Ex Mace director to chair All-Party Parliamentary Group on Infrastructure

Mike Reader MP has been confirmed as the new chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Infrastructure (APPGI).

Reader is the new Labour Member of Parliament for Northampton South following the UK’s general election in July.

Before that, he worked in the built environment sector as a director at global consultancy and construction firm, Mace. He studied civil engineering at university.

He will lead the group’s work offering advice to the UK government on infrastructure issues.

Reader said: “Infrastructure is crucial for so much. Delivered well, it unlocks growth and better opportunities for people.

“We need to invest in infrastructure to secure the UK’s energy supply and address the challenges climate change presents.

Reader said he’ll draw on nearly 20 years of experience, as well as the “expertise” of the ICE and others “to meet these challenges in a strategic and sustainable way”.

Also joining the APPGI as officers are:

• Baroness Young of Old Scone (Labour)
• Tom Gordon MP (Liberal Democrat, Harrogate and Knaresborough)
• Blake Stephenson MP (Conservative, Mid Bedfordshire)

NIC chair talks ‘defining’ challenges

Reader was named chair at a general meeting in London on 27 November. It was the APPGI’s first meeting since the general election.

Sir John Armitt, chair of the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC), attended the meeting and spoke with members about difficult tasks the UK faces.

“Closing the gap between the infrastructure the country has and what it needs will be a defining challenge for this Parliament,” he said.

Sir John, who’s an ICE Past President, said the scale of investment needed and the urgency is “unprecedented”.

Sustainable growth, net zero and climate resilience are key things the UK needs to achieve, Sir John said.

He highlighted the upcoming 10-year infrastructure strategy, due in the spring, as “an opportunity to reset the UK’s approach”.

“Government will need to draw upon the unrivalled skills and expertise of companies right across the UK’s infrastructure sector.

“Under Mike’s leadership, this group will, I’m sure, be a strong voice for the industry,” he said.

About the APPGI

The APPGI brings together representatives across different political parties to highlight the importance of economic infrastructure – like railways and water works – in government.

As the group’s secretariat, the ICE is responsible for managing the APPGI.

The institution organises its programme of events throughout the year.

This includes a yearly reception at the ICE’s HQ, One Great George Street in London.

Parliamentary groups like the APPGI are put on hold in the lead up to general elections, so it hadn’t been active since May.

Now that it’s back up and running, the new members of the APPGI are keen to work with the ICE to champion infrastructure in Parliament.

There are currently 49 members of the APPGI, and the group continues to grow.