The Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) represents the companies, large and small, that design, deliver and manage our built environment. Its members are the delivery partners of choice for government on “levelling up” projects and programmes. Commenting on the release of the Levelling Up White Paper, Guto Davies, Head
A new Net Zero guide targeted at SMEs working in the built environment has been jointly released by the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) and sister organisation, the Environmental Industries Commission (EIC). Aimed at small and medium sized members of both of these business associations, the guide highlights the
Darrell Matthews has been appointed to the new role of Director of Membership at the Association for Consultancy & Engineering (ACE), the business association for the UK’s professional consultancies and engineering companies operating in the built environment. Darrell, who has a background of working with trade and member-led organisations such as the
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
The Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) represents the companies, large and small, that design, deliver and manage our built environment. Its members are the delivery partners of choice for government on “levelling up” projects and programmes. Commenting on the release of the Levelling Up White Paper, Guto Davies, Head of Policy at ACE said:“While the ‘12 national missions’ are welcome to drive activity and ensure spending remains both targeted and on track, they are nothing without properly structured long-term financing for local government to realise these political ambitions. Our concern is that the current approach remains too compartmentalised to be truly effective. “We do, however, welcome the longer-term view on levelling up. The truth is there is no panacea and only sustained investment over the longer-term will address systemic and chronic issues.” “ACE is looking forward to continuing its role as a practical partner on levelling up, and will engage with the Government on the forthcoming Levelling up and regeneration bill which was previewed in the White Paper.” Commenting on the release of the Levelling Up White Paper, Peter Hogg chair of ACE’s places group, and UK cities director at Arcadis, said: “Our own proposals shared last November outlined a practical five-step process to deliver levelling up. While the White Paper has gone some way to enabling this, we still feel it is a missed opportunity for a rounded financial framework which allows all local communities to truly flourish. “The headline announcement around the 20 cities earmarked for investment, as well as the range of funds mentioned in the paper, demonstrate the core issue. While welcome for the areas lucky enough to have ‘won’, replacing competition and ring-fenced funds with consolidated longer-term funding for local government would enable a joined-up approach – crucial if we are to meet the significant challenges of building more prosperous, healthy and productive communities, while delivering a Net Zero built environment. “Additionally, smaller towns and rural areas often lack the in-house planning, placemaking and design expertise to pull together compelling strategies, build business cases, and put forward viable regeneration projects. As such, the current approach unfortunately still runs the risk of creating winners and losers, when we should be spreading opportunity more equally.” For more information, please contact James Ketchell, Head of Communications at ACE at jketchell@acenet.co.uk or 07904 276 249. Read ACE’s Five Principles for Levelling Up Success.
A new Net Zero guide targeted at SMEs working in the built environment has been jointly released by the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) and sister organisation, the Environmental Industries Commission (EIC). Aimed at small and medium sized members of both of these business associations, the guide highlights the steps that should be taken towards a carbon free future, explores how Net Zero is already influencing client decision making, and outlines how to meet new client expectations while seizing the business opportunities created. The guide also provides a handy reference to previously released publications, reports, pledge schemes and sector plans, directly sign-posting to the most important and relevant sources of information. Commenting on its launch, Dr Sarah Prichard, UK managing director at Buro Happold, and chair of the ACE and EIC Net Zero group, said: “We designed this guide to help SMEs with practical and tangible advice to support them to make the right choices on their Net Zero journey. “While much has been written around national targets and global conferences, the truth is that we will only succeed if we bring small and medium sized business on board. The UK economy is made up of six million SMEs making up 99.9% of the business population. Our guide is the first step towards this in our industries and I’m looking forward to further engaging both membership bases on this fundamental issue in the weeks and months ahead.” Available to download from the ACE website, EIC members will be sent a copy directly. The guide is released during Net Zero Week, a new national awareness campaign which is bringing together nearly 30 business associations and major organisations to explore all things Net Zero. ACE and EIC are founding partners of the week. Matthew Farrow, director of policy at ACE and EIC, added: “We are delighted to share this guide during the inaugural Net Zero Week. “New ways of working will – of course – mean challenges and change over the near term, but it will also create new business opportunities. Our guide aims to help small and medium sized businesses in our sectors be as well-prepared as possible to seize these.”
Darrell Matthews has been appointed to the new role of Director of Membership at the Association for Consultancy & Engineering (ACE), the business association for the UK’s professional consultancies and engineering companies operating in the built environment. Darrell, who has a background of working with trade and member-led organisations such as the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Manufacturers Association EEF (now Make UK), and the Institute of Directors, joins ACE at an important time for the consultancy and engineering industries. The increased devolution of decision making and our focus on supporting ACE members right across the UK means that Darrell will be based in Manchester. Darrell said, “I am pleased to be joining ACE at this exciting time for the sector, and am looking forward to working with our members – both current, and those who haven’t yet joined us – to establish their priorities and help drive the organisation forward to support a sustainable consultancy industry.” Hannah Vickers, CEO of ACE added, “We are delighted to welcome Darrell to the ACE team. His experience with member-led bodies will be vital to the work that we are undertaking, and I’m excited to be working with him. “Our members are front and centre of everything we do, and with the creation of this new post dedicated to our member’s needs, we feel that we are moving forward into a new phase for the organisation.” With this focus on members and increasing collaboration across the industry, ACE has also appointed Tam Simmons to the new role of Director of Campaigns. Tam, who was previously Head of Marketing & Communications at the organisation, has stepped into the role to coincide with the launch of ACE’s ‘Future of Consultancy’ campaign, which aims to help the entire consultancy and engineering sector not only adapt to, but welcome, a new era of design and delivery in the built environment. Over the coming months ACE will lead on a number of activities to bring together members, industry stakeholders and clients from the private and public sectors to examine this area and work in collaboration to achieve the common goal.
