C E L E B R A T I N G 7 5 Y E A R S O F T H E C O N S T R U C T I O N E M P L O Y E R S F E D E R A T I O N
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“I’mdelighted that Mark is takingover and I wish himthe very best for the future.”
Q: What still needs to be done? A: There is always plenty to be done. Given the proportion of work for the industry that comes from the public sector, one of the great fears we have right now in the context of the Covid pandemic is that money already earmarked for infrastructure by government won’t be spent by the end of the current year and will have to be returned to the Treasury. It would be criminal if that was to happen and a huge embarrassment for both the NI Assembly and Executive. Another thing we would love to see is a more streamlined planning system. Of course, any planning system has to be accountable, but at the same time, we have to be mindful that if an investor can get a much quicker planning decision in say the North East of England or Scotland, then where are they more likely to invest? Another real danger we currently face for the future is that our housing supply needs are potentially being blocked because of capacity issues in our wastewater infrastructure. We have been working to support
Q: Any advice for your successor, Mark Spence? A: First of all I’m delighted that Mark is taking over and I wish him the very best for the future. We have always been very proud of the family ethos that is here at the Federation, and that’s something I hope that he will continue. I am sure Mark will do a fantastic job for the Federation and the industry. As for advice, it’s about steadily chipping away with a consistent message. Very few issues will change seismically overnight, they evolve gradually and they change. But, by maintaining close contact with the influencers and decision makers in government and other client bodies and steadily pushing for progress on the issues, you gradually get the improvements we are looking for. In many ways the fact that the CEF is celebrating its 75th anniversary is a testament to that approach.
NI Water in making the case for additional funding as this issue is so critical to the economy and the entire community in Northern Ireland. What people need to understand is that it’s not just housing developments that will have to stop, it’s schools, hospitals, commercial developments and other infrastructure that simply cannot be built if the wastewater infrastructure isn’t there. Q: What’s next for you? A: Providing Covid allows, I’m hoping to do some travelling with my wife, Elsie. We’ve been married 27 years and now we’ve both retired, we’re looking forward to more trips away. I’m also an avid aviation enthusiast. I am a member of the Ulster Aviation Society and the proud owner of a dormant pilot’s license, so I’ll be re immersing myself in that world and hope to get back to some flying if I can!
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