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’d like to take this opportunity to share my early thoughts after week one at ACE. Even after my first week, it is already clear that members have a bright future ahead of them. Longer-term policy aims on Net Zero, political ambitions to “level up” while “building back better,” and our sector’s important role as HMG’s delivery partner of choice, mean our members can be confident their voice will be heard by policymakers.

These are themes that ACE has championed over the years, but I hope that with a refreshed approach, the Leadership Team and myself will be able to reenergise and refocus them over the coming weeks and months after what have been two extremely challenging years for UK PLC and the global economy.

Working closely with the Board, member companies and the ACE team, my objective is to define an agreed set of clear value-adding policy priorities and positions for the built environment sector. This will ensure our engagement is not only impactful but provides tangible results in the form of improvements to our members’ bottom line – vital as we hopefully start to navigate the challenges and opportunities of a post-pandemic world.

To do this we will need to increase ACE’s profile among stakeholders and decision-makers. For example, I hope to see us re-energise and strengthen our engagement via industry forums such as the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), where there is a real opportunity to drive activity for the benefit for our membership base and the entire sector.

My objective is to define an agreed set of clear value-adding policy priorities and positions for the built environment sector. This will ensure our engagement is not only impactful but provides tangible results in the form of improvements to our members’ bottom line. Stephen Marcos Jones, CEO ACE

I also want to use the power of collaboration to increase member value. I know you all have remarkable stories to tell with brilliant examples of design-excellence and impactful delivery, as well as years of collective industry experience. I want to ensure ACE and the other organisations in the group, the Environmental Industries Commission (EIC) and Infrastructure Intelligence, are all providing the best platform possible to showcase and share this.

Over the coming weeks I want develop a thorough understand of members’ expectations of their business association. As well as meeting as many of you as possible. I will be attending a number of ACE group meetings, and as in-person events slowly start to make a comeback, I’ll also be attending industry events. If we happen to be in the same online webinar or physical space, please don’t hesitate to introduce yourself and share your thoughts on how we can serve you better. Alternatively, you can always get in touch with me via email with any feedback.

One of the reasons ACE was initially so appealing to me was its membership base which plays a unique role as a facilitator and enabler for a better world. Whether working on designing solutions for zero carbon, increasing productivity, or creating healthy and resilient communities, members are delivering on some of society’s biggest longer-term challenges. This provides a strong foundation for meaningful engagement. My role is to ensure we are in the best position to be able to do so, and I am looking forward to becoming more involved in the detail as the weeks progress.

Stephen Marcos Jones is chief executive of the ACE group including the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), sister organisation the Environmental Industries Commission (EIC) and magazine Infrastructure Intelligence.