Constructing Excellence Midlands Launches Infrastructure Forum
ENABLING infrastructure clients to deliver improved outcomes by collaboratively working faster, greener, safer and smarter, Constructing Excellence Midlands has launched its Infrastructure Forum, enhancing the visibility and perspective of infrastructure activities in the region.
The forum aims to assemble businesses from client organisations and supply chains in the Midlands, modernising the methods of industry collaboration and utilising digital tools for knowledge sharing to drive efficiency and improved outcomes.
Andrew Carpenter, chief executive of Constructing Excellence Midlands, who has created the Infrastructure Forum, said: “The forum will present a fantastic opportunity for the Midlands infrastructure community to coordinate responses to key industry challenges and collaborate on projects and programmes, ensuring continued infrastructure advancement that is pre-emptive of the demands and opportunities for the region.
“Infrastructure requires a collective planning approach where visibility of the opportunity to collaborate is essential, whether that’s rail, aviation, utilities, roads or power. An infrastructure forum will provide an opportunity to work smarter with collaborative efficacy and prove how we can provide ‘more for less’, while improving safety and sustainability outcomes.”
Mark Lyddon, Midlands regional infrastructure lead at Turner & Townsend, said: “I’m delighted to be involved in the conception of the Constructing Excellence Midlands Infrastructure Forum. The Midlands boasts leading global pioneering minds in infrastructure development, working on world class projects and programmes. This forum will enable clients and the entire supply chains to utilise the power of their combined expertise and experience.
“Consultation and collaboration through this platform will help us drive improvement in our industry and deliver better outcomes for customers and the environment. With the current volume of infrastructure construction activity and projects planned to take place in the Midlands region, we must create an improved way of working across clients and programmes.”
Alec Gillham, business engagement manager for DIGI-RAIL at the University of Birmingham, said: “DIGI-RAIL is thrilled to have been asked to participate in the newly-established Constructing Excellence Infrastructure Forum. Currently working with some of the UK’s most innovative and technologically advanced rail businesses, we are keen to explore the opportunities that the forum will present for collaboration around the themes of connected transportation and infrastructure.
“As we transition towards the creation of the public body Great British Railways (GBR), we are experiencing levels of investment and technology adoption in UK railways not seen for a generation. It is our firm belief the forum will provide a valuable platform to engage with stakeholders working within advanced transportation and infrastructure sectors to reimagine the UK passenger travel experience for the future.”
If you or your organisation would like to be involved or to find out more, please contact Constructing Excellence Midlands at info@cemidlands.org.
About Constructing Excellence Midlands
Constructing Excellence Midlands is a progressive membership organisation committed to improving business performance by driving innovation and best practise in the construction industry. It is a cross-sector, cross-supply chain, member led organisation operating for the good of industry and its stakeholders.
CE Midlands hosts knowledge sharing and best practice events and champion thought leadership through its Theme Groups, publishing best practice guides on a diverse number of topics from procurement to mediation.
DIGI-RAIL is an SME-focussed project, part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the University of Birmingham and sitting within the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE).
The project provides support to eligible SMEs looking to enter or grow their business in the rail industry, with a focus on the Digital Railway. DIGI-RAIL currently supports businesses based in two locations: the West Midlands and the Sheffield City Region.
The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 6,500 international students from over 150 countries.
Multinational consultancy Turner & Townsend supports clients in the real estate, infrastructure, and natural resources sectors. Within the Midlands region, its infrastructure team is helping to deliver better outcomes across rail, highways, utilities, defence and aviation sectors.
