ICE has been busy making its voice heard at one of the biggest dates in the political calendar – the party political conference season.
Each year, ICE joins forces with three other engineering and construction bodies – ACE, CECA and CPA – to represent industry as the ‘Infrastructure Alliance’ at the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative party conferences. They also work closely with CITB ConstructionSkills.
Engagement and intelligence
ICE attends the party conferences for two key reasons: engagement and intelligence gathering. This involves building and developing relationships with key parliamentarians and policy makers, and acquiring information on the political landscape and upcoming legislation.
Party conferences allow ICE to position itself as a leader of the infrastructure and civil engineering policy debate, ensuring we are setting the agenda on issues affecting the Institution and our members.
Delivering a clear message
To make the most of this yearly opportunity, the Infrastructure Alliance held a series of events focusing on different engineering topics, including skills, transport and the funding of infrastructure projects.
ICE and the Infrastructure Alliance also launched a new four point plan calling for Government to deliver the infrastructure the UK needs in order to rebuild our economy. This would involve improving delivery, rebalancing investment throughout the whole of the UK, taking immediate action on maintenance and minor works and securing a world class workforce.
How we did it
ICE and the Infrastructure Alliance hosted two events at the Conservative conference in Birmingham – a fringe event entitled ‘Central to UK economy: Why is everyone talking about infrastructure?’ and a reception with guest speaker Chloe Smith MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office.
Hosted by Evening Standard journalist Anthony Hilton, the fringe event panellists debated the need for Government to get on with ‘shovel ready projects’, as well as looking at long-term issues such as integrated transport policy and how to leverage private investment.
Speakers at the Labour party reception included former Construction Minister and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Infrastructure, Rt Hon Nick Raynsford MP, and fellow APPG member, Lord O'Neill of Clackmannan.
At an Infrastructure Alliance event at the Liberal Democrat conference, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander announced the formation of a new Strategic Engagement Forum to ensure delivery of National Infrastructure Plan projects.
ICE staff and Director General Nick Baveystock held a number of meetings with Government Ministers, MPs, peers and policy think tanks. ICE will now be following up with the contacts made to explore how they can tie into ICE’s future policy programme and public affairs strategy.
Find out more about ICE’s public affairs work with the UK and other governments.