Connect Plus Services has appointed Louise Haining as managing director with responsibility for leading its M25 operations.

A chartered engineer, Haining has 30 years’ experience within the construction and infrastructure industry.

She joined Connect Plus Services (CPS) in 2017 and has since held several roles across the organisation, including asset and project delivery director, where she was responsible for the adoption of digital asset management and driving further innovation across the business.

Most recently, she has held the role of interim managing director at CPS focusing on further digital transformation, predictable delivery and long-term maintenance decision making across the business.

She said: “I am delighted to take the helm as managing director of Connect Plus Services, leading an incredibly talented team on the M25 – one the UK’s busiest motorways.

“My focus will remain on data as a strategic imperative to prioritise decision making so that we keep the M25 safe and fit for purpose, whilst also continuing to identify ways of reducing delays and improving journey time reliability for the travelling public.”

Connect Plus Services brings together the collective expertise from Balfour Beatty, AtkinsRéalis and Egis, with responsibility for operating and maintaining the 250-mile M25 motorway network.

This includes routine maintenance, winter maintenance, and managing the whole-life requirement of the network including five tunnels and 2,500 structures such as bridges, culverts, and overhead gantries.

Connect Plus Services operates and maintains the network on behalf of Connect Plus - a consortium including Edge Orbital Holdings, Balfour Beatty and Egis Investments Partners - which has a 30-year contract with National Highways through a private finance initiative.

United Living Group, the provider of infrastructure, affordable housing, property services and telecoms, has announced its subsidiary - United Living Infrastructure Services (ULIS)- has appointed Scott Beard as director of water.

The appointment has been made to further strengthen its leadership team following the awarding of major AMP8 frameworks to ULIS over the past six months.

Beard has more than 30 years of experience in the water industry, having served as head of water engineering at Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, regional water network manager at United Utilities and previously a director at several of the UK’s biggest contractors.

Conor Bray, managing director United Living Infrastructure Services, said: “We are delighted to welcome Scott Beard as director of water to the Infrastructure Services business.
“United Living has experienced significant growth as the delivery partner across the UK’s leading clean and wastewater infrastructure projects.

“Scott joins as water companies prepare for record investment during AMP8 and challenging regulatory targets. He brings a wealth of experience to our established water teams as we continue to support utility companies and deliver innovative solutions.”

UKREiiF - The UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum - has announced the appointment of Lord Richard Harrington as Advisory Group chair.

He’ll assist UKREiiF with its growth strategy following its acquisition by Infopro Digital in July.

Alongside his role in chairing the UKREiiF Advisory Group, he’ll help advise around key growth areas for the business.

Lord Harrington added: “I am delighted to be taking up this role at an exciting time for UKREiiF. Having attended and spoken in previous years, I am excited to be helping the organisation cement its role as the leading investment and infrastructure group.

"I look forward to working with UKREiiF and partners over the coming months and, of course, meeting you all in my hometown of Leeds again next year.”

Engineering Consultancy, JPG Group, has appointed David Allwood as managing director.

Allwood has been a director with JPG since 2018 and takes over the role from Chris Harding who moves to a consultancy role after nearly 15 years managing the business.

A chartered structural engineer with more than 25 years’ experience within the construction and commercial property sector, Allwood joined JPG as project engineer in 2007.

Career highlights include setting up the company’s Midlands office and he also gained significant international experience in the Middle Dast region where he lived and worked to establish the JPG office in The Sultanate of Oman as country manager.