The Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) has signed a partnership agreement with the Department for Transport (DfT) to support 'the optimal delivery of infrastructure investment across Britain'.
CECA, which is a leading representative body for the UK’s civil engineering contractors, said that the agreement will enable its members to support the delivery of transport investment 'as safely, effectively, and efficiently as possible'.
Director of external affairs at CECA, Marie-Claude Hemming, said: 'This agreement will build on successes to date to improve delivery practices, performance, and better mitigate risks and challenges in delivering outcomes.
'From our members’ perspective it will facilitate visibility of the forward pipeline of investment and identify opportunities to improve safety, customer service, and delivery best practice.
'This agreement will enable industry and government to collaborate in futureproofing the sector by addressing emerging challenges such as digital transformation, decarbonisation, and social value.
'Furthermore, we are delighted that the department has agreed to collaborate on the industry’s Fairness, Inclusion and Respect programme, which will ensure that our industry is able to attract sufficient new entrants to deliver the UK Government’s ambitious programme of investment in the coming years.
'We look forward to working with the department to ensure that the aims and objectives of industry and government are aligned, to the ultimate benefit of the economy and the UK taxpayer.'
DfT’s group commercial director, Paul Rodgers, stated: 'This partnership agreement signals our clear intent to collaborate more closely with industry, building on our shared pandemic experience, in order to put us in the best possible position to successfully deliver our rich policy agenda in support of UK growth and the attainment of climate goals.'
The news comes after CECA set up a Highways Maintenance Group last year, to take on some of the workstreams of the now defunct HTMA.
