ICE hosted a special reception in September to introduce Director General Nick Baveystock to key media after nine months in the post. The event was also aimed at helping form closer relationships with journalists covering the infrastructure agenda.
Engagement with the media forms a key part of ICE’s ‘public voice’ work, helping to retain our position as the voice of infrastructure to Government and other influential stakeholders, to raise awareness of civil engineering and to promote the work of ICE members.
ICE’s programme of proactive and reactive work has led to excellent media coverage over the years.
During April to June 2012, ICE featured in 161 radio and television shows including BBC’s Breakfast, Six O’clock and Ten O’clock news slots. These impressive figures coincided with the release of ICE’s flagship State of the Nation report on Water, calling for decisive and prompt action to safeguard the UK’s water security.
August media coverage figures were also impressive with ICE achieving a total of 151 media hits over the month. This was generated from a range of reactive and proactive work including our continued efforts to raise the profile of our members’ role in the London 2012 Olympics and extensive trade and regional coverage following Peter Hansford’s appointment as the Government’s Chief Construction Adviser.
The ICE media reception was attended by journalists from both national and trade newspapers – including the Independent, NCE, Construction News and the Economist – who were warmly welcomed to the Director General’s office at one Great George Street.
The reception has already led to requests to interview Nick Baveystock and for comments and information from ICE on imminent infrastructure announcements.
Representatives from the Infrastructure Alliance also attended on the night – an influential group of engineering and construction bodies of which ICE is a member.