2016 / 2017 CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

A YEAR IN PERSPECTIVE

FOREWORDS Th e Rt Hon Th eresa May MP Th e Rt Hon Greg Clark MP Terry Scuoler CBE

GENERAL ENGINEERING REPRESENTATIVES BuroHappold Engineering Maze Engineering AE Global Patrick Parsons Witon Engineering Wenham Profi les Datum Group global associates EniProgetti GAP Electrical & Mechanical Services Ltd Copper Connexions Westcombe Engineering Strata Technology

FEATURES Review of the Year Review of Parliament

©2017 WESTMINSTER PUBLICATIONS www.theparliamentaryreview.co.uk

Foreword

Th e Rt Hon Th eresa May MP Prime Minister

This year’s Parliamentary Review follows a significant deliver the next phase of high-speed rail, improve our year in British politics. It was a year in which our energy infrastructure and support the development of economy continued to grow, as the Government automated vehicles and satellite technology, building followed its balanced plan to keep the public finances a modern economy which creates the high-skill jobs of under control while investing to build a stronger the future. economy. It was a year in which we began to deliver At the same time, work needs to be done to build a on the result of the EU referendum by triggering Article fairer society – where people can go as far as their 50 and publishing the Repeal Bill, which will allow for a talents will take them and no one is held back because smooth and orderly transition as the UK leaves the EU, of their background. So we will continue to work to maximising certainty for individuals and businesses. ensure every child has the opportunity to attend a good And, of course, it was a year in which the General school. We will continue to invest in the NHS and reform Election showed that parts of our country remain mental health legislation, making this a priority. And divided and laid a fresh challenge to all of us involved we will work to address the challenges of social care for in politics to resolve our differences, deal with injustices our ageing population, bringing forward proposals for and take, not shirk, the big decisions. consultation to build widespread support.

That is why our programme for government for the So this is a Government determined to deliver the best coming year is about recognising and grasping the Brexit deal, intent on building a stronger economy opportunities that lie ahead for the United Kingdom and a fairer society, committed to keeping our country as we leave the EU. The referendum vote last year was safe, enhancing our standing in the wider world, and not just a vote to leave the EU – it was a profound bringing our United Kingdom closer together. We will and justified expression that our country often does continue to put ourselves at the service of millions of not work the way it should for millions of ordinary ordinary working people for whom we will work every working families. So we need to deliver a Brexit deal day in the national interest. that works for all parts of the UK, while continuing to build a stronger, fairer country by strengthening our economy, tackling injustice and promoting opportunity “ and aspiration. This year’s Parliamentary In the year ahead we will continue to bring down the deficit so that young people do not spend most of their Review follows a significant working lives paying for our failure to live within our “year in British politics means. We will take action to build a stronger economy so that we can improve people’s living standards and fund the public services on which we all depend. We will continue with our modern Industrial Strategy,

FOREWORD | 1 Foreword Foreword

Th e Rt Hon Terry Scuoler CBE Greg Clark MP Chief Executive of EEF Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

The UK has always been at the forefront of business and The vote to the leave the European Union marks the Manufacturers are clear about their priorities from the EEF has also called for a reduction in the cost to business global trade. Our economy has many strengths: it is the beginning of a new chapter in the history of our great Government’s Brexit negotiations. Our sector’s key of recruiting from outside the EU by abolishing the fifth largest in the world, with the highest employment businesses. I am very clear that the future of our industry concerns are that we retain the tariff-free movement of immigration skills charge along with reversing the level anywhere in Europe and the best in our history. is global. There is scarcely a product or a service made goods to the EU and, during an appropriate transition recent decision to remove the short-term intra-company We can be truly proud of the fact that almost everyone in Britain that does not make use of products or services period, maintain the economic benefits of access to the transfer route. of working age is in work and earning. We are home from overseas – whether that is in capital equipment, Single Market and Customs Union. Thereafter, minimal to many of the world’s most innovative companies, components of products, advice and design or specialist customs arrangements and a flexible approach to In the longer term, we would like to see government attracting a level of foreign direct investment that is the labour. That is why the Industrial Strategy has openness, accessing EU labour are essential for our sector to flourish. spearhead a consistent approach to tackling the UK’s envy of others around the world. We lead the world in competition and free trade at its heart. As an island longstanding and future skills needs. This must be a a breathtaking diversity of sectors from financial services nation, international trade is instinctive. We now have just over 12 months before a deal of some key thrust of the new and evolving Industrial Strategy, to the creative industries to computing. kind needs to go before both the EU and UK Parliaments prioritising science, technology, engineering and We have the opportunity to ask what the world will for ratification. In that time, the Government has to sort mathematics (STEM) education and vocational training. Yet we recognise the need to do more. Low productivity look like in the next 10, 20 or more years, and shape out the divorce settlement and set out the terms of a new in our workforce and regional disparities have been our country accordingly. While this will not be a quick trading relationship with the other 27 countries. With The Industrial Strategy should also ensure minimal stubborn issues that successive governments have or easy task, it is one which any responsible government the best political will in the world, success in achieving disruption and no additional costs to trade with the EU, struggled to address. must undertake. this satisfactorily and within that tight timescale is highly which remains a key market for our sector’s goods and unlikely. There will come a point when businesses may, services. Over eight in ten manufacturers (84%) export Our Industrial Strategy will do just that. It will build on As a leading nation of enterprise, our great strength has in a situation of ongoing uncertainty, decide not just to to the EU while almost three-quarters (74%) say that the existing strengths of our country while creating always been our adaptability to change. And in this time delay investment but to steer it offshore. a 10% tariff on exports to the EU would have a highly the conditions for people, places and firms to thrive in of unprecedented technological and political change, negative impact on their business. the economy of the future. At its core is the mission to I firmly believe the UK, as always, has the businesses, Access to the right skills is a major concern for UK boost earning power for all. We will do this by investing ideas, people and places to make every success of the manufacturing as we already struggle with a significant Our regions and localities rightly form a major part in our people, promoting excellence in innovation, opportunities these present. and well-documented domestic skills gap. An early of the proposed strategy and the Government’s

backing the businesses of the future and promoting the agreement on guarantees for EU citizens would provide commitment to ongoing investment in broadband and strengths of all places in our country. much-needed reassurance for all those already resident other infrastructure projects, innovation clusters and

As a leading nation of in the United Kingdom before Brexit, and of course for greater support for small and medium-sized enterprises’ This is a modern industrial strategy fit to tackle UK citizens already resident in the EU27. (SMEs) supply chains is welcome. the grand challenges of our age: automation, de- enterprise, “ our great carbonisation and ageing, to name a few. It is forward Manufacturers must also be able to continue to recruit If adequately implemented, these and other initiatives “strength has always been can not only reduce the uncertainty of Brexit, but will looking and puts the innovators, disruptors and value EU workers at all skill levels until the UK labour market is creators of tomorrow, in cross-cutting technologies, our adaptability to able to support businesses’ demand for these workers. We set our country on the right path for decades to come. such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics, to understand that controlling future EU migration is a difficult the fore. change balancing act, but it is vital government gets this right for the manufacturing sector to survive in a post-Brexit world.

2 | FOREWORD FOREWORD | 3 Foreword

Terry Scuoler CBE Chief Executive of EEF

Manufacturers are clear about their priorities from the EEF has also called for a reduction in the cost to business Government’s Brexit negotiations. Our sector’s key of recruiting from outside the EU by abolishing the concerns are that we retain the tariff-free movement of immigration skills charge along with reversing the goods to the EU and, during an appropriate transition recent decision to remove the short-term intra-company period, maintain the economic benefits of access to the transfer route. Single Market and Customs Union. Thereafter, minimal customs arrangements and a flexible approach to In the longer term, we would like to see government accessing EU labour are essential for our sector to flourish. spearhead a consistent approach to tackling the UK’s longstanding and future skills needs. This must be a We now have just over 12 months before a deal of some key thrust of the new and evolving Industrial Strategy, kind needs to go before both the EU and UK Parliaments prioritising science, technology, engineering and for ratification. In that time, the Government has to sort mathematics (STEM) education and vocational training. out the divorce settlement and set out the terms of a new trading relationship with the other 27 countries. With The Industrial Strategy should also ensure minimal the best political will in the world, success in achieving disruption and no additional costs to trade with the EU, this satisfactorily and within that tight timescale is highly which remains a key market for our sector’s goods and unlikely. There will come a point when businesses may, services. Over eight in ten manufacturers (84%) export in a situation of ongoing uncertainty, decide not just to to the EU while almost three-quarters (74%) say that delay investment but to steer it offshore. a 10% tariff on exports to the EU would have a highly negative impact on their business. Access to the right skills is a major concern for UK manufacturing as we already struggle with a significant Our regions and localities rightly form a major part and well-documented domestic skills gap. An early of the proposed strategy and the Government’s agreement on guarantees for EU citizens would provide commitment to ongoing investment in broadband and much-needed reassurance for all those already resident other infrastructure projects, innovation clusters and in the United Kingdom before Brexit, and of course for greater support for small and medium-sized enterprises’ UK citizens already resident in the EU27. (SMEs) supply chains is welcome.

Manufacturers must also be able to continue to recruit If adequately implemented, these and other initiatives EU workers at all skill levels until the UK labour market is can not only reduce the uncertainty of Brexit, but will able to support businesses’ demand for these workers. We set our country on the right path for decades to come. understand that controlling future EU migration is a difficult balancing act, but it is vital government gets this right for the manufacturing sector to survive in a post-Brexit world.

FOREWORD | 3 Andrew Neil Review of the Year

Return of the Two Party System Industrial Strategy: Ten pillars for prosperity

The BBC’s Andrew Neil gives his take Nationalist party and a resurgent The referendum, however, reversed business growth and investment; on the state of Parliament following Tory party representing the Union. the decline. The Brexit vote ended the procurement; trade and investment; the June 2017 general election. Two-party politics was back north schism on the Eurosceptic Right as affordable energy; sectoral policies; of the border. UKIP voters returned to the Tory fold; driving growth across the whole It was a year in which politicians and those on the Left of the Greens country; and creating the right learned not only of the power of So we should have been prepared and the Lib Dems flocked to Jeremy institutions to bring together sectors a referendum to overrule the will for something similar when Britain Corbyn’s more ‘Red Flag’ Labour and places. In the Green Paper, the of Parliament – but of its power voted 52% to 48% to leave the offering. So, as in Scotland previously, Government said the UK had already to change the party system in European Union in the June 2016 two-party politics was back with a created one of the world’s best which they operate. Nobody saw referendum. At the time, we vengeance in England too. business environments for advanced this coming. But, in retrospect, remarked on the power of referenda aerospace engineering, design perhaps we should have, since we to overrule both the Commons But without one crucial element. Our and manufacture. had the fallout from the Scottish (where MPs were 65% pro-EU) historic two-party system regularly produced one-party government referendum to guide us. and the Lords (probably 80% The prospect of fresh financial for the life of a Parliament. But our pro-EU). What we did not see was assistance for engineers, such as the In the autumn of 2014 the Scots how the Brexit referendum would new two-party system has produced Industrial Challenge Strategy Fund, was voted 55%-45% to remain part of the reconfigure English politics just a hung Parliament with no party The Prime Minister welcomed by many within the sector. United Kingdom. That was supposed as the Scottish referendum had having an overall majority. This received a short tour The Fund is a £1 billion competition to settle the matter of Scottish redrawn Scottish politics. knife-edge parliamentary arithmetic of the facilities at the The decision to rename the former to develop technologies in healthcare independence for a generation, until means the smaller parties may be National Science and Department for Business, Innovation and medicine, robotics and artificial some Scottish Nationalists began So we were taken by surprise for a down – but they are not out. Innovation Campus and Skills to the Department for regarding a generation as no more second time. In this year’s general while launching intelligence, batteries for clean and election – perhaps the single biggest The Conservatives need an alliance proposals for building Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy flexible energy storage, self-driving than a couple of years. But in post- a Modern Industrial act of self-harm a sitting government with one small party (Ulster’s DUP) (BEIS) in July 2016 suggested that vehicles, manufacturing and materials referendum elections to Holyrood Strategy to be sure of a majority. Even then, the Government would place greater and Westminster, it also recast the has ever inflicted on itself – almost of the future, and satellites and with the Tories and Labour divided emphasis on developing a specific Scottish party system. 85% in England voted either space technology. Conservative or Labour. The English over Brexit, no majority on any issue strategy to support engineering, Remember, Scotland had been one had not voted in such numbers for will be certain and on many votes manufacturing and other sectors of In fact, the Government says its of the first parts of the UK to throw both major parties since 1970, when the smaller parties will be pivotal in the economy. commitment to increasing investment off the British two-party system the post-war two-party system began determining many outcomes. in research and development (R&D) and replace it with a multi-party More than five and a half million by £4.7 billion over the next four to wane – and declined in subsequent So politicians return from choice of SNP, Labour, Tory, Green, employees work for engineering years is the biggest increase in elections to a point where barely their summer recess to a great businesses and engineering plays total Government R&D investment Lib Dem and even UKIP. But as the 65% voted Tory or Labour, parliamentary paradox: the two-party a critical role in the modern British since records began in 1979. The constitutional issue took centre- encouraging some commentators to system has resurrected itself but rather economy. The activity contributed £486 Challenge Fund could also develop 5G stage – and remained there even think the decline terminal. than bringing with it the stability and billion to UK gross domestic product telecommunications. The Government after the referendum – Scottish certainty of the two-party politics of (GDP) in 2015 and there were 650,000 has earmarked £400 million in a voters coalesced round a binary old, almost every major vote in the engineering enterprises registered in new Digital Infrastructure Investment choice: for or against independence. months ahead will be uncertain and Britain in the same year. Fund, including investment in 5G – a Thus was a new two-party system unpredictable – and politics will be technology area which the Institution born of a centre-left Nationalist peculiarly unstable. Power will rest in The launch of BEIS was soon followed of Engineering and Technology believes party (the SNP) and a centre-right Parliament. Government will be able by plans for the development of an the UK needs and in which it is poised Unionist party (the Scottish Tories). to take nothing for granted. No vote Industrial Strategy in January 2017. will be in the bag until all the votes to do well. The other parties have not been The Government’s Green Paper are counted. Westminster will have completely obliterated, especially identified ten pillars of the new New sectoral policies are one of the a new lease of life – perhaps even in Holyrood with its peculiar voting strategy to underpin engineering, ten pillars. In fact, the Green Paper says a spring in its step. Our democracy system. But by the general election manufacturing and the industrial there will be an ‘open door’ challenge might be all the better for it. of 2017 Scotland had become sectors: science, research and to industry to come to Government a battle between a dominant innovation; skills; infrastructure; with proposals to transform their Neil believes two referendums have redrawn the map of British politics. 4 | ANDREW NEIL Review of theCONSTRUCTION Year & ENGINEERING

Industrial Strategy: Ten pillars for prosperity

business growth and investment; procurement; trade and investment; affordable energy; sectoral policies; driving growth across the whole country; and creating the right institutions to bring together sectors and places. In the Green Paper, the Government said the UK had already created one of the world’s best business environments for advanced aerospace engineering, design and manufacture.

