21st Jan 2019

November has been another busy month for me from attending networking opportunities with ICE and CECA, the sector’s biggest exhibition, Highways UK, to opening CIHT’s first Young Professionals Conference!

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2 November - The Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) Southern, Annual Luncheon, London

It was a great pleasure to be invited to this event and to meet up with many of our CIHT contracting Corporate Partners. It was also an opportunity to hear about many of the important infrastructure projects planned across the South East. The guest speaker was the inspirational Debra Searle, a professional adventurer, author, BBC presenter and gender equality advocate. Deborah told the amazing story of how she as a novice rower rowed single-handily 3000 miles from Tenerife to Barbados. It should have taken six weeks but ending up three and a half months!

6 November - ICE Presidential Inauguration, London

Andrew Wyllie’s Inauguration as the 154th President of ICE was an impressive event in front of a large audience in the Great Hall at Great George Street. He presented for nearly an hour in front of a massive screen showing both still and video clip images. Andrew who is the Chief Executive Officer at Costain Construction was taking over from Professor Robert Mair. His theme was very much about taking advantage of new technologies to improve lives in the global society. 

7 - 8 November - Highways UK, NEC, Birmingham

This was a brilliantly successful event for CIHT on a number of fronts, particularly as we were one of the principal supporters alongside Highways England. We offered an excellent programme of presentations at our own theatre. The overall numbers of attendees were significantly higher than previous years which meant there was a real buzz around our exhibition area with lots of interest from potential new members. The Minister of State for Transport Jesse Norman also paid us a visit. It was great discussing further engagement between CIHT and himself.

   

 

I kicked off the CIHT Theatre on the first day talking about my Presidential theme “Delivering Improved Services and Infrastructure for people” and then led a discussion about the CIHT Lugg Review. Not only did I bump into the Minister but also my son Rupert Lugg, a senior associate lawyer at Burges Salmon, who had a prominent presence at the event with their own stage and programme of events. On the second day, I presented in the Jacobs main theatre on Future Proofing Local Roads in a session with a number of representatives from other organisations including the LGA, ADEPT, HTMA and TAG.

15 November - Young Professionals Conference, Leeds

This was our first ever young professional’s conference which was a sell-out event attracting over 200 attendees. As the only grey-haired person there I felt right out of my comfort zone but it was so brilliant to see so many young, bright and enthusiastic people from all parts of our industry. The event was supported by our Young Professional Network.

CIHT will be taking the ideas generated during the sessions to look at how we can respond to the future challenges for highways and transportation. At the event, it was a privilege to present our first Apprentice of the Year Award, a competition where we had some really inspiring entries so congratulations to all those short-listed and the winner Erin Ruddy from Capita.

19 November - Evidence to the Parliamentary Transport Select Committee

Last Autumn, the Transport Select Committee requested a call for evidence into an inquiry they were undertaking into local roads funding and governance. As CIHT submitted a written response supported by a number of other organisations, we were asked to give evidence at the first hearing along-side four other organisations; ADEPT, Asphalt Industry Alliance, Cycling UK and the Campaign For Better Transport. The session was held in one of the committee rooms at Portcullis House just across the road from Parliament and lasted much longer than I expected nearly two hours, in which time I managed to get across all my pre-prepared points. There will be another three sessions before the Select Committee produces its report in spring 2019. For more information on the work CIHT are undertaking into local roads, click here.

21 November - CIHT Council planning day, Britannia Walk Once a year, we organise a full day meeting of CIHT Council

Planning. The full-day meeting provides a greater opportunity to invest our time in the key issues we are facing going forward our agenda included:-

  • An update on CIHT Qualifications and routes to membership
  • Reviewing Progress on our Strategic Plan
  • A session on future horizon scanning
  • An update on the Governance Review
  • Plus a number of information items

Nominations are now currently open for members to join CIHT Council. More information on how to join is available here.

22 November - A service of Thanksgiving to celebrate The Year of Engineering 2018, Westminster Abbey

This was a lovely service of celebration which included some beautiful music and a number of readings from some inspirational Engineering leaders. It was good to meet up with some members of CIHT and invited guests including some of the young professionals as well as a few retirees.

26 November - The President’s visit, to Birmingham University

It was great to have the opportunity to engage with the Civil Engineering students at Birmingham University. A special thanks to the West Midlands Regional Chairman for organising this! Hopefully, I was able to provide some inspirational advice about the rewarding impact Engineers can have on improving people’s everyday lives. Having pizzas was a good attraction for the students! 

29 November – National Highways and Transport Network (NHT) Conference, Great George Street, London

It was a great honour to be invited the NHT Conference and to be asked to respond to the Minister of State for Transport MP Jesse Norman and meet him for the second time in a month. Unfortunately, due to demands of Parliament, the Minister couldn’t stay for long but I was able to question him about the need for sustainable funding for Local Roads and the good news was that DfT had already been instructed to investigate this.

     

I was asked to deputise for the Minister and present all the NHT Awards which as a great supporter of the work of NHT. I was only too pleased to do so! Congratulations go to Darlington BC for tackling congestion and road safety (Award being collected by Louise Neale, Transport Policy Officer Economic Growth) Wakefield Council for an overall increase in public satisfaction, and Nottinghamshire CC for tackling congestion.

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Get ahead with CIHT Membership

Join other savvy professionals just like you at CIHT.  We are  committed to fulfilling your professional development needs throughout your career

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