Building on the success of the Olympic Games
The ‘enormous contribution’ made by the construction industry to the London Olympic Games was highlighted by the new president of the Building & Engineering Services Association, Sue Sharp, at its AGM. She invited her fellow members to reflect on the words of Howard Shiplee, Olympic construction director, to the effect that ‘we are now a beacon of hope, demonstrating on a world stage what our industry can do’.
Sue Sharp commented, ‘I’m sure that is a sentiment from which we can all draw strength in facing a future which continues to look less than rosy. If our businesses are to survive and grow in the long term, we must move forward in the belief that the recession will end some day and that the nation will return to some semblance of prosperity.’
She added that it was ‘the over-riding duty ‘ of B&ES to assist its members not only to stay afloat in the short term, but ‘to put in place the building blocks with which they can construct a profitable and enduring future’.
The ‘Plan for change’ published last year as a blueprint for the repositioning of the association from HVCA to B&ES attracted the overwhelming support of the membership. It was a 4-point plan.
• We must promote to clients and the supply chain as a whole our unrivalled quality, competence and professionalism, as underpinned by our independent member inspection and assessment regime.
• We must emphasise our expertise in the renewable technologies that are crucial to the creation of a genuinely sustainable built environment.
• We must update and expand our already definitive library of technical specifications and guides to good practice to reflect the extent of the B&ES footprint.
• We must further enhance our standing and influence with Government and, wherever appropriate, form alliances with other like-minded organisations to ensure that our voice is heard on the key issues of the day.