The prospect of fresh financial assistance for engineers, such as the Industrial Challenge Strategy Fund, was The Prime Minister welcomed by many within the sector. received a short tour The Fund is a £1 billion competition of the facilities at the The decision to rename the former to develop technologies in healthcare National Science and Department for Business, Innovation Innovation Campus and medicine, robotics and artificial while launching and Skills to the Department for intelligence, batteries for clean and proposals for building Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy flexible energy storage, self-driving a Modern Industrial (BEIS) in July 2016 suggested that vehicles, manufacturing and materials Strategy the Government would place greater of the future, and satellites and emphasis on developing a specific space technology. strategy to support engineering, manufacturing and other sectors of In fact, the Government says its the economy. commitment to increasing investment in research and development (R&D) More than five and a half million by £4.7 billion over the next four employees work for engineering years is the biggest increase in businesses and engineering plays total Government R&D investment a critical role in the modern British since records began in 1979. The economy. The activity contributed £486 Challenge Fund could also develop 5G billion to UK gross domestic product telecommunications. The Government (GDP) in 2015 and there were 650,000 has earmarked £400 million in a engineering enterprises registered in new Digital Infrastructure Investment Britain in the same year. Fund, including investment in 5G – a technology area which the Institution The launch of BEIS was soon followed of Engineering and Technology believes by plans for the development of an the UK needs and in which it is poised Industrial Strategy in January 2017. to do well. The Government’s Green Paper identified ten pillars of the new New sectoral policies are one of the strategy to underpin engineering, ten pillars. In fact, the Green Paper says manufacturing and the industrial there will be an ‘open door’ challenge sectors: science, research and to industry to come to Government innovation; skills; infrastructure; with proposals to transform their

REVIEW OF THE YEAR | 5 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of the Year

sectors through ‘Sector Deals’. The the Automotive Council, the £2 billion In that time, we have to sort out the not just to delay investment but steer direct support for automotive and Aerospace Growth Partnership and the divorce and set out the terms of a it offshore.’ aerospace from the 2010–15 Coalition Aerospace Technology Institute – was new trading relationship with 27 As well as the EU, trade with emerging Government – including the creation of generally well received. other countries. markets is also hugely important for ‘With the best political will in British engineering firms. The possibility the world, achieving all of that of new, lucrative trade deals and Brexit: complex calculations satisfactorily and within the timescale enhanced relationships with some of is highly unlikely. There will come these rising stars, such as Brazil and The Brexit vote was met with a mixed engineering have relied on the skills of a point when businesses may, in a India, and global powerhouses such as response from engineers. Given the workers from the European Union for situation of ongoing uncertainty, start the US and China, will be welcome. importance of the European Union for decades. A study by the Royal Academy trade – about 44% of UK goods and of Engineering in 2016 found that services went to countries in the EU in 62% of respondents from engineering 2016, £240 billion of £550 billion total companies said employing citizens from Skills: the crisis continues exports – there remains real concern the EU was significant to their business, beyond to study engineering in the UK about a ‘hard Brexit’ where Britain falls while 64% said that being able to work following Brexit, or no new restrictions out of the single market without a with European companies was crucial. compensatory free trade deal. placed on overseas graduate engineers Despite the proposal in June that the working in Britain, the shortfall stands Others welcome the perceived three million EU citizens resident in Britain at 20,000 engineers a year. reduction in red tape of an EU exit. will have to apply for ‘settled status’ if There is a plethora of initiatives and Many engineers have enjoyed a surge they want to remain in the country after Brexit’s impact outreach schemes aimed at improving in export performance partly thanks to Brexit, further uncertainty over the rights on joint-funded engineering projects the image of engineering and the devaluation of the pound following of EU citizens residing in the UK is a big and research has manufacturing so that more young the Brexit vote. A year on from the business risk, while the potential for a concerned many in people are encouraged to seek these referendum, some companies in the UK drain of skilled workers from parts of the the sector careers. EngineeringUK’s Big Bang were enjoying their best growth rates economy has already been felt in some science and engineering fair, which for three years. sectors and regions – at a time when ran for the eighth year in 2017, is But the trend of the boost in exports is a there are widespread skills shortages in attracting growing numbers of visitors. double-edged sword. The weak pound disciplines like structural, chemical and Bright graduates are More than 80,000 visitors, mainly means stronger exports for engineering manufacturing engineering. Erecting needed to close the growing skills gap in Many people will be familiar with schoolchildren, attended the fair in firms, but it means rising costs for raw further barriers to the migration of skilled engineering the skills crisis facing engineering. March 2017 – 15% more than in material imports and price inflation. workers from the EU into the UK could The earmarking of £500 million for 2016, with 10% of all UK secondary With many engineering companies potentially constrain engineering firms’ technical education and development schools registering. Organisers also operating global supply chains and future growth. of the T-level qualification in the reported that there was an equal reliant on imports from abroad, inflated ‘Post-Brexit, free movement of people Budget was widely praised by industry. number of boys and girls from the commodity prices will erode profits. remains a key requirement for the This followed years of warnings from crucial 11–14 age group in 2017 – a Add to this the uncertain political and aerospace sector,’ explains Philippa bodies such as EngineeringUK about welcome statistic when females remain economic landscape of Brexit, and Oldham, Head of Transport and the engineering skills gap. According chronically underrepresented in the investment intentions for the future by Manufacturing at the Institution of to EngineeringUK, 265,000 skilled engineering profession. engineering firms may be muted. Mechanical Engineers. ‘Engineers often entrants will be needed annually The shortage is what campaigns The Engineering Employers’ Federation need to be transferred at short notice by engineering enterprises through such as #9PercentIsNotEnough on (EEF) fears that engineering companies within the supply chain to deal with to 2024. Of these, about 100,000 Twitter hope to change. In 2017, may be forced to make, or to temporary production challenges.’ graduate engineering entrants into the campaign drew attention to the postpone, investment decisions without industry will be required. The current Terry Scuoler, Chief Executive of the fact that only 9% of engineers in the a clear vision of the Brexit outcome supply, including all EU engineering manufacturers’ organisation the EEF, UK are female, a historic problem – or a clear understanding of what graduates and non-UK nationals adds ‘We have just over 12 months that only exacerbates industry skills outcomes are likely. coming into the sector, is just 80,000. before a Brexit deal of some kind issues. ‘The numbers of women in Then there is the workforce and needs to go before both the EU Assuming there is no reduction in engineering remain stubbornly low, immigration. Manufacturing and and UK Parliaments for ratification. student applications from the EU and but #9PercentIsNotEnough has had a

6 | REVIEW OF THE YEAR CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

In that time, we have to sort out the not just to delay investment but steer divorce and set out the terms of a it offshore.’ new trading relationship with 27 As well as the EU, trade with emerging other countries. markets is also hugely important for ‘With the best political will in British engineering firms. The possibility the world, achieving all of that of new, lucrative trade deals and satisfactorily and within the timescale enhanced relationships with some of is highly unlikely. There will come these rising stars, such as Brazil and a point when businesses may, in a India, and global powerhouses such as situation of ongoing uncertainty, start the US and China, will be welcome.

Skills: the crisis continues

beyond to study engineering in the UK following Brexit, or no new restrictions placed on overseas graduate engineers working in Britain, the shortfall stands at 20,000 engineers a year.

There is a plethora of initiatives and outreach schemes aimed at improving the image of engineering and manufacturing so that more young people are encouraged to seek these careers. EngineeringUK’s Big Bang science and engineering fair, which ran for the eighth year in 2017, is attracting growing numbers of visitors. Bright graduates are needed to close the More than 80,000 visitors, mainly growing skills gap in Many people will be familiar with schoolchildren, attended the fair in engineering the skills crisis facing engineering. March 2017 – 15% more than in The earmarking of £500 million for 2016, with 10% of all UK secondary technical education and development schools registering. Organisers also of the T-level qualification in the reported that there was an equal Budget was widely praised by industry. number of boys and girls from the This followed years of warnings from crucial 11–14 age group in 2017 – a bodies such as EngineeringUK about welcome statistic when females remain the engineering skills gap. According chronically underrepresented in the to EngineeringUK, 265,000 skilled engineering profession. entrants will be needed annually The shortage is what campaigns by engineering enterprises through such as #9PercentIsNotEnough on to 2024. Of these, about 100,000 Twitter hope to change. In 2017, graduate engineering entrants into the campaign drew attention to the industry will be required. The current fact that only 9% of engineers in the supply, including all EU engineering UK are female, a historic problem graduates and non-UK nationals that only exacerbates industry skills coming into the sector, is just 80,000. issues. ‘The numbers of women in Assuming there is no reduction in engineering remain stubbornly low, student applications from the EU and but #9PercentIsNotEnough has had a

REVIEW OF THE YEAR | 7 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of the Year

positive effect already,’ says Professor that the levy is still being viewed by anecdotal evidence the manufacturing Will Stewart of campaign organisers many manufacturers as only a tax sector has warmed to the levy, more the Institution of Engineering and on business, with many more firms than a third of manufacturers claim Technology. potentially falling into its scope than to see ‘no benefits’ to the scheme, Some commentators believe much previously expected. And, while there is according to the EEF. more could be done. Barrister and civil engineer, Professor John Uff, says Britain does a poor job in conveying modern views of engineering to young Transport: Crossrail and HS2 on track people, and encouraging more of them project, Crossrail’s budget was to choose it as a career. £14.8 billion including contingency ‘The lack of engineers in positions of and inflation. TfL says that 55,000 influence in society is mirrored by a lack full time jobs and 75,000 business of understanding of the importance opportunities have been created of engineering and the role engineers during construction and that it will Securing the future vitality play, compounded by our inability of the industry in the UK benefit the economy by around to communicate that engineering is Ann Watson, Chief Executive of requires enthusing the £42 billion. exciting.’ Semta Group, which promotes the future workforce from a young age In terms of transport infrastructure, development of engineering and Professor Uff lays much of the blame the further development of the high manufacturing skills, acknowledges with Britain’s 35 official engineering speed rail network remains on course. that the skills gap is a very serious institutions – of which the three biggest The Government recently awarded issue. ‘The UK needs 1.8 million more HS2 is the largest railway commissioned his inquiry. These infrastructural project the first big engineering contracts for engineers and technical workers by institutions are said in the study to be in the UK, and has London’s Crossrail, which, along HS2, and the Scottish Government the middle of the next decade,’ she been incredibly divisive ‘inward facing, elitist and insular’ and with High Speed 2 (HS2), is one of is planning a high-speed rail link says. ‘This is a huge challenge. I will regarding its budget, and ‘do little to engage with the wider what benefits it will bring the two most widely discussed UK between Glasgow and Edinburgh never tire of saying that we need a engineering community or with society to the UK economy transport projects of the last decade, by 2024. This ambitious network comprehensive skills strategy as the at large’. reached a milestone in 2015, when could prove a key component to the keystone to a successful industrial the digging of its 26 miles (42km) of regeneration and future prosperity In addition, Uff believes there is strategy – that’s the only way we will tunnels was completed. Since then, the of parts of northern England and a staggering number of schemes ultimately fill the skills gap. contractors have been busy building Scotland. In February, Royal Assent promoting engineering in schools 10 new stations, upgrading another ‘Until we do that we cannot hope to was granted for Phase One of HS2, and almost as many organisations 30, and integrating new and existing be a world leader in new technologies the 140-mile route between London and bodies involved in this task ‘The – and in the context of Brexit it is even infrastructure. variety and overlap is bewildering and Euston and Birmingham. It will cut more important that we are growing wasteful... While many [individual Now 80% complete, when it starts journey times between London our own talent base.’ schemes] are individually excellent, operating it will be called the Elizabeth and Birmingham from an hour and the net effect is not making Apprentices are crucial to this aim. Line. The full service, from Reading 24 minutes to 49 minutes. in the west to Shenfield and Abbey sufficient impact.’ As well as extra funding for technical However, the main gain will be education announced in the 2017 Wood in the east, is scheduled Resources, funding and teachers with capacity. When Phase 1 is completed in Budget, the Government has moved to to start in December 2019. It will technical backgrounds and experience 2026, over three times the passenger bolster the number of apprenticeships increase inner London’s rail capacity have also not increased to required numbers will pass through London with the introduction in April of by 10%, and bring an extra 1.5 levels, he says. ‘Making a lasting Euston, from 11,300 to 34,900 per the Apprenticeship Levy. It is now million people to within 45 minutes of impression on young people in schools hour. HS2 will be exclusively for hoped that it will fund more technical Central London. requires sustained activity throughout passengers and, as two thirds of apprenticeships in engineering a child’s primary and secondary Transport for London (TfL) is current InterCity journeys will be and manufacturing, as part of a education. Away days and fairs scheduled to take over the Heathrow moved to the new railway, more space Government target of three million entertain but cannot compete with the to Paddington service in May 2018 on existing lines will be available for new apprenticeship starts by 2020. intense and structured teaching which and the full-size, nine-carriage freight and commuter traffic. Fifteen has evolved in response to school A recent report from the Engineering Elizabeth Line trains will run on this trains per hour will travel to and league tables.’ Employers’ Federation (EEF) warns route. Europe’s largest infrastructure from Euston.

8 | REVIEW OF THE YEAR CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

that the levy is still being viewed by anecdotal evidence the manufacturing many manufacturers as only a tax sector has warmed to the levy, more on business, with many more firms than a third of manufacturers claim potentially falling into its scope than to see ‘no benefits’ to the scheme, previously expected. And, while there is according to the EEF.

Transport: Crossrail and HS2 on track

project, Crossrail’s budget was £14.8 billion including contingency and inflation. TfL says that 55,000 full time jobs and 75,000 business opportunities have been created during construction and that it will benefit the economy by around £42 billion.

In terms of transport infrastructure, the further development of the high speed rail network remains on course. HS2 is the largest railway The Government recently awarded infrastructural project the first big engineering contracts for in the UK, and has London’s Crossrail, which, along HS2, and the Scottish Government been incredibly divisive with High Speed 2 (HS2), is one of regarding its budget, and is planning a high-speed rail link what benefits it will bring the two most widely discussed UK between Glasgow and Edinburgh to the UK economy transport projects of the last decade, by 2024. This ambitious network reached a milestone in 2015, when could prove a key component to the the digging of its 26 miles (42km) of regeneration and future prosperity tunnels was completed. Since then, the of parts of northern England and contractors have been busy building Scotland. In February, Royal Assent 10 new stations, upgrading another was granted for Phase One of HS2, 30, and integrating new and existing the 140-mile route between London infrastructure. Euston and Birmingham. It will cut Now 80% complete, when it starts journey times between London operating it will be called the Elizabeth and Birmingham from an hour and Line. The full service, from Reading 24 minutes to 49 minutes. in the west to Shenfield and Abbey However, the main gain will be Wood in the east, is scheduled capacity. When Phase 1 is completed in to start in December 2019. It will 2026, over three times the passenger increase inner London’s rail capacity numbers will pass through London by 10%, and bring an extra 1.5 Euston, from 11,300 to 34,900 per million people to within 45 minutes of hour. HS2 will be exclusively for Central London. passengers and, as two thirds of Transport for London (TfL) is current InterCity journeys will be scheduled to take over the Heathrow moved to the new railway, more space to Paddington service in May 2018 on existing lines will be available for and the full-size, nine-carriage freight and commuter traffic. Fifteen Elizabeth Line trains will run on this trains per hour will travel to and route. Europe’s largest infrastructure from Euston.

