NIP Strategic Engagement Forum: "An opportunity to be embraced", says ICE
Commenting on the formal launch of the National Infrastructure Plan Strategic Engagement Forum, announced by Danny Alexander MP today at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) -
ICE DG Nick Baveystock – who will be a future co-chair of the forum - said:
“Transforming the National Infrastructure Plan from a brochure into reality is a complex task and as expected with a challenge of this scale, there are problems and barriers that need identifying and resolved swiftly – sometimes by government, sometimes by industry. The Strategic Engagement Forum provides us with a much needed platform to unite all the key players – from the delivery supply chain, investors, asset owners, managers and regulators, to infrastructure end users - to not only discuss solutions, but also drive them forward. We should embrace this opportunity and show collective drive and conviction in making it work.”
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CE will be secretariats for the SEF along with the Association for Consultancy and Engineering, the Civil Engineering Contractors Association and the Construction Products Association.
Dr Nelson Ogunshakin, CEO of ACE will be the first (Industry) co-chair of the SEF (alongside Danny Alexander MP). The industry Chair will then rotate within the senior stakeholder membership of the Infrastructure Alliance.
Danny Alexander MP initially launched the SEF at the Avoiding the Infrastructure Crunch: Getting Britain working event at the Liberal Democrat party conference.
The formal launch and the Forum’s first session took place today (29 October) at the ICE HQ.
The desired outcomes and outputs for the forum will be:
- Continuous strategic dialogue.
- Monitoring progress against NIP delivery and suggesting any necessary remedial action.
- To ensure government is aware of industry views on NIP.
- To advise on barriers to the delivery of NIP and on mitigation/removal of these barriers.
- To disseminate the Government and Forum’s work to industry on the NIP.
Notes to editors