ICE will once again be joining forces with engineering and construction bodies ACE, CECA and CPA to represent industry at the upcoming party conferences.
Getting Britain working
The group, known as the ‘Infrastructure Alliance’, also working with CITB ConstructionSkills, will be holding evening receptions at the main party conferences, with the overarching theme of ‘Avoiding the Infrastructure crunch: getting Britain working’. Each reception will focus on a different challenge such as financing and funding infrastructure, creating the right skills, reducing congestion in our transport networks and delivering the National Infrastructure Plan.
Attracting high profile speakers
The events will be attended by over 100 politicians, party members and industry leaders and have attracted some high profile speakers, including Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander MP for the Liberal Democrats reception on 23 September and Shadow Transport Minister John Woodcock MP for the Labour event on 2 October. Senior representatives from the Alliance including ICE Director General Nick Baveystock and ACE Chief Executive Nelson Ogunshakin will also be speaking at the events.
Debating infrastructure challenges
The Alliance will also be holding a debate in the secure zone at the Conservative party conference on 7 October, in addition to an evening reception on 8 October. The debate titled ‘Central to the UK economy: Why is everyone talking about infrastructure?’ will see a panel of industry experts put forward the most convincing solution to various infrastructure challenges. Institute of Economic Affairs Director of the Transport Unit Dr Richard Wellings, CPA Chief Executive Dr Diana Montgomery and Leader of the Conservative Group on Birmingham City Council Cllr Mike Whitby, will appear on the panel with Anthony Hilton, Financial Editor of the Evening Standard chairing.
Strengthening our public voice
ICE Director General, Nick Baveystock, said: “The party conferences are an essential focal point in the political calendar, at which ICE is able to build relationships within the three main UK parties and engage with MPs and key policy-makers. They also give us access to a wide range of other stakeholders with an interest in infrastructure – from journalists, think tanks and trade associations to charities and business and industry groups. Importantly, after the conference season we capture the political and stakeholder contacts made and explore how they can tie into ICE’s public voice work.”
He added: “These conferences come at a pivotal time, where the opportunities for infrastructure to make a positive contribution to economic recovery are huge and must not be wasted. This is something the Infrastructure Alliance wholeheartedly agrees on and I am pleased to see this group of influential bodies unite again to bring together all the key players and generate debate around this important issue.”
For more information
Please contact the ICE public affairs manager on +44 (0)20 7665 2123 or email debate@ice.org.uk