REVIEW OF THE YEAR | 9 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of the Year

As they will all travel at the same speed the scheme will have widespread solutions. New large-scale nuclear Revolution. Renewables and gas-fired and won’t have to make allowances economic benefits across the regions. reactors will play a role in Britain’s stations are taking up the slack, and for slower traffic, total capacity will Philippa Oldham, Head of Transport future energy mix, many believe, but there is growth in the nascent micro- be higher than on conventional lines. and Manufacturing at the Institution smaller, modular nuclear reactors, or scale energy generation and domestic Trains on the dedicated HS2 line will of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), says SMRs, that are cheaper and easier to battery storage industries, especially for run at up to 250mph (400km), the ‘Investment in HS2, Crossrail, and the construct will also gain in popularity, use in remote communities. fastest in Europe. When completed, Thameslink project have many benefits engineers say. Dr Tim Fox FIMechE, an independent 350 miles of new HS2 track will extend for the economy. For instance, fare However, in July The Telegraph reported energy consultant, says Brexit should to Manchester and Wigan in the North receipts over 30-years from HS2 are that the estimated construction cost enable policymakers to implement West, and to Leeds in Yorkshire, with expected to be in excess of £60 billion; for Hinkley Point C had climbed in two measures that support the further a spur towards Chesterfield. The total the Government estimates that the HS2 budget is just under £57 billion years to £19.6 billion, revised to £20.3 development of renewable energy. overall return on HS2 will be in excess (2015/16 prices), from project start billion accounting for the 15-months ‘While the EU has been a positive of £100 billion.’ More than 129,000 to 2033. estimated delay cost, with a start date force in moving the UK forward on jobs are set to be created, including (power generation) of between 2025 renewables deployment, and the While concerns have been regularly 25,000 in private sector construction, and 2027. uptake of a broad range of laudable raised over the cost of HS2, with 3,000 in railway operations and clean energy initiatives, in a world some suggesting the railway could 100,000 through growth around With bountiful resources of wind where clean energy technologies become the most expensive ever built, HS2 stations. and wave, Britain is slowly but surely are rapidly becoming commercially making progress with renewable competitive with fossil fuel incumbents, energy. Coal-fired power plants in the in many ways [the EU] has become a UK are on their way out – the last coal hindrance rather than a help. power station will be shut in 2025, Energy: new nuclear makes slow progress and in April Britain enjoyed its first ‘Now, with Brexit, the nation’s energy day of power generation without any policymakers are faced with an There are many concerns over the coal-fired power since the Industrial open future.’ viability, funding and timescales of Britain’s major energy projects. Those under the spotlight include the new nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point C in Somerset, and the NuGen consortium Air quality: a top priority at Moorside, Cumbria, which is facing Pollution is now a greater global threat banned in the UK from 2040 in a bid an uncertain future following reactor to life than Ebola and HIV, according to tackle air pollution. Ministers also supplier Westinghouse’s bankruptcy to the World Health Organization unveiled a £255 million fund to help in March 2017, and a financial crisis at (WHO). According to a WHO March councils tackle emissions, including the lead backer Toshiba. Critics of Hinkley report, one in four deaths among potential for charging zones for the Point C, which was approved by the children aged under five are now due dirtiest vehicles. Government in September 2016, have to environmental hazards such as air In London, TfL initiatives such as warned of escalating costs and the pollution and contaminated water. In Healthy Streets are prioritising walking implications of allowing nuclear power June, air pollution levels were briefly and cycling over car journeys. There are plants to be built in the UK by foreign worse in London than in Beijing and 2,535 hybrid buses, 71 electric buses, companies and governments. Andrea Leadsom, Energy pollutants in the capital frequently Secretary in 2016, visits and eight hydrogen buses currently Strategies to break UK limits. EDF is funding two-thirds of the the UK Government would approve a the Hinkley C site, one measure air quality operating in London, out of a total bus of the new set of nuclear project, which will create more than Chinese-led and designed project at have been in place Reducing emissions from transport and fleet of 9,616. Engineers are playing facilities being built in over the past few 25,000 jobs, with China General Bradwell in Essex. the UK years improving air quality in our cities is a a big role in the decarbonisation of Nuclear Power Group investing the top priority for London Mayor, Sadiq the transport sector, helping to design remaining £6 billion. The Chinese That decision has raised questions Khan, the Government and Transport and manufacture hybrid and fuel cell agreed to take a stake in Hinkley Point over national security. The NuGen for London (TfL). The Government buses and electric vehicles and their C, which will meet 7% of Britain’s consortium announced in May that it is announced in July that new diesel associated charging infrastructure, electricity needs, and to develop a conducting a strategic review to assess and petrol cars and vans will be across Britain. new nuclear power station at Sizewell its viability options, including new in Suffolk on the understanding that investors, technology and financing

10 | REVIEW OF THE YEAR CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

solutions. New large-scale nuclear Revolution. Renewables and gas-fired reactors will play a role in Britain’s stations are taking up the slack, and future energy mix, many believe, but there is growth in the nascent micro- smaller, modular nuclear reactors, or scale energy generation and domestic SMRs, that are cheaper and easier to battery storage industries, especially for construct will also gain in popularity, use in remote communities. engineers say. Dr Tim Fox FIMechE, an independent However, in July The Telegraph reported energy consultant, says Brexit should that the estimated construction cost enable policymakers to implement for Hinkley Point C had climbed in two measures that support the further years to £19.6 billion, revised to £20.3 development of renewable energy. billion accounting for the 15-months ‘While the EU has been a positive estimated delay cost, with a start date force in moving the UK forward on (power generation) of between 2025 renewables deployment, and the and 2027. uptake of a broad range of laudable clean energy initiatives, in a world With bountiful resources of wind where clean energy technologies and wave, Britain is slowly but surely are rapidly becoming commercially making progress with renewable competitive with fossil fuel incumbents, energy. Coal-fired power plants in the in many ways [the EU] has become a UK are on their way out – the last coal hindrance rather than a help. power station will be shut in 2025, and in April Britain enjoyed its first ‘Now, with Brexit, the nation’s energy day of power generation without any policymakers are faced with an coal-fired power since the Industrial open future.’

Air quality: a top priority

Pollution is now a greater global threat banned in the UK from 2040 in a bid to life than Ebola and HIV, according to tackle air pollution. Ministers also to the World Health Organization unveiled a £255 million fund to help (WHO). According to a WHO March councils tackle emissions, including the report, one in four deaths among potential for charging zones for the children aged under five are now due dirtiest vehicles. to environmental hazards such as air In London, TfL initiatives such as pollution and contaminated water. In Healthy Streets are prioritising walking June, air pollution levels were briefly and cycling over car journeys. There are worse in London than in Beijing and 2,535 hybrid buses, 71 electric buses, pollutants in the capital frequently and eight hydrogen buses currently Strategies to break UK limits. measure air quality operating in London, out of a total bus have been in place Reducing emissions from transport and fleet of 9,616. Engineers are playing over the past few years improving air quality in our cities is a a big role in the decarbonisation of top priority for London Mayor, Sadiq the transport sector, helping to design Khan, the Government and Transport and manufacture hybrid and fuel cell for London (TfL). The Government buses and electric vehicles and their announced in July that new diesel associated charging infrastructure, and petrol cars and vans will be across Britain.

REVIEW OF THE YEAR | 11 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of the Year

Engineering and regional development Looking forward to future technologies

The concept of a Northern Powerhouse The Engineering and Physical has gained common currency. For Sciences Research Council, the UK’s IT engineering jobs, Birmingham, main agency for funding research Edinburgh, Leeds, Glasgow and into engineering, is funding diverse Manchester already provide alternative areas. These include research ‘tech cities’ to rival London, offering into manufacturing technologies, skilled, high-salaried jobs. There is a big medical imaging, quantum devices, and integrated defence and aerospace optoelectronics, functional ceramics, industry with a large base in North West artificial intelligence (AI), organic England, with BAE Systems and Airbus chemistry and theoretical computer at its centre. A further 220 companies science, to name some of the most with a combined turnover in excess topical activities. of £7 billion are the members of the Northwest Aerospace Alliance alone. Go But while some technologies developed further north, and Cumbria still excels from all this research will go on to be Airbus and BAE are used by engineering companies, other in nuclear engineering, and is eyeing central to the exapansive what it can do to develop renewable Systems, Thales, the Ministry of Defence aerospace industry in the 3D bioprinting, printing promising ones will fall by the wayside. energy technologies too. BAE Systems and their suppliers. Recently operational North West of England experimental muscle It is therefore critical that the best ideas tissue for reconstructive Research and development (R&D) in Barrow-in-Furness is building Britain’s errors have been reported in the bridge a so-called ‘valley of death’ surgery, is one of underpins engineering and the latest fleet of Astute and Dreadnought carrier’s first sea trials – although such many contemporary between development and commercial development of future technologies. class nuclear submarines. teething problems would be expected. innovations exploitation. The establishment of Without effective R&D, there would The decision to award the contract the Catapult centres by the Coalition In the North East, a world-class train be no new products to manufacture to build the Type 26 Global Combat Government is one Government-led manufacturing facility for Hitachi in new ways. R&D already benefits Ship to BAE Systems in July 2016, mechanism for doing this. The High Rail at Newton Aycliffe, which is from several government mechanisms, meanwhile, has secured more than Value Manufacturing Catapult is manufacturing trains for the InterCity including R&D tax credits that reward 3,400 shipbuilding jobs on the Clyde. regarded as an early success story. Express programme – the first train companies for developing new is due to begin operation in summer In the Midlands, the automotive products, processes or services with tax Other Catapult centres are now 2017 – will be used to manufacture engineering sector in 2016–17 attracted rebates, or corporation tax reduction. working to facilitate the development trains for Hitachi Rail Europe. Also, in 58 new foreign direct investments, Innovate UK, the innovation agency of and commercial exploitation July France’s CAF announced 300 jobs including investors from the US, China the Department of Business, Energy of technologies in areas such will be created at a new train-building and India. The investments generated and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), also runs as compound semiconductor centre in Newport, Wales. Sunderland almost 3,000 new jobs, according to funding competitions which can help technologies, cell and gene therapy, still boasts one of the most efficient Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) companies develop new ideas. satellites, offshore renewable energy car plants in Europe; Nissan’s factory, at the University of Warwick. and future cities. Investment in which was boosted in late 2016 by Other organisations are supporting science, research and innovation – and Across the UK, engineering has a specific sectors with funding for the Japanese carmaker’s decision to doing more to commercialise ideas great story to tell. But for the Northern advanced engineering. For example, make the new Qashqai there, following – is recognised by the Government Powerhouse to roar, it requires the Advanced Propulsion Centre assurances from Prime Minister, as one of the 10 pillars of the investment in numerous areas, including (APC) is working with engineers in Theresa May, about export costs. industrial strategy. communications, transport, education the automotive industry to develop The Royal Navy’s new Queen Elizabeth- and skills, and the ongoing commitment future environmentally-sustainable Dick Elsy, Chief Executive, High class aircraft carriers were constructed, to newer technologies – such as high and efficient powertrain technologies Value Manufacturing Catapult, says and this year the second completed, speed rail for the regions. Consider the for cars, buses and commercial ‘Rapid development and adoption at shipyards in Glasgow, Portsmouth, vast infrastructure works committed to vehicles. By 2023, the APC will have of new technology arising from Merseyside and Edinburgh, giant by, among others, The Peel Group on facilitated £1 billion of investment in R&D is an increasingly important projects involving unprecedented the Manchester Ship Canal, Manchester automotive projects, with the aim of factor in improving performance and collaboration between Babcock, BAE Airport and the M62. saving 50 million tonnes of CO2 and productivity. A company’s ability to safeguarding 30,000 jobs. ‘scale up’ and commercialise research,

12 | REVIEW OF THE YEAR CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

Looking forward to future technologies

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the UK’s main agency for funding research into engineering, is funding diverse areas. These include research into manufacturing technologies, medical imaging, quantum devices, optoelectronics, functional ceramics, artificial intelligence (AI), organic chemistry and theoretical computer science, to name some of the most topical activities.

But while some technologies developed from all this research will go on to be used by engineering companies, other 3D bioprinting, printing promising ones will fall by the wayside. experimental muscle It is therefore critical that the best ideas tissue for reconstructive Research and development (R&D) bridge a so-called ‘valley of death’ surgery, is one of underpins engineering and the many contemporary between development and commercial innovations development of future technologies. exploitation. The establishment of Without effective R&D, there would the Catapult centres by the Coalition be no new products to manufacture Government is one Government-led in new ways. R&D already benefits mechanism for doing this. The High from several government mechanisms, Value Manufacturing Catapult is including R&D tax credits that reward regarded as an early success story. companies for developing new products, processes or services with tax Other Catapult centres are now rebates, or corporation tax reduction. working to facilitate the development Innovate UK, the innovation agency of and commercial exploitation the Department of Business, Energy of technologies in areas such and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), also runs as compound semiconductor funding competitions which can help technologies, cell and gene therapy, companies develop new ideas. satellites, offshore renewable energy and future cities. Investment in Other organisations are supporting science, research and innovation – and specific sectors with funding for doing more to commercialise ideas advanced engineering. For example, – is recognised by the Government the Advanced Propulsion Centre as one of the 10 pillars of the (APC) is working with engineers in industrial strategy. the automotive industry to develop future environmentally-sustainable Dick Elsy, Chief Executive, High and efficient powertrain technologies Value Manufacturing Catapult, says for cars, buses and commercial ‘Rapid development and adoption vehicles. By 2023, the APC will have of new technology arising from facilitated £1 billion of investment in R&D is an increasingly important automotive projects, with the aim of factor in improving performance and

saving 50 million tonnes of CO2 and productivity. A company’s ability to safeguarding 30,000 jobs. ‘scale up’ and commercialise research,

REVIEW OF THE YEAR | 13 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of the Year

and to be the fastest and first to market, can often be the difference between their success and failure.

‘But UK companies still struggle to effectively convert excellent research into products and services that create jobs and growth for the UK. Under- investment and a lack of access to the necessary knowledge and facilities are obstacles which prevent many UK manufacturers and engineers from realising their full potential.’

Robotics, autonomous systems and the Internet of Things (IoT), satellites and space, regenerative medicine and medical technology, synthetic biology, agri-tech, advanced materials, energy storage and efficiency, and IT and digital technologies have been identified by Government as eight of the technologies most worthy of future commercial exploitation Self-driving cars have and development. captured the popular freeing up engineers to focus on imagination, and In fact, the development of high product development and process continue to generate value-added engineering products the interests of both efficiency. Machine tool manufacturers consumers and investors and services in these and other are developing ways to collect areas will likely prove critical to the data from tools generated during future growth and sustainability of manufacturing and to feed it back into the manufacturing industry. The the design and quality assurance of development of the fourth industrial new products. revolution, in which new technologies bring together physical, digital and Autonomous and semi-autonomous biological worlds, is already becoming vehicles (AV) represent major a reality in some of Britain’s competitor opportunities for the UK automotive countries such as Germany, where the sector, with trials of self-driving vehicles taking place in Bristol, IoT and the ability to store, analyse and Greenwich, Milton Keynes and use Big Data are helping to develop Coventry. British engineers, already factories of the future that can develop excelling in the conventional and produce products with hitherto automotive market, have much to unsurpassed levels of efficiency offer this global industry. To date, the and capability. Government has supported this field For example, factory automation through the Centre for Connected driven by AI and intelligent robots that and Autonomous vehicles, which, can work safely alongside humans with Innovate UK, made £35 million are already a reality. Engineers are available for innovative autonomous exploiting their capabilities in order and connected vehicle projects in to do the jobs humans find dirty, August 2016, and which is funding dangerous or dull and, in the process, other AV trials.

14 | REVIEW OF THE YEAR CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING BuroHappold Engineering

In the award-winning Tower at PNC Plaza, BuroHappold Engineering used people centred design, improving productivity © Connie Zhou

Roger Nickells, CEO, with model of the London Stadium © BuroHappold Engineering ngineers are driven by a desire to make things work better for people and business. At BuroHappold Engineering, founded by Ted Happold in Bath in 1976, we have shown that putting FACTS ABOUT E BuroHappold Engineering people at the heart of any building project not only makes them happier and healthier, it also maximises productivity and, »»Turnover (2015/16): £160.9m »»Offices: More than ultimately, profitability. We call this ‘making the vision viable’. 20 worldwide »»Sites: In more than 60 countries

Working with the Royal United Hospital (R.U.H.), Bath, which was considering the »»Awards: More than 2,000 need to invest in a new facility likely to have cost about £3 million, BuroHappold was »»www.burohappold.com asked to analyse the efficiencies of their large, diverse campus in terms of people movement and the use of space. Using ‘Smart Space’ (our predictive data modelling SERVICE OFFERS approach that informs the design and operation of buildings and urban spaces), we collected and analysed data, revealing that their facilities were being underused »»Efficient & green design at capacities ranging from only 15% (off-peak) to 35% (peak); and flow analyses »»Intelligent reuse of buildings revealed nurses and doctors were spending far too long walking exhaustingly along »»Building performance corridors. We therefore proposed a relocation of facilities to allow for a more natural optimisation flow, and recommended improvements to make better use of the existing structures’ »»Site, campus & portfolio capacity. The result: the hospital was able to save the potential £3 million spend; staff development walking time was greatly reduced; and overall capacity increased significantly. »»Insightful city strategies & plans The role of the engineer in the built environment has grown considerably. Harnessing »»Inspirational design the opportunities brought by developments in big data1, technology and analysis, »»Integrated design BuroHappold is increasingly able to prove what really does work better and improve »»Effective construction & fit out people’s lives. design »»Value-driven infrastructure & 1 Large sets of data from a wide range of online sources, analysed to reveal patterns, trends and city systems associations about human behaviour and interaction

BUROHAPPOLD ENGINEERING | 15 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

BuroHappold’s Using technology, BuroHappold understood how best to improve the use of space, saving the hospital £3m

Smart Space © BuroHappold Engineering

“methodology provided the objective tool “ to confirm how underused our spaces were Howard Jones, Royal United Hospital, Bath We are able to bridge the gap elegant solutions, providing engineering between science and society, increasing consultancy, design, planning, productivity and forging close business project management and consulting relationships around the globe. Taking a services for all aspects of buildings, leading role in defining both the clients’ infrastructure and the environment. needs and the project challenges, we BuroHappold has played a leading part create and deliver solutions; collaborating in enabling architects’ ideas to be turned with city leaders, local government, into reality all over the world, working planning authorities and opinion formers. on many iconic and award-winning As our chief executive officer, Roger buildings and spaces, including: Nickells, says: ‘Engineering is finally coming out of the shadows.’ »»London 2012 Olympic Park and Stadium About BuroHappold Engineering »»High Line, New York City (public park BuroHappold has grown over the built on elevated historic rail line) past 41 years to become a global »»British Museum’s Queen Elizabeth II community of world-leading engineering Great Court, London professionals with more than 1,800 staff. »»Smithsonian Museum, Washington DC While retaining a strong UK presence BuroHappold has been »»Whitworth Art Gallery, Salford in Bath, Edinburgh, Leeds, London key to the creation of »»Battersea Power Station many iconic buildings, and Manchester, we also have offices redevelopment, London including the London worldwide, including New York, Hong 2012 Olympic Stadium »»Wales Institute of Sustainable Kong, Dubai and Mumbai. We deliver and its legacy Education, Machynlleth © Glyn Thomas, Alamy Stock Photo »»Millennium Dome/O2 Arena, London

Transforming productivity through engineering For a number of years, productivity has been a significant challenge for the UK economy. It is lower than in every other major developed economy except Japan. BuroHappold is committed to extending our success in improving productivity through engineering, which we approach in two main ways.

