Gull Wing Bridge in Suffolk, completed by Farrans in 2024.
Farrans Construction DOMINIC LAVERY, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF FARRANS, REFLECTS ON 80 YEARS OF COLLABORATION AND CONGRATULATES THE CEF ON ITS ANNIVERSARY…
As the CEF marks its 80th anniversary, it is an opportunity to look back on all that has been achieved by the Northern Ireland construction industry, not just here at home but across the UK, Ireland and further afield. If we think that just 80 years ago, a representative body for the industry was in its early stages of formation, we have much to be proud of. Now, the CEF’s members are responsible for critical infrastructure in markets all around the world. The Federation has provided us with a louder voice and guidance for those times when we need it, bridging gaps between contractors and governments, policies and operations, procedures and practice. In recent years, we have needed that voice more than ever as we have tackled the challenges of the Covid pandemic, skills shortages, government changes, inflation, Brexit and ongoing global conflicts. The industry has absorbed a significant amount of change while continuing to deliver high-quality projects. Farrans first became a member of
the CEF in August 1982, at a time when our business was growing rapidly and evolving into the innovative civil engineering and building contractor that it is now. Today, we have 650 people operating across the UK and Ireland, delivering for our clients in a range of sectors including aviation, water, energy and transportation. Last year saw our project teams successfully complete three moving bridges at Govan to Partick in Glasgow, Herring Bridge in Norfolk and Gull Wing Bridge in Suffolk. Closer to home, we handed over Phase 1 of Belfast Grand Central Station in a JV with Sacyr. This project will be a turning point for sustainable travel in our region and we are proud to have been main contractor. We started on site at Leeds Bradford Airport and Bristol Airport as our clients in this industry ramp up their operations to match the post-Covid demand. Our work remains buoyant in the water sector. We are on frameworks with NI Water, Uisce Éireann and
Northumbrian Water. We are also part of Anglian Water’s Strategic Pipeline Alliance, creating hundreds of kilometres of new, interconnecting pipelines to keep fresh, clean water flowing across the Anglian Water region. We are focused on delivering sustainable solutions which will improve lives for generations to come. We are also looking at how we can improve our own industry. We are proud to be involved in the award- winning Building Mental Health Alliance alongside the CEF and 24 other organisations, who are tackling mental health in construction. The CEF has also shown leadership with the launch of Construction Futures, which will identify a range of challenges faced by the construction industry and develop meaningful solutions. We will continue to work together to promote the positive image of the industry. Thank you to everyone involved in the CEF over the last 80 years.
T: +44 (0)28 9055 1300 E: construct@farrans.com www.farrans.com
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