ACE Annual Conference 2011 Getting Back to Business 25 May 2011 Renaissance St Pancras, London The world has experienced one of the biggest economic downturns in living memory.  For those providing professional services in the built environment, the challenges are far from over.  Investment conditions remain tight; clients are seeking greater value for money; and businesses face difficult decisions of resource management and business planning. That is why ACE’s 2011 annual conference will focus on the way forward – getting back to business.

	Keynote speakers Security of nuclear energy Wednesday, 25 May 2011 Chairman emeritus of the UKAEA makes positive case for nuclear energy following Fukushima Being different makes all the difference Wednesday, 25 May 2011 Professor Roger Flanagan warns ACE annual conference of the risks of similarity Future of Network Rail Wednesday, 25 May 2011 Network Rail’s supply chain must effectively engage with the proposed market models, ACE’s Annual Conference has heard.

	Main panels Government and UK infrastructure Wednesday, 25 May 2011 Government and clients must help to build certainty and establish clarity. The future for low carbon buildings Wednesday, 25 May 2011 Buildings need greater attention after they are built, ACE’s annual conference has heard.

	Lightning speed presentations Towards a better business environment for SMEs Wednesday, 25 May 2011 Alan Bramwell of Clancy Consulting told delegates about how the SME Forum was drawing in views from SME members to help direct how ACE supports business. Local government procurement Wednesday, 25 May 2011 There is no way engineers can look at practice without politics and politics without practice, John Nicholson of WSP told the conference as he set out efforts to influence change in local government procurement. Efficiency and Quality Wednesday, 25 May 2011 Colin Coleman of ISC Best Practice Consultancy told ACE’s annual conference that innovation must be targeted directly at efficiency and saving costs across projects.

	Breakout sessions Mergers and Acquisitions Wednesday, 25 May 2011 Sam Toulson started a discussion on mergers and acquisitions by outlining that there is likely to be an increased number in the construction sector. This is due to the scale and financing of projects as well as the tender requirements. Legal developments across the industry Wednesday, 25 May 2011 Delegates at ACE’s annual conference heard about procurement, the Bribery Act 2010 and the loss of immunity for expert witnesses. Entering new markets Wednesday, 25 May 2011 ACE’s annual conference delegates heard about entry strategies into international markets and efforts to boost UK trade and exports.

	Read about our successful 2010 conference here.  Read about our successful 2008 conference here.