16 | BUROHAPPOLD ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

Designing buildings to improve worked to improve its sustainability and productivity create a vibrant hub for the conservation community; and in the Co-op’s new head A safe, comfortable and positive physical office building in Manchester, One Angel space for employees is proven to boost Square, a building that aims to be good productivity. As staff typically make up for business, staff, nearby communities, 90% of a business’s costs, designing and the whole of Manchester. for improved health and wellbeing can have a sizeable impact on a company’s Modelling people movement productivity and, ultimately, profitability. to improve productivity Through ‘people-centred design’ Understanding how people experience (which puts humans’ use and the actual or designed environment experience of a building or space at the is critical to maximising productivity, heart of the design process), we bring reducing risk and saving costs. together factors that have a notable The Whitworth Art impact on productivity. For example, Our Smart Space team specialises in optimising design choices and Gallery is typical improved air quality can bring an of BuroHappold’s average 10% increase in productivity; operational planning. We have also sustainable and developed innovative technologies, sensitive approach to temperature control 3%; and noise such as our ‘SmartSpaceAnalyser’, refurbishment reduction, almost 28%.2 which uses spatial analysis to predict © Alan Williams Our best example to date is the multi and manage the way people will award-winning Tower at PNC Plaza in interact with a building or space. Pittsburgh, USA. Our brief was to provide The benefits can be far-reaching, allowing a high level of interior comfort with us to examine footfall, congestion minimal energy use, so we undertook challenges and operational efficiency, With rigorous exploration and testing. The and therefore create vibrant spaces result is a new building where energy BuroHappold’s that encourage productivity. As well as use has reduced by up to 50% from the R.U.H. project in Bath, described usual industry benchmarks, and PNC’s “engineering earlier, we have applied this approach employees enjoy a healthy, supportive in a variety of other settings, including ingenuity, environment. The integrated design transit hubs (Birmingham International brings natural light to more than 90% of Airport), higher education (University of technical work areas, and allows natural ventilation Edinburgh), sports and entertainment of workspaces for up to 42% of the capabilities and (Cardiff Millennium Stadium) and year – characteristics that improve staff cultural (HOME, Manchester). advanced wellbeing, and therefore productivity.2

We expect the impact on productivity BuroHappold: harnessing the analysis, PNC at The Tower to reflect the results of ‘magic of the engineering mind’ achieved a another BuroHappold project, the At BuroHappold we work together Genzyme Headquarters in Cambridge, “ to tackle some of the most complex cutting-edge USA, where 58% of employees say they engineering challenges. Our aim is are more productive and employee sick building that to have a positive impact wherever time is 5% lower than in Genzyme’s possible – designing world-class far exceeds other Massachusetts facilities. projects, creating better communities, We have also used this approach in the and transforming productivity. Driven expectations UK: for example, in the refurbishment of by accelerated change in technology Gary Jay Saulson, PNC the 1960s David Attenborough Building and analysis, we are working at the Financial Services Group at the University of Cambridge, where we cutting edge of an exciting future.

2 More about these figures: http://www.burohappold.com/what-we-do/specialisms/health-wellbeing-and-productivity/

BUROHAPPOLD ENGINEERING | 17 AE Global

AE Global head office in Northern Ireland ividing its work between mechanical and electrical contracting services, AE Global is a rapidly expanding business operating across the UK and Ireland. Managing atabase of D ngineering & Director, Kieran Connor, states AE Global will now look to the ogistical blossoming pharmaceutical industry as a means of generating nalytics future growth.

»»Digitalisation of processes in manufacturing and AE Global has built its reputation through being able to turn its mechanical, validation process, electrical and instrumentation expertise towards complicated »»Integrated, agile, real- predicaments across multiple sectors. Serving the oil and gas, petrochemical, time approach for asset water, power and pharmaceutical industries, we hold a presence in both Northern delivery Ireland, with a head office in Maydown, and in England at a facility in Kings »»Innovation in Langley, Hertfordshire.

communication While the aforementioned industries we serve have all been very important

to us over the years and will continue to be so, AE Global is particularly enthusiastic about the robust pharmaceutical sector in the UK and Ireland. This “ area of business has generated a lot of expansion opportunities particularly 25% upturn in mechanical-related work and will be valuable as we look to continue our impressive growth levels. in annual In the past year, AE Global has achieved a 25% upturn in annual turnover, rising “turnover from £6 million to £8 million. We outlined a five-year growth plan in 2016, shortly before the Brexit vote, and one of the key components of this was expansion in the pharmaceutical market in the UK and Ireland.

18 | AE GLOBAL CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

Developing our innovative FACTS ABOUT AE Global database »»Mechanical and electrical contracting specialists covering sectors AE Global trademarked a new and including: petrochemical, oil and gas, water, power and pharmaceutical innovative real-time communicative »»Founded in 1994 as Allpipe Engineering database in May 2017 called DELA. »»Portfolio of customers include DuPont, Invista, Exxonmobil, Valero, Developed by our in-house team, this GlaxoSmithKline, Calysta database provides a seamless and »»Head office in Maydown, Northern Ireland with England office in transparent communication platform Kings Langley, Hertfordshire that exudes confidence in data integrity allowing commissioning and qualification »»Recorded turnover of £8 million for 2016/2017 teams to obtain approvals in real-time. »»Employs 140 staff, comprised of 105 employed staff and 35 self- employed contractors Currently in the development stage, »»Holds a number of quality accreditations including: ISO 9001:2008, this is being carried out through a ISO 14001:2004 and OHSAS 18001 partnership with a Knowledge Transfer »»Awarded Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) gold Partnership (KTP) programme with award three times in a row 2015, 2016 and 2017 the North West Regional College. This sees a graduate come to work for us pharmaceutical sector. As part of the for a minimum of two years, aided by agreement, we will oversee the piping financial input from Invest Northern works at a primary API manufacturing Ireland who also fund the programme. facility project in the United Kingdom. DELA is expected to be online by 2018. Not only does our association with Once active, it will take AE Global’s digitalised processes and product a prestigious project give a lot of directly from fabrication through kudos to our business, but is also an installation to the qualified asset giving illustration of the faith one of the clients full traceability of exactly what biggest names in the pharmaceutical AE Global has manufactured and world has in our services. 2016 constructed in real time. proved a particularly fruitful year for the company. Alongside rapid We hope this will significantly help revenue growth and the landmark Electrical and the industry, which has a history of instrumentation pharmaceutical contract, we were installation problems with trying to corroborate also awarded the prestigious North construction processes with validation West Business of the Year award at a and qualification documentation. ceremony in Derry in Northern Ireland. Through this, AE Global is forecasting Pharmaceutical reactor long-term efficiency savings of around hall installation 25% within their current processes – a sizeable figure for any business.

Pharmaceutical contract

AE global have focused and targeted the pharmaceutical industry with their Manufacturers and Constructors business delivery model in the mechanical, process, electrical and instrumentation markets. This focus has culminated in AE global winning a £5 million Mechanical and Process project in March 2016 for a confidential client in the

AE GLOBAL | 19 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

»HEALTH this collaborative and rewarding AND SAFETY partnership.

This is because, given our specialisms across a range of sectors and the niche nature of what we do in them, acquiring the right people to work for us has often proved challenging. AE Global has a team of 140 staff, comprised of 105 employed staff and 35 self-employed contractors – consisting of welders, pipefitters and electricians – working at all our sites. While our reputation for excellence has made us an attractive career proposition, further growth will need

more people and we need to explore Health, Safety, all possible avenues to ensure we bring Environment and Quality in the right professional skills. Affairs (HSEQ) is embedded in our company culture Future strategy By doing more we go further on our mission and Brexit has created a lot of uncertainty vision of Integrated safety in the business world, yet the vote and quality. taking place shortly after our five-year Investing in our people plan was announced unlikely to have

any immediate adverse effect. As of Strategically poised Making much of this success possible today, we plan to hold on to what

from a competitive is our people. To us, achieving we have and continue our growth sustainable growth is first and perspective, to “ path. Southern Ireland has a huge “ foremost about people. The KTP pharmaceutical and bio pharmaceutical service and grow, programme reflects some of the market that we believe we here in the in the pre and relationships we tapped into over the North West are strategically poised, past few years with our local colleges from a competitive perspective, to post-Brexit era and academic institutions. Very quickly, service and grow, in the pre and post- we’ve came to realise how important Brexit era. their support is and plan to continue Along with pharmaceutical Bio-pharmaceutical Building Information growth, there’s also been a lot of |Management (BIM) / opportunities in commercial electrical 3D Modelled Project work, in newer lines of work such as hotels, and the opening of our office in England will help aid this over the next two years with a target turnover of £10 million. This area will also be important as we further embark on our bright future. We want to maintain our current turnover in our mechanical business, which gives us the security of a solid income, and work hard to expand our electrical market presence.

20 | AE GLOBAL CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

Witon Engineering

Tom Courtney (General Manager) Ian Sheldon (Managing Director) Gemma Courtney (Company Secretary) iton Engineering Ltd is a family-owned business that started in 1948. Originally based in Wembley, North WLondon, we relocated to our current site a few miles from the beautiful North Devon coast in 1969 as part of a government enterprise relocation scheme.

FACTS ABOUT Relationships – a family business. WITON ENGINEERING

We believe that having solid long-term relationships is the key to our success, »»Established in 1948 whether it be customers, suppliers or employees, extra effort is made to ensure »»Sub contract precision turn that all our stakeholders are looked after and treated as part of the Witon family. parts manufacturer Some of our customers have been with us since the beginning and some members »»Based in Barnstaple, North of our staff have been with us for over 45 years. Our Managing Director, Ian Devon Sheldon, started working for the company in the 1960s and is now finally enjoying »»40 employees; one third have his retirement. His daughter Gemma and her husband Tom are now running the been with the company for business, ensuring the continuity of the family connection. over 15 years »»£3.5 million to £4 million Investment turnover While we appreciate the importance of embracing the past to mould our future, we are also firm believers in investing in innovative technology. This is a pattern that has developed throughout the decades and has kept us ahead of competition and enabled us to survive the variety of economic turbulent times over the years. Modern technologies, tooling and working methods are constantly evolving so we always try to keep abreast of any developments to enable us to improve our efficiencies and in turn be more flexible and responsive for all our customers.

WITON ENGINEERING | 21 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

production of parts for the automotive We believe that having solid long- sector is our biggest output.

term relationships is the key to our

“success, whether it be customers, Quality We have always been extremely proud suppliers or employees, extra effort “ of our quality systems and the quality is made to ensure that all our of the parts that we produce. This has not changed over the years and we stakeholders are looked after and have been ISO 9001 accredited since 1996 and TS 16949 certified since treated as part of the Witon family 2008. We have invested in cutting- edge inspection equipment and As a result of our investment our wide maintain strict procedures to ensure customer base we have been able to that we always supply top quality withstand and prosper in spite of the components. ups and downs of the economy. Our team Diversity Our workforce is our heartbeat. From We produce parts for a wide diversity our Head of Dispatch who started of sectors and industries, from in 1972 aged 17 to our 20-year-old automotive, to oil and gas, to start apprentice who started two years up inventors and even body jewellery, ago, education, training and nurturing sometimes of an interesting and specific skills has enabled us to get exotic nature! We provided parts for the best from our staff. Most of our an inventor who had a bright idea Investing in new experienced setters, who are each for making ladders safer. Having this technology has responsible for their own machine flexibility and not being tied down to enabled us to thrive sections, started with us straight one specific industry or customer is a after or as part of their engineering real plus for us. apprenticeships, proving that the With the UK automotive industry scheme is a fantastic way to develop currently seeing good growth, both business and individuals. An example of our work

22 | WITON ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

Production in process Jubilee clips and extreme produced to very tight tolerances. We environments have long-term contracts with Unipart and other automotive companies. We produce almost anything, whatever our customers want, mostly in stainless We produce parts of the tightest We produce steel, mild steel and aluminium. We can tolerance and our processes and also produce parts from plastic, brass inspection are very vigorous. Because parts for a wide and bronze. We produce in medium our parts are often working under to high volume. For example, we make stress, they must be perfect. We “diversity of various sized screws for jubilee clips. make the best parts that can be sectors and manufactured. They don’t fail. That is We produce a range of nuts for our something of which we are very proud. industries, from customers, including Parker Hannifin, for various applications that must Brexit hasn’t really affected us yet, automotive, to survive and work effectively in the but time will tell. We like to think that oil and gas, to most testing environments, such as we are a barometer for the economy. extreme heat or extreme cold. When we are doing well, the economy start up inventors

must be doing well too. We believe the We make nuts for oil rigs operating in and even body the most hostile deep seas, working long-term contracts that we have will under very high pressures. allow us to thrive. jewellery, “

In addition, we supply many parts for We have a young team in place that sometimes of an the automotive industry, including really wants to drive forward and interesting and components for fuel rail system give the company many more years assemblies. For safety reasons these have of success. exotic nature! to be of the very highest quality and

WITON ENGINEERING | 23 Strata Technology

Multi-Pass Rheometer developed in conjunction with the University of Cambridge

Dr Roger Kimber, Managing Director trata Technology provides engineering solutions across a wide variety of industries including: process industries, FACTS ABOUT Senergy and renewables covering oil and gas, nuclear, STRATA TECHNOLOGY renewables and waste treatment, while maintaining strong links Accreditations with the education sector through specialised projects. Dr Roger »»ISO 9001:2008 Kimber, the company’s Managing Director, believes these »»ISO 14001:2015 academic ties will become increasingly important for both Strata »»OHSAS 18001:2007 and the universities with which it works. »»Investors In People »»Fit For Nuclear (F4N) approved SME Strata’s expertise across multiple sectors allows the company to position itself as a »»UKAS accredited Inspection leader in providing engineering solutions to a diverse range of industries. Body under ISO/IEC 17020:2012 We have in-house competency to design and manufacture bespoke laboratory-scale Memberships equipment, skid mounted rigs and pilot plants used for research and development, »»EEF – The Manufacturers’ process scale-up or production purposes: covering process, mechanical and Organisation electrical design. This means that we design in the knowledge that manufacturing »»BECBC – Britain’s Energy our solution is viable for the customer who is then able to sell a commercially-ready Coast Business Cluster product into the market they serve. »»NIA – Nuclear Industry Association Being able to do this puts us in a stronger position than some of the university »»NSAN – National Skills spin-off companies often established with the same remit. While spin-off companies Academy for Nuclear encourage innovation and are fantastic for our industry, often they may make »»NDA – Supply Chain Charter multiple evolutions of a product before it becomes commercially viable and available Signatory for Nuclear for commercial exploitation. We, however, have the ready skillset to undertake Decommissioning projects in a more efficient way enabling us to more quickly meet market demands.

