PRESIDENT HIGHLIGHTS INDUSTRY’S OLYMPIC SUCCESS
24 July 2012 – The “enormous contribution” made by the construction industry to this month’s London Olympic Games has been highlighted by Sue Sharp, incoming president of B&ES – the Building & Engineering Services Association.
Speaking at the annual general meeting of the Association, Ms Sharp invited her fellow members to reflect on the words of Howard Shiplee, Olympics construction director, to the effect that “we are now a beacon of hope, demonstrating on a world stage what our industry can do”.
“I am sure that is a sentiment from which we can all draw strength in facing a future which continues to look less than rosy,” the president told her audience.
Every day, it seemed, a new set of predictions were released – bringing in their wake a new set of problems, challenges and threats to commercial recovery.
“But if our businesses are to survive and grow in the long term, we must move forward in the belief that the recession will end some day, that the nation will return to some semblance of prosperity,” Ms Sharp insisted.
And she added that it was “the over-riding duty” of B&ES to assist its members not only to stay afloat in the short term, but “to put in place the building blocks with which they can construct a profitable and enduring future”.
The Plan for Change document – which was published in the autumn of last year as a blueprint for the re-positioning of the Association – had attracted the overwhelming support of the membership, and had consisted principally of four key elements.
“Firstly, we must promote – to clients and the supply chain as a whole – our unrivalled quality, competence and professionalism, as underpinned by our independent member inspection and assessment regime.
“Secondly, we must emphasise our expertise in the renewable technologies that are crucial to the creation of a genuinely sustainable built environment.
“Thirdly, we must update and expand our already definitive library of technical specifications and guides to good practice to reflect the extent of the B&ES footprint.
“And, fourthly, we must further enhance our standing and influence with Government and, wherever appropriate, form alliances with other like-minded organisations to ensure that our voice is heard on the key issues of the day,” the president concluded.
Ends
Issued on behalf of the Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES) by Next Step Marketing Ltd
Media enquiries to: Heather Lambert. Tel: 44(0)1256 472020;
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Note to Editors
Since its formation in 1904, B&ES, the Building & Engineering Services Association (formerly the HVCA) has represented the interests of companies engaged in a wide range of building and engineering services disciplines.
B&ES helps its members to build successful businesses by being the leading trade association for integrated building and engineering services and renewable technologies. It is a unifying force that promotes and monitors excellence; provides quality advice, guidance, training and support; generates market-leading thinking; and shapes the commercial environment through active representation.
B&ES members are subject to regular, third-party inspection and assessment of their technical competence and commercial capability, carried out by an independent certification body at least every three years.
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