Q4 2011 saw the culmination of several important pieces of ICE public voice work and the inauguration of new President Richard Coackley.
Raising the profile of the in-coming President is an important part of ICE’s annual calendar; ensuring the presidential themes are promoted to the membership via the media but also to Government, politicians, policy-makers, industry and the public. Richard’s address focussed on ‘harnessing energy’ and gave a lot of scope for both national and trade press. A slot on BBC’s Today programme was secured, though unfortunately had to be declined. However the invite in itself is evidence of the increasing presence ICE and its senior figureheads have in the media, and of course of the timeliness and relevance of Richard’s messages.
Shortly after Richard’s Address, previous President, Peter Hansford’s key project was concluded. In 2010 Peter took up the Government’s Chief Construction Advisor, Paul Morrell’s, challenge to the construction industry to play its full part in meeting 2050 emission targets. An expert group spent the year assessing current practices, outlining the findings in an in-depth report published in November 2011, ICE Low Carbon Trajectory: Building a Sustainable Future. The report was launched at the Science Media Centre to national and trade journalists, securing coverage in the Guardian online, and the trade press.
The long-awaited National Infrastructure Plan (NIP) 2 was also launched in November alongside the Autumn Statement. The publication of the second NIP was a very important day for ICE, marking the end of a dedicated media drive in 2011 to promote ICE’s view of what it should entail to be most effective and a much longer campaign for a more strategic approach to infrastructure. Many of ICE’s calls were answered in NIP2, including the need for a long-term pipeline of projects to improve visibility for industry and a high profile representative within Government with accountability. ICE stressed in the media the need for regular, high profile, public reporting on NIP2’s progress to ensure goals are met. Coverage following this and over the whole campaign has been wide-ranging..
In 2012 ICE will be building on the work done in 2011 to promote funding and low carbon as priority areas, as well as beginning new work to share the findings of our upcoming State of the Nation: Water, and the ongoing issues around energy security and skills.
Download a copy of the report:
http://www.ice.org.uk/Information-resources/Document-Library/2011-fourth-quarter-media-report.aspx