24 | STRATA TECHNOLOGY CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

Diversifying away from oil and renowned institutions, including Imperial gas College London, Queens, University Belfast and the University of Surrey, Around four years ago, Strata was very with an exciting project with the oil and gas industry-centric, to the point University of Sheffield ongoing. Among our of having a single-customer focus for this sector. Sharp reductions in oil prices Second, on occasion we have worked key strengths two years ago hit the industry badly. with universities to commercialise

research into saleable products. This “lies our The crash justified our decision to begin has notably been achieved in two diversifying which we made around one ongoing “ year earlier. However, diversification cases. The University of Nottingham into new markets was anticipated to be was the first in 2008, by drawing on relationships a slow process. Doing this would mean our expertise to develop their research with Strata breaking into new industries, into a commercially viable product in making itself known and competing the form of a Hydropyrolysis Rig. After universities against established companies. this, we worked with the University of Cambridge to design and build a The company has achieved this despite Multi-Pass Rheometer for investigating the challenges it faced. Oil and gas the rheological behaviour of fluids and interests have been supplemented solids. These projects are value added, with more work in process industries, benefiting both parties and further centred on development, scale up and helping the aims of the universities to pilot plants. introduce innovation. Carbon Capture Pilot Plant at Imperial College Focusing on our expertise, we have London also designed and developed niche products which we can manufacture and market ourselves.

The results of this have generated new working relationships and partnerships, such as US-based Chandler Engineering, with Strata selling their Quizix pumps across the UK and France. There are certainly opportunities to further build this relationship, with Strata, slowly but surely, becoming its European product service centre. Taking the diversification route has ensured we haven’t become too dependent on any one industry therefore not leaving ourselves exposed to a downturn in market trends as a result.

Our university partnerships Among our key strengths lies our ongoing relationships with universities. A union comprised of two elements.

First, Strata builds bespoke designed and manufactured equipment, providing tools for crucial research that are not available to buy off the shelf. This has been successfully carried out with a number of

STRATA TECHNOLOGY | 25 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

A highly-skilled, safety intensive company Considering the highly-technical industries in which we operate, along with the specialist nature of the clients we serve, having the staff to fit these requirements is crucial. Strata employs 42 people across two sites in Sunbury- on-Thames, split between a Head Office and a manufacturing centre.

Our technical staff are routinely handling systems with high pressure, with levels of up to 50,000 PSI, and high temperature equipment, reaching in the region of several hundred degrees celsius. Predictably, this environment creates a high level of risk. Given that safety is paramount, Strata is continuously looking to achieve and maintain standards to reflect its adherence to this. 2017 has been an important year in this regard: we have recently been granted our Occupational Health and Safety (OHSAS) 18001 and ISO 14001 standards. Not only was this done to High pressure and high meet requirements but, holding the temperature equipment for research into relevant safety approvals, also helps enhanced oil recovery Nuclear opportunities ensure we have a competitive edge. Our work extends far beyond universities and has generated a A commitment to quality number of opportunities for us. One of these is in the nuclear sector. Strata Whilst our safety standards have been participated in the Fit For Nuclear (F4N) enhanced and new markets are being programme, which we completed in explored, we have always recognised nine months, around twice as quickly that safety and quality go hand in as many other SMEs. hand. Due to the bespoke nature of

We have the service we offer, our staff take Completion of this programme a high degree of pride in designing

always opens up new opportunities in the and building to a high quality and nuclear sector. For example we are in “recognised “ that therefore very safe equipment for our discussions with the National Nuclear customers. These standards represent safety and Laboratory, an institution that is our core values and are applied excellent at generating new ideas but across all our activities and markets. quality go hand needs assistance in commercialising in hand them. Given the incredibly high Through investing in these standards standards of the nuclear sector, our and approvals we are demonstrating gradual incursion into the market is a our commitment to people and testament to our adherence to quality process excellence. and safety.

26 | STRATA TECHNOLOGY CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

Datum Group

Datum provide monitoring services to multi-million projects, including Crossrail and Thames Tideway in London, and other projects around the world

Datum Chief Executive Officer, Rory O’Rourke, is one of Europe’s he Datum Group has come a long way in 18 years. From leading structural monitoring experts the humble beginnings of a small room above a pub in TManchester, the company I founded in 1999 now employs more than 120 people in six locations across the UK and America with turnover surpassing £12 million. FACTS ABOUT Datum Group Our business can be described very simply: we ensure that buildings, roads, tunnels, »»Founded in 1999, the Datum railways, bridges and slopes remain safe by deploying sophisticated monitoring Group have six offices across equipment designed to detect even the slightest movement or strain. Buildings, the UK, Ireland and the USA tunnels and bridges are designed to move and flex but sometimes they will move »»Datum employ more than a lot more due to nearby construction work, ground instability, weather or a host 120 people in six locations of other reasons. Our equipment provides engineers with the data they require to »»Turnover in excess of maintain and repair any such weakness. £12 million a year and rising These monitoring services support the UK rail network, and also the construction, »»The Datum Group consists mining, energy, utility, transport and environment industries. The Crossrail and of four divisions: Datum Jubilee Line Extension projects in London are a good example of the services we Monitoring, Datum Survey, provide. These projects consist of a series of complex tunnels constructed beneath Datum Systems and Datum buildings, Underground lines, bridges and also works under the River Thames. Interactive The monitoring systems we provided were designed to detect even the slightest »»Datum manufacture innovative movement or strain in these areas and then communicate that information in real products for many sectors of time to engineers, providing vital reassurance that the works were safe to continue. industry including mining, transportation, construction, Of course, the monitoring services we provide today are far more advanced than energy, infrastructure, water those methods available in 1999. Back then, the technology we take for granted and the environment today was still very much in its infancy. Wi-fi, bluetooth and dongles weren’t even »»www.datum-group.com invented, and the internet was still a little-used novelty; though the retirement of

DATUM GROUP | 27 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

car parks. Even today, the effects of tunnelling in London can be observed and measured on Parliament’s Elizabeth Tower, better known as Big Ben, as the north side of the building has sunk slightly due to ground settlement. The tilt is not obvious to the naked eye and the tower remains perfectly safe, but is continually monitored for possible movement.

Back in 1999, I was excited by the construction industry so, with unshakeable faith in my own abilities, a business plan and a £50,000 bank loan, I launched Datum to take Datum engineer advantage of these opportunities. installs monitoring equipment at the Robbie, Britain’s last working pit-pony, My first year proved my instincts zinc and nickel mine from the Pant-y-Gasseg coal mine in were right and, having turned over in Andalucia, Spain South Wales, symbolised the fact that around £450k, it was clear to me that things were changing. expansion was needed. We moved to a bigger office and added four new After graduating from Bradford employees including Simon Jackson, Surprisingly, University I went on to spend who still remains today as Datum’s six valuable years working in the Technical Director. The Datum team

Victorian rail industry. During this time, I was grew to 25 over the next four years trained to evaluate and analyse and turnover increased to almost £2

“infrastructure is Victorian rail structures and to million. understand the mechanics of railway in good “ tracks for high speed trains. Three The widespread take-up of the condition – even years of this experience was spent at internet meant email and Sky TV after 120 years British Rail Research – the forefront of for most people; for my company, rail industry innovation. it meant automating measurements service and retrieving the data from remote Having worked in research and sites around the world without development, I understood how having to attend the site to download to innovate and utilise technology information. Monitoring sites in the effectively and moved into construction North of Scotland, Central London so as to be involved in major projects and mainland Europe then became such as the Docklands Light Rail accessible at the end of a cellular Extension in London. phone line. This facilitated continual streaming of data and allowed us to On these hugely-complex projects, provide real-time monitoring services massive tunnel boring machines were that were critical to many industries, used to drive tunnels under Central particularly the rail network. London – meaning the buildings above could potentially be affected, The UK railway system is as critical as as engineers discovered during the any other transportation network, if construction of a new tunnel for the not more so, as the cost of motoring Datum’s innovative wireless track void Heathrow Express Rail Link in 1994; increases and the convenience of inter- monitoring system the a collapse caused a huge crater to city rapid transport is taken for granted VoidMate is Network appear between the airport’s two main to get millions of people to work Rail approved runways and damaged buildings and each day.

28 | DATUM GROUP CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

The infrastructure on which it runs was designed and built primarily by Victorian engineers and remains, surprisingly, in reasonably good shape – even after 120 years of service.

However, loading from heavier, faster and more frequent trains, severe weather conditions and unprecedented flooding have necessitated intensive condition monitoring of track and structures. This was the opportunity I recognised and it has been the cornerstone on which we Datum monitor built the foundations of Datum’s projects around the monitoring systems and services. In fairness, (to government) this has world 24/7 365 days a year generally happened but, recently Over the last 18 years, we have perhaps, plans are declared with produced a myriad of sensors and

a fanfare and then take an age systems to check the condition of rail to happen, this leaves business Upgraded tracks and other critical infrastructure.

and entrepreneurs nervous and transportation One notable innovation, our a little reluctant. Even with the RailtempMate, is a sensor that records commencement of High Speed 2 well “networks and“ track temperature. Continuously underway, we still hear murmurings 4G connectivity welded rail replaced jointed track many from government, or the opposition, years ago and requires tensioning about whether it is really needed. are key for to overcome the effects of heat This doesn’t help industry or those industry expansion during hot weather. Real- working in it. time rail temperature monitoring is Upgraded transportation networks required throughout the network to and 4G connectivity for all are not Left to right: Bury Council monitor the risk of tracks buckling Leader, Rishi Shori, only key for my industry, but for every under the heat. The RailtempMate Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, provides continuous recording of track other sector too. These improvement opportunities could quickly become and Times’ columnist, temperature and sends alerts when Phil Collins, join Datum temperatures get too high, or too low, liabilities and have wider repercussions Chief Executive Officer. Rory O’Rourke, at allowing Network Rail to plan ahead the launch of the Life for maintenance work and remove the Chances Report at risk of track failure. Datum Headquarters

Having grown organically and self- funded our expansion, perhaps our growth has not been so meteoric, but it has been assured. I have never worried too seriously, or become too excited for that matter, about what plans or policies the UK government of the day has had. Given an opportunity to speak plainly with Government, I would recommend that they do not over promise, but to deliver on what they commit, and in the timescale agreed.

DATUM GROUP | 29 Maze Engineering

Team Maze London to Paris 19th July to 22nd July 2017, raising money for Great Ormond Street Hospital

Tony Smith, BSc C Eng MCIBSE, Managing Director aze Engineering was established in 2004, based in central London, as a building services contractor. We Moffer design and build solutions in the mechanical FACTS ABOUT services sector of air conditioning, ventilation systems, building Maze Engineering management controls, plumbing, drainage, hot & cold water »»Established Maze Engineering systems and heating systems within commercial premises across 2004 specialising in design London and the south East of England. and build of air conditioning, ventilation, and plumbing services for commercial The company grew quickly up to 2009. A large section of our work is reliant on buildings financial institutions and commercial property investors, and we were hit by the »»Established electrical side of recession. During this period the management team was faced with an extremely business in 2010 in recession difficult challenge – we had to diversify our income stream just to grow. specialising in lighting, power, fire alarm, security, etc. Part of this diversity resulted in us taking the bold decision to expand the extent »»Currently 30 staff from of services that we could provide by setting up an electrical contracting side to the apprentices, accounts, CAD, business in 2010, in order that we could offer our clients a combined mechanical estimator’s, engineers, project and electrical services solution to their projects. managers and directors »»Based in central London Offices, theatres, hospitals, galleries, courts »»Turnover £12 million Our primary focus falls within the fast fit out commercial property market primarily »»Largest project to date within central London, ranging from offices, theatres, hospitals, galleries, courts etc. £2.5 million This requires the implementation of simple but effective procedures as each project »»Challenges going forward; undertaken has little or no float time, with the majority of our activities being on working through Brexit the critical path of the programme.

30 | MAZE ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

Some may have questioned the in our industry we made a conscious decision to expand the business decision to invest in the training of Our primary (together with the increase in young people. focus falls overheads) in 2010, because times We have apprentices being trained were still extremely tough. However “within the fast in mechanical and electrical services the company grew steadily with hard engineering and surveying, going from work, forward thinking, shrewd and fit out

ONC to degree level. We started the effective commercial and operational training programme some 10 years commercial procedures set in place . ago, and we have maintained a high property The company has grown organically level of commitment to specialist over recent years, and with an training courses which relate to market “ expanding client base has reached a our industry. primarily current turnover of £12 million. We use an in-house system where the trainees go first into our estimating within central A high quality engineering department . They’re taught how London solution to read and interpret specifications One of the key criteria for us is the and they become familiar with all delivery of a high quality engineering the different engineering systems we solution to all the varied and bespoke encounter on a daily basis. projects we encounter, with a can-do The trainees learn about equipment and positive attitude. and how to measure linear pipe work, Each project is different from the last, ductwork, drainage and containment demanding different skill sets, through Maze team cycling design and drawing preparation, early through Northern France procurement, production of realistic construction programmes, installation procedures, and commissioning. Handover is one of the most important parts of the process for our clients.

The Shard and the Gherkin

By delivering a high quality solution we look for repeat business from our clients. With their trust and support we’re taking on larger and more challenging projects which over the years have helped increase our turnover. For example, we have carried out work at some of London’s most spectacular buildings, including the Shard and the Gherkin.

Staff training

Having successfully grown the business, we have had to confront a major challenge to all companies of our size which is the investment in staff training. Due to a shortage of engineers and project managers

MAZE ENGINEERING | 31 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

such as procurement, drawing production, programming as well as monitoring site activities once the construction phase of the project has commenced.

From their knowledge of estimating, the junior project managers are able to understand the commercial aspect of the projects from the production of target cost sheets, monthly payment applications and the identification and pricing of contract variations so that the clients team are always kept up to date with final account projections and any bearing this will have on project cash flow. Part of team Maze refreshed at a water stop As a business we have always systems starting with the colour recognised the importance of investing coding we adopt as a company for the in technology to aid the development different systems. of our staff and their training, with From this they are taught how to the most up to date tools, appliances price the materials and apply industry and computer software ensuring that standard labour constants from which we stay at the leading edge within they gradually learn how to produce a our industry. In our experience, this full tender. reinvestment has positive effects on both our staff and our clients. We’re taking While doing this they are encouraged to visit construction sites, to gain a The way forward on larger and better understanding of the services “more we install. Since opting to leave the EU, we have seen some uncertainty from investors challenging The trainees have vocational training and this has led to the shelving or provided by day release colleges deferring of projects. Our business projects. We which will enable them to achieve needs to be adaptable. We have had

have carried a professional qualification. The to balance the short term pain of company supplements this with maintaining overheads for the long

out work at a series of practical application term gain of being in a position to scenarios of building services react to an upturn in business. The key some of “ teach ins in the office where we is keeping to our core strategies: train juniors in sizing the plant London’s most »»Providing a top quality and economic we use, sizing the appropriate solution to our clients. spectacular distribution systems and general buildings design philosophies. »»Investing in our staff and training. »»Maintaining the key principles of our Once a trainee has grasped these business. basics, he or she is encouraged to shadow more experienced managers With these in place, we believe we in project management. They are are a true 21st century company, exposed to the complexities of Health overcoming challenges and looking and Safety, preconstruction activities positively to the long term future.

32 | MAZE ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

EniProgetti

EniProgetti, Basingstoke

Steve Woodington, Branch Manager s a truly global energy player with operations spanning the globe, the Italian company, Eni, needs to rely on the Ahighest standards of engineering excellence in order to access its energy resources in a cost-effective, sustainable and efficient manner.

To help achieve this, the company’s symbolic six-legged dog has been present COMPANY HISTORY in the Hampshire town of Basingstoke for over four decades, from its initial IN BASINGSTOKE incarnation as Snamprogetti to its new name EniProgetti. »»1974 – Snamprogetti Ltd The oil flow – 1.76 million barrels a day »»1982 – Offices built by Snamprogetti Eni’s core business is the exploration and production of oil and gas and it currently »»2011 – Saipem Ltd has operations in 42 countries and had a €2.5 billion adjusted operating profit in 2016. Eni produces 1.76 million barrels of oil equivalent a day (boe/d), equating to »»2013 – Eni engineering over 300,000 barrels more than the UK’s total oil and gas production. e&p Ltd »»2017 – EniProgetti Alongside this current output, Eni expects to deliver new discoveries of »»36% staff have more than 2–3 billion barrels in the next four years by drilling around 120 wells in more 10 years’ service than 20 countries. To achieve this not only requires long-term partnerships with governments and local communities but also the support and expertise from a »»15% staff have more than team of highly-skilled personnel. 20 years’ service

At EniProgetti, it is our role to support Eni with engineering and project management solutions from the embryonic stages of any potential new project through to delivery of oil or gas to our customers.

