I

am pleased to share our Blueprint, an important compass which outlines the thematic priorities for ACE over the next three years.

This is an exciting time as we seek to reenergise ACE Group as we reflect on what our members need post-pandemic and against an increasingly challenging economic outlook. Our Blueprint provides a positive framework for future success and the team is looking forward to adding more detail through our annual plans which will ensure we are delivering a strategy with members’ interests firmly at its core.

Whether building a diverse and inclusive workforce, conveying social value, improving procurement practices, rethinking risk, encouraging new technology and innovation, or ensuring ACE and EIC’s advocacy reach at national and regional levels, this Blueprint will ensure that we are focused on delivering our vision for a safe, innovative, resilient and globally competitive UK built environment sector.

With the Government already committed to billions of pounds of infrastructure spending, the implementation of the Blueprint will support our members to unlock the potential of forthcoming investments in ensuring our national transport, energy, flood resilience, water, waste and digital networks are fit for the future.

The ACE Board have been hugely supportive and fully endorse our refreshed approach. They are looking forward to exploring the additional detail provided in our first annual plan – not only will this provide tangible projects, activity and outputs, but it will also ensure we have the KPIs in place upon which the association can be held accountable. This approach will ensure that ACE remains firmly focused on one thing above all else, supporting its members.

Alongside this, we have also outlined some positive changes to our group structure with the introduction of five new advocacy groups exploring Climate Change, Procurement, Places, Transport and Mobility and People and two new Advisory Councils, aimed at ensuring the voice of our SME and large consultancy audiences is heard and acted upon.

The Blueprint will help our members make the most of forthcoming investments in ensuring our national transport, energy, flood resilience, water, waste and digital networks are fit for the future. Stephen Marcos Jones, ACE

Our Advisory Councils will ensure more of our members have both a voice and means to engage with our advocacy, member support and activity of ACE more generally. Our new advocacy groups will ensure the policy asks of today unlock the business opportunities of tomorrow.”

These changes bring to an end to our previous structure with the ideas and themes from our future of consultancy groups fully incorporated into our new approach to collaborative advocacy. This has the benefit of ensuring a much closer link between this activity and our political engagement, bringing this to life and turning it into tangible policymaking asks. Furthermore, we will continue to explore the themes through our events and within the pages of Infrastructure Intelligence.

Our Blueprint provides a strong framework upon which to build. It is fair to say that the last few years have been challenging for all. This new document will provide the best opportunity for ACE and its members to face the challenges which lie ahead.

Stephen Marcos Jones is chief executive of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE).

Download the Blueprint, as well as our FAQs on the group changes, below.