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The big stories of party conference season this year were Vince Cable attacking the banks, Labour electing Ed Miliband as their leader, and the Conservatives announcing changes to child benefit.
Behind the headlines, all three conferences were a hive of activity with politicians and industry figures discussing every political subject under the sun.
ACE teamed up with CECA, the CPA, ICE and CITB ConstructionSkills to host receptions at each party conference to discuss engineering and investment.
Hosting alongside the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Infrastructure, we heard from Business Secretary Vince Cable about how the Green Investment Bank would, once operating, leverage investment from the private sector.
No one was under the illusion that there are easy solutions to the UK’s budget deficit. However, Lord Chidgey, a member of the APPG, stressed the value of our members to the economy and the importance of investing in and maintaining good infrastructure.
CECA’s Neil Beck expressed his hope that the government would recognise that crucial role as the economy is rebalanced and growth is strengthened.
At the Labour Party conference Nick stressed that the case had to be made that the UK needs investment in its infrastructure.
ACE’s chief executive, Nelson Ogunshakin OBE, spoke alongside Nick Raynsford about the valuable return infrastructure investment can secure for the economy.
Conservative minister for planning, Bob Neill told a large audience at the third and final reception that the government was trying to balance planning needs.
He made it clear that the coalition feels that local communities must have their say on the issues that affect them. However, he still wanted to help overcome unwieldy planning processes, and he stressed that the government had to be a friend to business if it wanted private sector growth to help rebalance the economy.
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