ENIPROGETTI | 33 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

It is EniProgetti’s responsibility to A positive cultural mix assist Eni in making the right decision regarding any of the potential field EniProgetti also has offices in Italy, developments it is undertaking, many Egypt and Kazakhstan making an of which have multi-billion euro overall organisation of more than budgets. This follows a number of 1,000 people. Staff are frequently development stages evolving from an relocated to support the different engineering feasibility through to a offices and sites with technical front end engineering design of any expertise which fosters a positive

prospect, to ensure its production cultural mix that contributes new ideas Nurturing the potential in the best time to market and perspectives.

future as well as formulating costings that provide the basis of any final \ The challenge – seven projects “generation“ of investment decision (FID). Recently, EniProgetti has focused on engineering However, once any investment decision Eni’s seven current special projects talent is a high has been made, the really hard work all engaged in extremely aggressive starts on transforming design into time scales from the discovery of priority reality in some of the most challenging hydrocarbons to starting production. geographical locations. These are highly significant developments in Angola, Republic of EniProgetti currently employs around Congo, Egypt, Ghana and Indonesia. 200 people in Basingstoke, the majority of whom are professional The Offshore Cape Three Points engineers from Hampshire, Surrey and (OCTP) project in Ghana has seen Berkshire. A lot of them have been significant engineering involvement with the company for many years. from the Basingstoke office. The recently delivered start-up However, nurturing the future came only 30 months from the generation of engineering talent investment decision for the project in is a high priority and to achieve December 2014. this EniProgetti has forged links with a number of universities to This project is a challenging offshore recruit candidates for its graduate scheme that will produce a total training scheme. of 500 million barrels of oil and EniProgretti’s refurbished 41 billion cubic metres of gas over its Basingstoke office life-cycle. The gas from the project is destined for domestic use in Ghana, playing an essential role in the West African country’s energy security and development over the next 15 years.

The project is located 60 kilometres off the Ghanaian coast and is made up of the Sankofa and Gye Nyame fields. The fields are connected via a subsea system to a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel.

Separately, gas will be processed and transported via a dedicated pipeline to the onshore receiving facilities to be compressed and injected into

34 | ENIPROGETTI CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

Floating production storage and Subsea field. offloading vessel on route to Ghana Interconnection illustration the western corridor gas pipeline for The future transportation to industrial customers Teaching both in Ghana. EniProgetti faces finding innovative solutions to Eni’s exciting, technically current and The project has involved EniProgetti challenging and aggressive approach engineers in both engineering to new projects. It is also facing the “new employees and project management services demands of how climate change is the diverse worldwide during the execution phase. affecting both the industry and the world at large. skills required Running parallel to the OCTP, engineers from Basingstoke have also Developing the engineers of tomorrow to tackle this “ been working against the clock to is an essential aspect of the company’s fast-changing deliver the Zohr gas field project that is strategy but teaching both current currently under execution in Egypt. and new employees the diverse skills environment is required to tackle this fast-changing With reserves of 850 billion cubic metres, environment is also crucial. also crucial Zohr is the largest natural gas field ever discovered in the Mediterranean. The With the focus moving away from gas from Zohr is largely destined for the traditional hydrocarbons, such as oil, »ACCREDITATIONS Egyptian market to help meet booming to renewable energy, energy efficiency, domestic energy demand. biofuels, liquefied natural gas and gas »»BS EN ISO 9001:2015 to liquid technologies, the company – Quality management The engineering challenges associated needs engineers who can adapt and systems with this development are significant. embrace these new challenges. »»BS EN ISO 14001:2015 The field lies under water at a depth – Environmental of 1,450 metres and is 150 kilometres In addition, the ageing of existing management systems from the Egyptian coastline. Time-to- installations creates a greater need market is a key driver here and the for decommissioning engineering that »»BS OHSAS 18001:2007 development is being undertaken in can find solutions that are within strict – Occupational two phases in order to allow optimum permitting and environmental guidelines. Health and Safety early production of the first gas. These engineering skillsets are starting Management to become portfolio essentials. »»Module H PED The Phase 1 development comprises certificate – Pressure The future in this difficult market is a real six subsea wells and was approved Equipment (Safety) in February 2016 with planned start- challenge. Something EniProgetti and Regulations 2016 up by the end of 2017. Phase 2 adds its people will continue to address with »»Home Office ‘A’ rated a further 14 wells and will come on passion as part of the Eni global team. Sponsoring Employer stream in 2019.

ENIPROGETTI | 35 Copper Connexions

Part of Copper Connexions Team

Anthony Denison-Birch, Managing Director opper Connexions has been supporting the power generation industry since 2008 and continues to provide Can improving service to this industry. Not only do we support the power generation industry but we also provide

FACTS ABOUT service and support to domestic, commercial and industrial COPPER CONNEXIONS customers. We are based in Wokingham and are happy to »»Founded October 2008 provide services to customers within 100 miles of our base. »»Set up business with £16K of savings There are many reasons for setting up your own business. For me it was a mixture »»1st year turnover £60K with of expediency and a desire to continue improving myself. I left school and joined only the director working ICI paints as an apprentice but after a year I left to work for the family electrical »»2016 turnover £890K with contracting business. After a few years, the opportunity came to work for 10 employees and several Slough Estates, in their privately owned 100MW power station in the distribution subcontractor specialists department. I worked through several roles and departments, eventually rising to »»The business has always self head up the electrical maintenance team. By the time that Slough Estate sold the funded never borrowing power plant and distribution business to SSE in early 2008 I had reached a plateau money in my development with the organisation. »»2018 will be our tenth year of The time was right to branch out on my own and put the skills and knowledge operation I had developed over the years to good use. I handed in my notice and set up »»ww.copperconnexions.co.uk Copper Connexions later that year. It was not an ideal time for a fledgling business, trying to survive during one of the worst market downturns in memory. My sentiment was that if I could make the business work in difficult financial times then I could make a success when things improve. So I took a small cash lump from an investment to set up and quickly found work.

36 | COPPER CONNEXIONS CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

Business growth over the last we have supported several local nine years community halls and churches and enabled them to improve their In the first year of trading, the electrical installations. We have worked company had a turnover of £60,000 very closely with The North Ascot and I was the only employee. The Community Association and they have »ACCREDITATIONS company grew year on year and now, invested in replacing all the lighting nine years later, it employs ten people with LED low energy lighting. »»NICEIC 2009 and has a turnover of £890,000. »»Trust Mark 2009 We have been fortunate to be involved »»Achilles 2011 One of my early customers was SSE, in many interesting projects over the which is a great testament to the last nine years ranging from power »»NICEIC Hazardous area work I had carried out at their power station control systems upgrades to 2012 station. They invited me to work at replacing consumer units in domestic »»CHAS 2015 the power station where I had spent properties. We are currently working many years because of my experience with VALMET, assisting with the in power generation and distribution. upgrade of a control system for a This additional workload quickly led to 50MW gas turbine. This is a new the need to employ additional staff. customer for us and we are enjoying But this proved to be far from a simple working with them. Currently we have matter because there was a skills and started to work with Martin Baker knowledge shortage in the area for Aircraft to assist with their need to First day at work for our this type of work. latest employee and a improve electrical systems. nice cuppa thanks to I eventually opted to utilise one of our fabulous clients reliable sub-contractors who have subsequently all become full time employees. Once they were on my staff I provided full training and set out development plans for each employee. It is important that anyone that works for me has the knowledge that is required to perform a high-quality, and a safe level of work. It is good for the customers, employees and ultimately it is good for the company.

Working in tandem with all our clients we have continued to invest in the business and been able to meet all of their ongoing requirements. Over the past five years we have worked closely with SSE to gain the necessary skills and knowledge to meet the regulations for ATEX and DSEAR hazardous environment for electrical installations. We have gained many accreditations and have been very successful with these during the audits due to the large efforts put in to developing our systems.

We also care about the community that is our home. Over the years

COPPER CONNEXIONS | 37 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

Electrician demonstrating panel wiring in the workshop to the develop the business or staff. We have apprentice Challenges and solutions always invested the profits back into The skills shortage is a common theme the company to enable growth and when I talk to other business owners development. Although this has been a and it is by far the biggest challenge significant cost we now have a well- that we face as a business. Finding balanced staff structure and continue well-trained staff has been a trial but to invest, manage and develop with perseverance I have managed employees and plant. That means all to assemble the right individuals, and company assets are wholly owned by with significant investment in staff we Copper Connexions. The coming have developed a highly skilled and year will mark diverse workforce. Facing the future

“our tenth The management burden has been The coming year will mark our tenth another big struggle. I have had to anniversary and I am keen to keep

anniversary develop systems and policies that developing the business and hope will enable the business to grow to engage with new challenges both and I am keen “ sustainably. Our current back office internally and externally. Looking to to keep project is to develop a system that the future we are aiming to find new enables us to market our services avenues for revenue to continue our developing to SMEs. Hopefully over the next impressive growth. five years we will be able to expand the business On the accreditation front we are our customer base amongst SMEs working towards ISO 9001 Quality and assist them with their growth management systems, ISO 14001 and development. Environmental management systems On the positive side, as a company and ISO 45001 Occupational Health we have always been solvent; we and Safety management systems. have never had to borrow money to

38 | COPPER CONNEXIONS CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

Patrick Parsons

Patrick Parsons has sponsored students through University, alongside our graduate training programmes

Peter Stienlet, Managing Director atrick Parsons are multi-disciplinary consulting engineers also offering complementary services in building Pconsultancy, project management and planning services. From our offices in London, Newcastle upon Tyne, Birmingham, Glasgow, Huddersfield, Manchester, Chester, Guildford, Dubai FACTS ABOUT and Sydney we work with a wide range of clients and industries Patrick Parsons throughout the UK, Europe and the Middle East. »»Established in 1964 »»In 2007 Peter Stienlet and Mark Turner completed a Patrick Parsons was a structural engineer in the North East of England and he management buy-out of the started the firm back in 1964, so we are over 50 years old. My business partner, company Mark Turner, and myself undertook a management buyout in November 2007. »»Implemented plans to increase At that stage, we had eight permanent staff and were located in Newcastle, the national presence of undertaking predominantly civil and structural engineering. It was a small base to Patrick Parsons by opening an start from and it began just before the recession, so not a good time to take over office in Chester in 2010 a business. We ran the company for a couple of years, and grew to 15 staff, but at »»Offer engineering services that stage we were still in the depths of the recession. tailored to each individual The economic outlook was bleak in the North East of England at that time. client’s requirements Everywhere seemed to be closing; people were closing whole departments or »»We have applied our highly reducing working hours. We decided we would take a different course and took acclaimed skills to a wide the decision to expand. We analysed the market to see where we could generate range of sectors including work because even in recessions people still needed services. We decided to expand Leisure, Industrial, Healthcare the scope of the business to become a fully multidisciplinary engineering practice and Energy offering civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and geo-environmental expertise.

We not only broadened our experience, but also looked at other regions around the UK to really start to expand. We now employ over 200 staff throughout the

PATRICK PARSONS | 39 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

Hiring and retaining

One challenge that we have had to work hard to overcome is the shortage of skilled staff. When you enter a recession people leave the industry and you end up with gaps. We currently have a five-year skill gap where you are looking for people with five-years’ experience now and they are just not there. As an employer we had to be smarter in the way we carry out recruitment. We are doing a lot more of the graduate training programmes, we are sponsoring people through Pinkston Paddlesport Centre university. We have got school leavers UK and abroad; we have got offices in coming through where we are Dubai and Sydney, and we are looking giving them apprenticeships on the further afield now. Those offices are technician side. diverse in terms of the projects that But it is not just about recruiting the we look at, from high-rise, high-end right staff, it is about retaining them. residential in London through our We focus a lot on what can we do to Twickenham office, through to five make sure we retain staff, because it’s world heritage sites. We have been the very expensive and time consuming engineers on Durham Cathedral and to replace staff, and get them up to Hadrian’s Wall. speed so that they become profitable for you. Support from UKTI However, when your staff are Some people Through our overseas growth we have recognised it is very rewarding. Elaine enjoyed valuable support from UK Bissell, our technical director was who use their Trade & Investment (UKTI). We first recently crowned Engineer of the Year:

contacted them through the North- Building Services at the prestigious “services expect East branch, and they helped us with Women in Construction Awards.

business to be our first excursion into China where we Elaine, who joined our Manchester were looking at opportunities in the office in 2014, has over 29 years’ handed to “ region. They supported us by giving experience in the industry and currently advice on the trading environment, heads up our Building Services division. them on a but also warming up markets for us. plate; business Since then we have been on various The old and the new delegation visits throughout the world is not like that where we have undertaken our own Two interesting projects that we have work in getting contacts, but UKTI been involved in feature a heritage have been very good in every instance. building in Durham Cathedral as well as the Pinkston Paddlesport Centre Some people who use their services in Glasgow. expect business to be handed to them on a plate; business is not like that. Durham Cathedral is an 11th century You need to be prepared to work hard Norman building, perhaps the finest in in these situations to generate work. the country and was one of Britain’s But they do give a fantastic amount first World Heritage sites. Construction of information and support both in began in 1093 and was completed knowledge and financial support. in the 13th century with the later

40 | PATRICK PARSONS CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

We have provided structural engineering addition of the crossing tower in involved sensitive restoration from the design services to Durham Cathedral for 1487. We have provided structural Patrick Parsons team. more than 40 years engineering design services to Durham For something more contemporary Cathedral for more than 40 years. In an ongoing relationship with the we are involved with the £2.5million Estates Office we have worked on development of Scotland’s first several projects and commissions that competition standard, purpose-built are located within the grounds of the paddlesports centre. The development We have World Heritage site. offers something to everyone, as a high-level training facility for elite worked on Our work involves the ongoing athletes, a water safety and water “several engineering and restoration works rescue training resource and as to the cathedral and its associated a community hub providing the projects and buildings to help preserve the quality opportunity for local people to get out commissions of one of the North East’s most on the water. We were also responsible recognisable and cherished buildings. for the outline and detail design of the that are Recently, we were also appointed centre, design for the centre’s facilities located within “ as civil and structural engineers for including changing rooms, classrooms, a Heritage Lottery Fund £10 million tower and foundations, and design of the grounds project, to create a new exhibition canoe club storage units. In addition, space, called the Open Treasures designs relating to a new access of the World Exhibition within the cathedral. bridge, hard and soft landscaping and Heritage site Incorporating new build elements assessment of an existing bridge access into the exhibition space, this project to Pinkston Island were provided. provides enhanced visitor facilities and

PATRICK PARSONS | 41 Wenham Profiles

Hawk 200 CNC Lathe

Tony Wenham, Managing Director enham Profiles has been established since 1968, starting initially as toolmakers and precision Wengineers. Over the years we have expanded into the fields of designing and building special purpose machines, test fixtures and prototypes for the electronics, telecommunication, pharmaceutical and general engineering sectors.

FACTS ABOUT Like many engineering companies within the UK and Europe we have had to evolve Wenham Profiles to survive in the modern global manufacturing arena. It would have been sheer »»CNC Milling with 4th axis folly for us to try and compete against the low cost, high volume manufacturing »»CNC Turning that is offered by low-cost regions such as China. So we had to adapt to the »»Full Cad Cam Software changing situation; for us that meant expanding our offering and focussing on what we could do best, high-value engineered products. »»Lasercutting up to 20mm in Steel We started life as toolmakers back in the Sixties, making tools, jigs and fixtures, but »»Lasercutting up to 10mm in over time we have evolved to offer a whole range of services. The evolution began stainless steel when we started manufacturing precision parts and components which led us on to additional services such as plating, painting, grinding, and welding. There was »»Quick Response no grand plan behind this expansion, it was simply catering for the market desire to »»Helpful Sales Team have all the engineering produced under one roof. »»www.wenham.co.uk We moved up a level in 2011 when we took on another factory, and at that time added another string to our bow in laser cutting. Originally, we planned to run this as a separate company, thinking that because it was another process, it would be another whole set of customers. It didn’t work that way because there was a lot of company interactions, so we then decided to combine the operations as Wenham Profiles. Along with the expansion in footprint and our technology offerings we have entered new markets, working for the likes of the Ministry of Defence.

