Chairman’s Blog
Thursday 21st January 2016
All the very best for 2016!
I hope this year sees you winning your fair share of the pipeline of work coming our way, making the profit you have forecasted to make and above all, get paid in full and on time!
Now that we seem to be drying out after the first two weeks back (from both the weather and the alcohol), tendering activity and live contract awards are again on the increase.
No doubt the recent devastating floods will trigger some opportunities in our region, let’s hope the promise of financial assistance with flood defences and landslips doesn’t arrive at the expense of other planned civils schemes.
Northern Powerhouse DebateTuesday 26th January (evening )
Check out the link here for the flyer
This is one of a few forthcoming “ joint” events we are supporting in an attempt to bring together like minded bodies and avoid duplication of the same theme.
This one, done with ICE, RICS, RIBA, RTPI and The Landscape Institute, will be a Question Time style debate looking at the pros and cons of the Northern Powerhouse and whether it truly involves the North East.
Apart from anything else, you may learn something about its overarching intentions and how devolution and the Combined Authority will play its part.
There are over 60 delegates confirmed to date , but disappointingly only 4 are from CECA so far !!!
It would be good if we had a bigger representation than that so check out the flyer.
NEPO Event – Tees Valley Meet the Buyer Wednesday 27th January
Apologies for the repeat of information but check this link also for the flyer
With £ 48 million of construction projects already sat in Tees Valley’s pipeline for 2016, this could be a worthwhile event for CECA members (especially SME’s) as although this is predominantly building work, there will be foundation slabs / groundwork packages available here.
There are some useful presentations throughout the day as well as the chance to sit in front of a host of Tier 1 contractors and promote your businesses.
Use the link to book your place.
10 New Enterprise Zone Sites revealed in North East
It was good to see the announcement in the Autumn Statement that the following sites have been granted Enterprise Zone status going live in 2017.
They are;
Hawthorn Business Park, Durham
Follingsby Park South, Gateshead
North Bank of the Tyne, Newcastle
Newcastle Airport Business Park
The A1, Morpeth, Northumberland
Ashwood Business Park, Ashington, Northumberland
Ramparts Business Park, Berwick, Northumberland
Holborn Riverside, South Tyneside
International Advanced Manufacturing Park, Sunderland & South Tyneside
Port of Sunderland, Sunderland
This will lead to a glut of private sector investment from outside the region and will no doubt give our industry a pipeline of work in the years ahead.
Meeting with Guy Opperman MP
CECA has been given the opportunity to meet with Guy Opperman , Conservative MP for Tynedale area to discuss all things construction but particularly the campaign for dualling the A69 ( see below) we will report back on this later.
Meeting with Anne Marie Trevelyan MP
A recent meeting with Anne – Marie Trevelyan, Conservative MP for Berwick (and well known for her A1 dualling campaign)
provided the writer with some useful information as to the programme and developments with the A1 work.
Design is well advanced and a major utility diversion will commence in April with scheme procurement commencing early 2017.
It is intended that work will start on sections of the A1 dualling in 2018.
NEPO Framework Contracts( Highways and Civils )
The NEPO highways surfacing framework tender exercise is now complete with the following 13 contractors being appointed across 17 specialist lots, they are;
Aggregate Industries (Bardon Contracting )
Colas
Hanson
Henry Williams
Jointline
JPCS
Kiely Bros.
Miles Macadam
Northumbrian Roads
Rainton Construction
Roadtechs
Tarmac
Texture Blast
Good to see that in Lot 1 (the main highways surfacing lot) contained 6 CECA members all of whom are regional, which is encouraging!!
The estimated annual value of spend across the authorities is pitched at £ 24 million.
The NEPO civils framework tender (led by Sunderland CC ) is currently in its evaluation stagewith over 40 compliant bids being received.
Award of this framework is being closely followed and is due to be in place and commence in April.
Let’s hope that CECA’s pleas to NEPO have been heard and we end up with a similar outcome as the surfacing exercise.
Cheers for now!
Chris Dancer