure sector
Alasdair Reisner Chief Executive
Infrastructure Leadership Programme
Collaboration between CECA,
CITB, NCE and 10 major
contractors
Seeking to develop a more
consistent message to supply
chain on future requirements
Keen to ensure supply chain
influence the programme
Seven regional events in next
two months
Cambridge – 3 February
Manchester – 5 February
Solihull – 19 February
Leeds – 23 February
Cardiff – 3 March
Exeter – 4 March
Alasdair Reisner Chief Executive
Card schemes
Recognise the challenges associated with the plethora of card
schemes out there
In 2013 the industrial strategy for the industry Construction 2025
committed to “identify one card to be promoted through public
procurement”
January 2015 – Construction Leadership Council announces that:
“the industry, including trade associations, contractors, clients
and government should specify and promote card schemes
carrying the CSCS logo with no equivalents accepted”
What will the impact be?
Alasdair Reisner Chief Executive
How can we work with FPC?
Keen to look at how we can work more closely with the
Federation of Planing Contractors?
What messages are there that you would like to get across to our
members?
Are there areas of common interest that we can work on
together?
Contact me on [email protected], or call 0207 340 0454.