42 | WENHAM PROFILES CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

Challenging China

Everybody thinks China is the best place to go for engineered products. It has a reputation for being low cost but that is now changing. China is now at the stage of its growth where it is not necessarily the cheapest route. But the upfront cost aside, there are other disadvantages of sending your production to China. If anything goes wrong it can cost a lot of money: you can’t simply get in your car and drive 100 miles to sort things out. We cannot compete simply on price and for some automotive companies that buy in huge volumes, they may be Trumpf 4KW Laser Flat prepared for the fact that five per cent bed 3000 x 1500 of the items are going to be unusable. A lot of companies have moved offshore. It may be saving them 30 per cent on We have left that market alone and their production costs but no-one ever concentrated on low-volume, high- sits back and says, ‘yeah, all right, well, quality work. In the radar what happens when it goes wrong?’ If I think the you’ve got a product that only costs £50 industry the volumes are so much reason why we you can decide it makes economic sense smaller; they are not buying thousands

to throw it away and give the customer and thousands, they are buying 50, “are here in a replacement. The same cannot be said over 12 months. The problem with if the product is a radar system that cost 2017, is that price sensitive industry is what a quarter of a million pounds; there is no does it cost when it doesn’t work? And because we “ way that is so disposable. that is where everybody is now coming have diversified unstuck. If you are producing smaller I think the reason why we are here in quantities, that is where experienced 2017, is because we have diversified into different and highly qualified companies such into different markets. As we have as ours can look at it from a different gone into different markets, we have markets view. We can tell them that although kept the same attitude from the it may be a bit more every single time, toolmaking days that says that quality you will get a perfectly good unit. has got to be worth something. Bridgeport CNC Mill with Tank Part being machined on the Bed

WENHAM PROFILES | 43 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

4KW Trumpf Laser Quality in action Future focus

One of our clients is Boeing. We made We have weathered the turmoil and some copper buzz bar components emerged as a stronger company, but that went inside a mild-steel fabricated not all British engineering companies cabinet, painted white, that were have done that. The trouble is, with a made in large quantities. We kept lot of engineering companies, is that Over 30 years saying that the cabinets would go to everybody has been trying to compete China and we would lose the work. with China on China’s terms; trying to of experience, But we have kept the work because run them pound for pound with low the cost to Boeing if that part failed on cost and low quality. You cannot do “Fast reliable an aircraft is not worth the risk of the it, because the materials, the plastic or service, savings they may make. mild steel, must cost the same, but of course, the big cost is the labour costs,

Helpful Sales When it comes to short run work and there is no way in the world that there can be no better example than you are ever going to compete with

Team. If we some of the projects that we do for what they pay in China. It is not even Pinewood Studios in Leavesden on set worth trying to run with it, because can’t we may“ building. We earn that work purely you just have not got a chance. know on our reaction time. They say they are starting filming next week and need It is a lesson that we learned very someone some parts for the set. If it is late or quickly. There is still a place for British not up to scratch the whole filming engineering if we concentrate on who can schedule could be delayed and you can what we are good at. Using our high imagine what that will cost. We have technical expertise to deliver high- worked on well-known titles such as quality, high value products. That is Star Wars, Fantastic Beasts and Where where we are as accompany and why to Find Them, and Batman, amongst we will remain successful. many others.

44 | WENHAM PROFILES CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

global associates

Bringing together Technology and Engineering excellence in order to optimise building controls, energy usage and integrate environments and work spaces.

‘I see it as our obligation to leave a legacy of talent greater than when we started.‘ – lobal associates specialise in solving complex building Paul Wetherfield, CEO energy management solutions (BeMS), automation, IoT Gand process control problems; by providing a complete front-to-back range of services: concept & ideation, design, implementation & installation, calibration, maintenance and FACTS ABOUT support. We place great emphasis on quality engineering, client global associates success and developing lasting relationships – these factors drive »»200% Turnover increase in the our teams to deliver solutions that achieve cost-effective, long- past 5 years term results for our clients. »»£3.7m annual revenue »»BCIA – Independent Building Controls and BeMS installer of Leading by example is very important to all of us at global associates. That’s why the year, 2017 we have taken the strategic decision to invest in training, with the objective of »»ISO 9001-2015, Safe Contractor having 50% of our engineering and client servicing teams hailing directly from our & Constructionline Approved global training academy within the next five years. »»global academy – market Our academy provides market leading apprenticeships and training. The decision leading apprenticeship and to cultivate and develop home-grown talent in this way, required significant training programme investment in the short-term, and we are confident it will cement our status as »»Offices in the South and North market leaders over the long-term, as we bring through the next generation of of the country BeMS innovators and leaders. »»5% of annual turnover reinvested into R&D Our entire team is aligned to helping develop the UK’s engineering and technology »»www.global-associates.co.uk talent, and we believe that this encouragement should start young; that’s why we are supporters and sponsors of the Kent Bright Spark programme, which gives the next generation valuable exposure to commercial expertise and experience.

GLOBAL ASSOCIATES | 45 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

that drives tangible results, using a wide range of market leading and new innovative technologies for clients.

Our purpose We strive to build a truly great company which delivers superior results for everybody we partner with. But more than that, we prioritise longevity, and aspire to leave an enduring legacy for future generations.

global is committed to Our core values drive our day-to-day having over 50% of its actions and keep us on the path towards team heralding straight achieving our purpose. Developing a from its global academy, within 5 years What we do culture of continuous improvement has been a key goal over the last five years, With an increasing trend of and this constant focus on progress has convergence as clients look to Rapid helped us improve the client experience integrate a wider range of their digital and increase the value we deliver from advancements assets, we are offering an increasing all activities. “in technology set of IT integration solutions; as well as undertaking energy, optimisation, Our vision and an increasing security and regulatory compliance audits to ensure our clients are As the company grew, we extended demand for meeting their obligations in a rapidly our range of services, and are now

innovation by evolving world of regulation. recognised as the UK’s leading Building energy Management Systems (BeMS)

As a company we embrace change and clients, has put solution provider, with offices in both innovation. In 2012, we undertook the south and north of the country. digital “ a significant internal restructuring programme as a new wave of digital We aim to be the market leading innovation at evolution began to influence our choice for our clients; and the standard the heart of our industry. Rapid advancements in bearer for the industry. We will only technology and an increasing demand offer a service or product to the business model for innovation by clients, put digital at market, if we are committed to being the heart of our business model, as we the leader in that space. Our emphasis With an increasing trend continue to provide thought leadership is to embrace and drive technological of convergence as clients change in our sector. look to integrate a wider range of their digital We have therefore committed to assets, we are offering an increasing set of IT investing a minimum of 5% of our integration solutions annual revenue in R&D. We believe that our industry is now operating in an ‘evolve or dissolve’ business environment, and by committing to ongoing investment in R&D, we plant the seeds of longevity.

Evolve or dissolve

In the new world of accelerated change and digital advancements, continuous improvement alone isn’t enough –

46 | GLOBAL ASSOCIATES CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

global associates is committed to investing at least 5% of its annual businesses must evolve in order to thrive Future outlook revenue in R&D in the intensely competitive markets of today. We believe that organisations The geopolitical landscape has been like ours need to embrace discontinuous forever changed as a result of the improvement – that is, a smaller number Brexit vote – yet we remain confident We founded of large step changes that ensure the in the ability of our business and the business is ready and able to respond UK as a whole to navigate safely past global associates quickly to market opportunities and whatever the future holds. Britain “based on a single client needs. remains one of the world’s foremost business hubs, and we look forward to commitment to It’s these discontinuous improvements embracing the new opportunities that that have helped us to shape market will arise in the post-Brexit world. our clients: to leading propositions and develop client solutions that nobody else in the market As we drive forward post-Brexit, deliver the right is able to deliver. This approach to technology and engineering skills will business results innovation, underpinned by our ethos be critical to the UK’s success, both of client value creation, has allowed nationally and internationally. One of for you, on time us to build a strong foundation, and a the key challenges we currently face platform for growth and longevity. is a skills shortage in the engineering and on budget, and technology sectors – something Since 2012 we have more than doubled with high-quality, which will only be remedied by robust in size, whilst putting in place the investment in Further and Higher cost-effective necessary organisational structure and

Education, vocational courses and culture that will allow us to double in size solutions that will apprenticeships. We welcome the again over the next three years. We have

government’s continued commitment invested significantly in our people and stand the test technology, resulting in us quadrupling to the Apprenticeship Levy; global of time. We will“ the number of services and propositions associates will continue to delivery we take to market. Client feedback from high quality solutions for clients do whatever it all our activities has improved steadily by increasing our commitment to takes to get the year on year, and this will be the defining developing world class engineering measure for all annual bonuses across and technology talent. job done. the organisation as we move forward.

GLOBAL ASSOCIATES | 47 GAP Electrical & Mechanical Services Ltd

Expertise in road tunnel installation and design

Paul McBreeze (Managing Director) and Wyn Roberts (Director/Consulting Engineer) AP Electrical & Mechanical Services Limited is a company based in Conwy, North Wales operated by a senior Gmanagement team of highly-skilled professionals who possess the technical abilities and experience to provide professional consultancy and a wide range of engineering services, project management and design. They pride themselves on being client focused and have developed a reputation for being a one stop company that will provide the whole package FACTS ABOUT GAP ELECTRICAL & MECHANICAL SERVICES LTD from assisting clients in creating the right specifications to design, planning and executing the required works. »»Formed in 2003 »»Turnover £1.2 million per year »»Company based in The company was formed by Paul McBreeze in 2003 with an aim to redress North Wales the balance, by sighting local companies to provide the main works in the area »»Business specialises in design, rather than large external firms. The company’s first line of works included mobile consultancy and installation telephone infrastructure across the UK which still continues to this day. Geraint Wyn of mechanical and electrical Roberts, a chartered engineer, joined the company as a Co-Director in October 2004 systems bringing a great deal of skill and experience in the field. His engineering background enabled the company to expand to offer consultancy and design services.

In 2006 the company achieved a range of routine maintenance works on local roads and highway tunnels infrastructure along the A55, also known as the North Wales Expressway (Welsh: Gwibffordd Gogledd Cymru) and the Chester to Bangor Trunk Road, which is a major road in Britain.

In 2008 GAP quoted for a four-year contract for a large facilities provider to carry out electrical and mechanical maintenance on the highways tunnel infrastructure.

48 | GAP ELECTRICAL & MECHANICAL SERVICES LTD CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

Through the relative security of this impact of our activities which have an contract they were able to expand the impact on the environment and OHSAS GAP Electrical & business into design and consultancy 18001:2007 – our commitment to allowing clients a whole package which health and safety is demonstrated provides all of the required work from through our safety documentation Mechanical Services Ltd the planning stage through to the final and risk assessments leading to zero completion. The company now employs incidents, which is our key health and a range of staff from apprentices to safety objective. high- calibre graduate and chartered The company design engineers and project managers. GAP hope to achieve transition to now GAP offers a 24 hour, 7 days a week the new ISO 9001:2015 and ISO emergency call out responding to 14001:2015 standards and NHSS “employees a customer needs and requirements. Sector 8 registration/accreditation in December 2017 which far bigger range of staff GAP have also been engaged oversees companies providing similar services do from with international works and gained not normally achieve. experience in asset and condition apprentices to recording projects in the Maldives and Recently GAP have expanded into the Caribbean allowing GAP to adapt trunk road infrastructure, design high-calibre their working practices to a different project management and installation.

culture and working environment. GAP have employed a range of staff graduates,

and expanded their business premises. chartered Gap is determined to meet and The main basis of GAP’s work is on a exceed clients’ expectations to subcontracting arrangement, however design “ deliver sustainable repeat business a company the size of GAP faces daily and continuous improvement challenges whereby contract demands engineers and across the company, in line with can change rapidly which can affect a project their accreditations which include small company and the ability to invest BS ISO 9001:2008 – quality being in equipment and personnel. managers achieved through best business processes and practice throughout GAP would like to see themselves in the company. BS ISO 14001:2004 – a more stable position which would GAP’s environmental objectives and reduce risk and enable the company to responsibilities are set to reduce the invest more confidently in the future.

Apprenticeships should be promoted Road tunnel infrastructure more widely to young people maintenance

GAP ELECTRICAL & MECHANICAL SERVICES LTD | 49 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

»EXAMPLE PROJECTS

»»M4 Brynglas Tunnel mechanical and electrical (M&E) refurbishment design »»Conwy Tunnel Major M&E design and refurbishment works »»Penmaenbach Tunnel major M&E design and refurbishment works »»Pen-y-Clip Tunnel major M&E design and refurbishment works »»A55 street lighting M&E design and refurbishment works »»Blackwall Tunnel lighting/fire detection design »»Crooked Billet (London) Tunnel lighting and power distribution design »»Leeds Woodhouse Tunnel lighting and power design »»Kingsway Tunnel high voltage (HV) transformer replacement design »»Various tunnel technical reports and technical feasibility studies on behalf of the Welsh Government. Tunnel maintenance Paul McBreeze, Managing Director, is primarily focused on road tunnel also concerned about the shortfall of refurbishment and upgrade works. skills and lack of talent in the industry GAP started with a turnover of and feels that companies should have £120,000 and is to now turning over Apprenticeships more input into training providers. around £1.2 million a year. GAP has ‘Training providers need to be sighted provided a quality service working should be on employer expectations, and training to very tight schedules which has courses should be adapted to reflect obviously been recognised by clients “promoted to as it has resulted in significant return the needs of the industry,’ he said. develop the ‘Young people should be encouraged business. The type of work carried out to learn trades and get involved in is within a niche market working to necessary skills the engineering industry and should recognised European Tunnel Safety

on the job and appreciate that, often, there is a Standards with the safety of motorist’s requirement to have a good technical paramount within the M&E designs

engage with ability. Apprenticeships should be that are produced. promoted more widely to young “ GAP have supported four engineers education people so that they can develop the through local apprentice training schemes necessary skills on the job, and engage whilst getting and believe that, due to a shortage with education whilst getting paid at of good skilled candidates in the paid at the the same time.’ local area, it is important to try and same time The company has grown year-on-year retain a skilled workforce for a strong, as far as employees and knowledge sustainable and balanced growth in is concerned and projects carried the future. out over the last several years have

50 | GAP ELECTRICAL & MECHANICAL SERVICES LTD CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING Westcombe Engineering

Precision machining and inspection capability

Andrew Lesiw, General and Commercial Manager estcombe Engineering, an established precision engineering component specialist, is a business fulfilling the vision of its founder by actively seeking FACTS ABOUT W WESTCOMBE ENGINEERING to employ people with disabilities. Andrew Lesiw, who joined the business in July 2015 as General and Commercial Manager, »»Precision engineered components specialist, owned says ‘Westcombe Engineering prides itself on being a successful by Peterborough City Council leading example in this field’. »»Established in Peterborough in 1970 by the late Royce W Westcombe For almost half a century, Westcombe Engineering has been a pioneer, remaining »»40% turnover increase in the true to its unique founding principle – to provide employment and development past two years opportunities for disabled people who face barriers in securing gainful »»Employs 20 staff, 13 of which employment. The company was set up in 1970 by the late Royce W Westcombe, have disabilities, with a turnover who had a vision of enabling disabled men and women to obtain employment, and in excess of £1.5 million an unerring dedication to equip disabled workers with the skills and knowledge »»Primary industry served is that would allow them to pursue careers in the wider economy. diesel engine components Westcombe Engineering is a social enterprise, which means that any money we sector, supplying key make is reinvested back into the business and the local economy. By investing in customers such as Perkin’s this way, we are able to improve life chances and enhance society. In short, when globally as a Tier 1 supplier we profit, our community profits. »»BS EN ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System, working We are fully committed to our social responsibility in providing permanent towards ISO 9001:2015 employment, along with short and medium-term work experience opportunities for »»Engineers Employers’ disabled people. Our partnerships with City College Peterborough, Peterborough Federation (EEF) Future Regional College and the charity, Shaw Trust, enables Westcombe Engineering to Manufacturing Awards 2011 provide a gateway for these opportunities. winners – Innovation People Management Award Westcombe Engineering is also a supported business, which means that over 50% of our workforce has a disability and, though owned by Peterborough City Council, »»Investors in People certification

WESTCOMBE ENGINEERING | 51 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

Misconceptions around disabled workers

Despite our positive experience of employing disabled people, it seems that the prejudice and stigma that we challenged with such commitment almost 50 years ago remains an issue today. Business owners appear concerned that employing a disabled person would incur the additional financial costs of reconfiguring the workplace to accommodate the employee. For nearly five decades, Westcombe Engineering has proven this to be a myth; the working environment Continued of our disabled staff mirrors that of investment in plant, their non-disabled colleagues. equipment and in order to secure our long-term future factory environment we need to be profitable in our own Secondly, there’s a general lack of right. In recent years the business has understanding, normally at the top experienced some peaks and troughs, of organisations, about managing Execution of a reflecting the ups and downs of the disability at work. Again, Westcombe manufacturing sector. Engineering’s experience has proved robust this to be a non-issue – our disabled “marketing We now have several key customers, staff are managed no differently to our one of which is global giant Perkins non-disabled staff. strategy has Engines, a diesel engine manufacturer and we supply and deliver precision Westcombe Engineering employs eight enabled us to machined parts and assemblies to them permanent support staff overseeing grow our local both locally and globally as a Tier 1 engineering, quality, supply chain, local Supplier. Other significant customers HR and financial functions, along with customer base with which we have formed solid supply ten permanent disabled workshop partnerships are Eminox Limited, a world staff. In addition, we also employ one and we leader in the design and manufacture engineering intern on a 12-month currently supply of exhaust after-treatment systems for contract and, since April 2017, another heavy duty vehicles and equipment, and young person on a Work Choice parts to several Advanced Handling, a world leader in placement to build their experience of the workplace. new customers the design and manufacture of material lifting and movement equipment. These placements will be eligible for financial support from the Department for locally. Our Today, Westcombe Engineering is

Work and Pensions and the charity, Shaw thriving. Our sales have risen 40% in the machined Trust, on condition that we continue to last two years, and continued investment

develop our people, with targets set in components are in modern plant, equipment, employee monthly and three-monthly periods. This training and development, alongside a “ has resulted in a growing emphasis on now supplied to rigorous focus on operational efficiency our pastoral work, overseen by myself and productivity has seen a significant a wide range of and our trained and experienced Office improvement in key business drivers Manager, Elisa Bradley. other such as quality, cost and delivery. This industries has allowed our company to diversify Even the most cursory glance at our beyond its traditional diesel engine modernised workshop layout, and the Andrew Lesiw components market to win new sight of our highly-capable engineers contracts in other industry sectors. and workshop staff producing highly

52 | WESTCOMBE ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING complex, machined components each day, reveals the strengths of disabled staff. Our history and continued success in this area is a genuine source of pride, and we are always happy to showcase the positives of our unique approach.

