CECA runs a number of sector-specific groups, free for members to attend, which enable client liaison, the identification and spread of best practice, and up-to-date market intelligence of all aspects of the infrastructure sector. These include:
CECA Roads Group
The CECA Roads Group facilitates the sharing of information and knowledge of all matters relevant to the roads and highways sector. Typically, this will include briefings form clients and other specialist organisations about upcoming programmes of work, specific projects, or key topics of interest, such as procurement, skills, diversity, sustainability, environmental matters, and materials.
The CECA Roads Group also acts as an industry voice on key subjects, and allows liaison with clients on procurement, contractual models, and other matters. It enables our membership to develop relationships which strengthen and develop their businesses.
The Roads Group meets three times a year, with three external speakers invited to present on a range of highway-related topics. Recent speakers have included representatives of National Highways, the Department for Transport, Transport for London, the Office of Rail and Road, the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation, and HS2.
CECA Rail Group
The CECA Rail Group is the pre-eminent industry body that allows civils contractors to engage with both Network Rail, the Office of Rail and Road, and major rail clients including HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail. The Group concentrates on improving the visibility of forward work on the UK’s rail infrastructure, Network Rail’s procurement process, and all matters relating to rail policy. Recent speakers at the Group have included representatives of the Department for Transport, East West Railway, Heathrow Southern Railway, RISQS, Network Rail, HS2, and the Rail Supply Group.
CECA Energy Group
CECA’s Energy Group enables members to share best practice and support the development of UK energy policy with respect to civil engineering matters. The purview of the Group embraces all aspects of the energy market, including but not limited to the nuclear sector (including new build, decommissioning, and operational support); renewables (onshore and offshore wind, tidal, solar); thermal technologies and abatement measures (including fossil, biomass, waste to energy, combined heat and power, carbon capture and storage, selective catalytic reduction, flue gas desulphurisation); energy networks and the national grid; and energy efficiency and district heating. The Energy Group meets two-three times a year, with external speakers invited to give short presentations on a wide of energy-related topics of interest. Recent speakers have included Cavendish Nuclear, UK Power Networks, Energy UK, Horizon Nuclear Power, and Atkins.
CECA Transport Group
The CECA Transport Group generally meets twice a year. Its remit is to cover all modes of transportation, with a specific interest in the interface between different modes of transport, how transport policy needs to be developed to support the wider economy, and emerging technologies. The Group covers the airports and sea ports sectors, light rail and mass transit, regional connectivity, and provides a focus for CECA to develop its transport policies to inform its wider lobbying activities.
Recent presentations to the Group have been delivered by Birmingham Airport, AB Ports (Humber), Highways England, KPMG, the Department for Transport, London City Airport, Peabody, and the National Infrastructure Commission. The Group also delivered CECA’s Northern Powerhouse Matrix, co-ordinated the publication of CECA’s Northern Powerhouse: a Guide for Members, both of which are available behind the firewall in the members’ area.
CECA Water Group
The CECA Water Group engages members with specific interest in the water, waste water, flood defence, ports and harbours. It focusses on issues relevant to the sector, such as Environment Agency frameworks, cyclicality of investment, innovation, collaboration and alliancing, and maintains high level customer relations with all UK water utilities, flood defence and maritime customers, for the benefit of all CECA members. Recent speakers have included Severn Trent water, Yorkshire Water, and United Utilities. The Group liaises with relevant bodies, such as Ofwat, Defra, and the Environment Agency, and assists CECA members to gain an understanding of key issues within the water utility, flood defence, and maritime sectors, including financial, commercial, contractual, and technical matters.
CECA Procurement Group
Established in 2016, the CECA Procurement Group brings together CECA members with an interest in driving forward improvements to the procurement process, which in the UK is now the most expensive and one of the lengthiest in Europe. The group’s role is to identify and suggest improvements to the way that procurement is practiced across the entire construction sector, benefitting both CECA members, as well as clients and the wider public. The procurement group was instrumental in researching and publishing CECA’s Procurement Report: Directions in policy for the UK’s infrastructure sector. Recent speakers have included representatives of Burges Salmon, Build UK, Surrey County Council, and the Department for Transport. In 2018, the Procurement Group is working on a project regarding frameworks to address the challenges CECA members face in the bidding process and to influence policy making.
CECA Environment Group
The CECA Environment Group keeps under review all matters relating to infrastructure and the environment, including sustainability. It liaises with other relevant industry bodies and stakeholders, in particular the Environment Agency. Recent speakers have included the Environment Agency, the GLA, and experts on Japanese Knotweed. Members of CECA’s Environment Committee collaborated to publish Waste Classification & Permitting In Construction, free guidance for the whole industry on dealing with construction waste.
CECA Health, Safety & Wellbeing Group
The CECA Health, Safety & Wellbeing Group provides CECA’s members with a interest in health & safety to meet periodically to discuss issues of relevance to the sector and to provide the opportunity for CECA members to exchange information, share best practice, and discuss topical health & safety issues. The Group meets four times a year, and engages with clients and other stakeholders in the sector and wider industry, both to receive presentations and other information, and to provide an opportunity to offer views from industry in return. The Group also reviews industry guidance and undertakes specific initiatives, most recently on forward-tipping dumpers.
CECA Public Affairs Group
The CECA Public Affairs Group is a working group of CECA members who have an interest in policy and government. The group meet three times a year for lunchtime discussions with key civil servants and politicians. Some of the group’s recent speakers have included the Chair of the Transport Committee, senior staff from the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, the Chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, and politicians with an interest in infrastructure.