Our employees are committed and loyal; many choose to remain with us for most of their working careers. Combined, the company boasts over 500 years’ worth of collective engineering expertise, with our workers averaging 20 years of service with Westcombe Engineering. Our longest-serving employee has High accuracy entered his 40th year, and was invited measurement using the to attend the Queen’s Garden Party in the diesel engine components sector, latest inspection software May 2016 for his length of service and although this sector will remain core to commitment to the business. Westcombe Engineering.

Future of Westcombe Councillor David Seaton, Cabinet Member Engineering for Resources for Peterborough City Council, said ‘Westcombe Engineering is Since July 2015, we have set about one of the city’s and the council’s biggest working with the team to drive success stories. It’s a shining example of some significant changes, including what can be achieved when you offer restructuring of the entire set up of the people with a range of disabilities the business, developing and implementing opportunity to use their skills and talents a robust marketing strategy, along in the same way as anyone else. Staff at with planned capital plant investment. Westcombe are highly skilled, committed Westcombe This strategy has centred on improving

and loyal – what more could an employer our quality, productivity and efficiency ask for from their staff. Engineering is and expanding what we offer to our major customers. ‘In the past two years sales have “one of the city’s “ risen 40% and the team has become We have also added much-needed and the adept at marketing the business and additional engineering skills into the attracting new customers. They now business, allowing us to serve and supply council’s biggest need to focus on further raising the a broader customer base. This has profile of the business to continue to success stories continued to bear fruit, with Westcombe expand the customer base beyond the Engineering acquiring twelve new Councillor David Seaton, diesel engine components sector. customers in the past two years, the Cabinet Member for majority of which are from outside of ‘Above all else, they will stay fully Resources Peterborough the diesel engine components sector. committed to their principles and City Council social responsibility by giving disabled However, we still need to raise our people the opportunities they are profile. Even when prospecting for new still regretfully denied by so many customers locally, it is all too apparent employers. If they can adhere to this that few have heard of our business. commitment, while continuing to Looking ahead, our key objectives are branch out into exciting new avenues to continue with our capital investment of opportunity, then the future of programme, drive profitability, improve Westcombe Engineering will be secure the quality of our service and further for another half century and beyond.’ expand our customer base beyond

WESTCOMBE ENGINEERING | 53 Review of Parliament

A snap election

On the 19th April 2017, having repeatedly insisted that she had no intention of calling a snap election, Prime Minister Theresa May sprung a complete surprise when she summoned the press to Downing Street to announce she would seek a Commons vote to go to the country on June 8th 2017.

It was all the more dramatic because the first inkling came only when it was announced that the Prime Minister would make an important statement outside Downing Street.

The announcement, made as Prime Minister Theresa Parliament returned from its Easter May sought to strengthen break, had the force of a thunderclap in the leadership that is needed at her position before negotiations with the EU Westminster. Quite unexpectedly, MPs this time?’ began and parties were plunged into election The Prime Minister did not miss a beat: mode – with no-one in any doubt that ‘There are three things that a country the two thirds Commons majority, needs: a strong economy, strong required to trigger a dissolution, under defence and strong, stable leadership. the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, would That is what our plans for Brexit and be reached. our plans for a stronger Britain will The immediate effect was to turn deliver... The Right Hon. Member for what were now the two remaining Islington North (The Labour Leader, Prime Minister’s Question Times of Jeremy Corbyn) would bankrupt our the Parliament into de facto leader’s economy and weaken our defences debates – especially since it was made and is simply not fit to lead.’ clear that Theresa May would not take To Conservative jeers, Mr Corbyn part in the kind of televised debates counter-attacked: ‘She says that it is held in the 2010 and 2015 elections. about leadership, yet she refuses to On this occasion, her first questioner defend her record in television debates. was the Conservative backbencher, It is not hard to see why. The Prime Alberto Costa, who zeroed in on Minister says that we have a stronger his Party’s campaign theme: ‘Strong economy, yet she cannot explain why countries need strong economies. people’s wages are lower today than Strong countries need strong defences. they were 10 years ago or why more Strong countries need strong leaders. households are in debt. Six million As the nation prepares to go to the people are earning less than the polls, who else in this House, apart living wage, child poverty is up, and from my Right Hon. Friend, can provide pensioner poverty is up.’

54 | REVIEW OF PARLIAMENT Review of CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING The two leaders traded more to our plan for a stronger Britain and accusations with Theresa May warning take the right long-term decisions for a Parliament that ordinary working people would more secure future for this country.’ face higher taxes and lost jobs under Labour while Mr Corbyn claimed The SNP’s Westminster Leader, Angus the Prime Minister’s priority was ‘tax Robertson, raised the headline in the A snap election giveaways to the richest corporations Daily Mail which called on the Prime while our children’s schools are starved Minister to ‘Crush the saboteurs’ On the 19th April 2017, having of the resources they need to educate working against her plans for Brexit. repeatedly insisted that she had no our children for the future’. He said that struck a dangerous tone in intention of calling a snap election, a democratic state: ‘so does the Prime Brexit emerged as one of the Prime Prime Minister Theresa May sprung a Minister agree that political opponents Minister’s main campaign themes: ‘every complete surprise when she summoned are not “saboteurs”?’ vote for the Conservatives will make me the press to Downing Street to announce stronger when I negotiate for Britain with Later that afternoon, the Commons she would seek a Commons vote to go the European Union. And every vote for voted to call an early election, by 522 to the country on June 8th 2017. the Conservatives will mean we can stick votes to 13. It was all the more dramatic because the first inkling came only when it was announced that the Prime Minister would make an important statement The Queen’s Speech outside Downing Street. When they came to speak in the The announcement, made as Prime Minister Theresa traditional debate on an address Parliament returned from its Easter May sought to strengthen thanking Her Majesty for the Queen’s break, had the force of a thunderclap in the leadership that is needed at her position before negotiations with the EU Speech – the new Government’s Westminster. Quite unexpectedly, MPs this time?’ began legislative programme – the dynamic and parties were plunged into election The Prime Minister did not miss a beat: between the two main figures had mode – with no-one in any doubt that ‘There are three things that a country changed completely. Mr Corbyn the two thirds Commons majority, needs: a strong economy, strong seemed a far more confident, assertive required to trigger a dissolution, under defence and strong, stable leadership. parliamentary performer, relishing the the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, would That is what our plans for Brexit and opportunity to throw back the taunts be reached. our plans for a stronger Britain will that had been hurled at him during The immediate effect was to turn deliver... The Right Hon. Member for the campaign. what were now the two remaining Islington North (The Labour Leader, A Government which had warned Prime Minister’s Question Times of Jeremy Corbyn) would bankrupt our that he could only gain power in the Parliament into de facto leader’s economy and weaken our defences The Queen’s Speech debates – especially since it was made and is simply not fit to lead.’ announced the a ‘coalition of chaos’ with the SNP government’s legislative What a difference. Theresa May and clear that Theresa May would not take and the Lib Dems had been forced To Conservative jeers, Mr Corbyn plan for the coming Jeremy Corbyn’s final Commons part in the kind of televised debates Parliament to negotiate for the support of the counter-attacked: ‘She says that it is confrontation before the election held in the 2010 and 2015 elections. Northern Ireland Democratic Unionists about leadership, yet she refuses to had seen the Conservatives limbering ... and as the first debate of this On this occasion, her first questioner defend her record in television debates. up for a triumphal campaign which new Parliament began, that support was the Conservative backbencher, It is not hard to see why. The Prime would culminate in the inevitable had not been secured. Mr Corbyn Alberto Costa, who zeroed in on Minister says that we have a stronger smashing of their Labour opponents. could not resist the open goal. To his Party’s campaign theme: ‘Strong economy, yet she cannot explain why When the diminished, battered band triumphant Labour laughter he noted countries need strong economies. people’s wages are lower today than of Conservative MPs reassembled, that ‘the latest coalition may already Strong countries need strong defences. they were 10 years ago or why more minus their parliamentary majority, be in some chaos’. Strong countries need strong leaders. households are in debt. Six million for the state opening of Parliament on As the nation prepares to go to the people are earning less than the June 21st, they were chastened and ‘Nothing could emphasise that chaos polls, who else in this House, apart living wage, child poverty is up, and uncertain, while euphoria gripped the more than the Queen’s Speech we from my Right Hon. Friend, can provide pensioner poverty is up.’ occupants of the Labour benches. have just heard: a threadbare legislative

REVIEW OF PARLIAMENT | 55 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of Parliament

programme from a Government who have lost their majority and apparently run out of ideas altogether. This would be a thin legislative programme even if it was for one year, but for two years – two years? There is not enough in it to fill up one year.’

That was a reference to the Government’s decision to declare a two-year Parliamentary Session – a procedural move intended to ensure ministers could push through vital Brexit legislation in time for the exit date in March 2019. Mr Corbyn mocked the Prime Minister for dropping a series of election promises that had not found favour with the voters.

‘It is therefore appropriate to start by welcoming what is not in the speech. Jeremy Corbyn received First, there is no mention of scrapping a boost in support following the election the winter fuel allowance for millions a policy programme that enthused of pensioners through means testing. and engaged millions of people in Can the Prime Minister assure us that this election, many for the first time that Conservative plan has now been in their political lives. We are ready to withdrawn? Mercifully, neither is there offer real strong and stable leadership any mention of ditching the triple in the interests of the many, not lock. Pensioners across Britain will be the few.’ grateful to know whether the Tory The Prime Minister attempted to election commitment on that has also puncture Labour’s mood with a been binned.’ barbed welcome for Mr Corbyn’s Also absent from this slimmed down return to the Opposition benches legislative programme were the – and she reminded him that the Government’s controversial policy on Conservatives still had 56 more social care (dubbed the ‘dementia tax’ Commons seats than Labour. She said by Labour), plans to cut free school her policies were aimed at ‘grasping meals, and the promised expansion of the opportunities for every community grammar schools. in our country to benefit as we leave the European Union; it is about On Brexit, Mr Corbyn stuck to delivering the will of the British people Labour’s careful positioning in favour with a Brexit deal that works for all of a deal with the EU ‘that puts jobs parts of our United Kingdom.’ She and the economy first’. He called for said the referendum vote to leave the full access to the single market and a European Union was ‘a profound and customs arrangement that provided justified expression that our country Britain with the ‘exact same benefits’ often does not work the way it should as now. And in his final flourish he for millions of ordinary families. This warned the Prime Minister that Labour Queen’s Speech begins to change were now ‘not merely an Opposition; that, by putting fairness at the heart we are a Government in waiting, with of our agenda.’

56 | REVIEW OF PARLIAMENT CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING programme from a Government who have lost their majority and apparently run out of ideas altogether. This would Grenfell Tower be a thin legislative programme even if it was for one year, but for two years – Commons on July 3rd to announce two years? There is not enough in it to £2.5 million had been distributed fill up one year.’ from the special £5 million fund set up to help the residents. Mr Javid said That was a reference to the the public inquiry and the criminal Government’s decision to declare a investigation had to be allowed the two-year Parliamentary Session – a space to follow the evidence wherever procedural move intended to ensure it took them, and everyone should ministers could push through vital Brexit be careful not to prejudice their legislation in time for the exit date in work. Responding to the Labour March 2019. Mr Corbyn mocked the MP, David Lammy, who had lost a Prime Minister for dropping a series of family friend in the fire, he added election promises that had not found that although it was for the judge to favour with the voters. determine the scope of the inquiry, he ‘It is therefore appropriate to start by expected it to be ‘as broad and wide- welcoming what is not in the speech. Jeremy Corbyn received ranging as possible’. First, there is no mention of scrapping a boost in support following the election the winter fuel allowance for millions a policy programme that enthused Mr Javid also dealt with the key issue of of pensioners through means testing. and engaged millions of people in the authorities’ inability to say exactly Can the Prime Minister assure us that this election, many for the first time how many people had died: ‘There that Conservative plan has now been in their political lives. We are ready to Tributes for the Grenfell has been much speculation about who withdrawn? Mercifully, neither is there offer real strong and stable leadership victims came from was in Grenfell Tower on the night of across the country The fire that destroyed Grenfell Tower, any mention of ditching the triple in the interests of the many, not the fire, and it is vital that we find out. a social housing block in the London lock. Pensioners across Britain will be the few.’ The Director of Public Prosecutions Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, has made it clear that there will be no grateful to know whether the Tory The Prime Minister attempted to seemed to some to crystallise the issues prosecution of tenants ... who may election commitment on that has also puncture Labour’s mood with a that had driven the ‘Corbyn Surge’ in have been illegally sub-letting their been binned.’ barbed welcome for Mr Corbyn’s the General Election just days earlier. property, ... There may have been return to the Opposition benches Also absent from this slimmed down people living in flats that were illegally – and she reminded him that the Accusations about the neglect of legislative programme were the sub-let who had no idea about the Conservatives still had 56 more social housing tenants, chronic under- Government’s controversial policy on true status of their tenancy. Their Commons seats than Labour. She said investment and official incompetence social care (dubbed the ‘dementia tax’ families want to know if they perished her policies were aimed at ‘grasping were flying, even while the pall of by Labour), plans to cut free school in the fire. These are their sons, their the opportunities for every community smoke still hovered over the capital and meals, and the promised expansion of daughters, their brothers and their in our country to benefit as we leave the horrific images of the blaze were grammar schools. sisters. They need closure, and that is the European Union; it is about replayed on TV. the least that they deserve.’ On Brexit, Mr Corbyn stuck to delivering the will of the British people So potent was the symbolism that it Labour’s careful positioning in favour with a Brexit deal that works for all The Government was also taking became intertwined in the debates on of a deal with the EU ‘that puts jobs parts of our United Kingdom.’ She urgent action to avoid another tragedy the post-election Queen’s Speech - but and the economy first’. He called for said the referendum vote to leave the in buildings with architectural cladding the Government also committed to keep full access to the single market and a European Union was ‘a profound and similar to that which appeared to MPs informed about the aftermath, customs arrangement that provided justified expression that our country have been a factor in the Grenfell fire. the efforts to identify casualties in the Britain with the ‘exact same benefits’ often does not work the way it should Mr Javid said the early findings were wreckage of the tower, to re-house and as now. And in his final flourish he for millions of ordinary families. This disturbing: ‘So far, all the samples assist those who had lost their homes, warned the Prime Minister that Labour Queen’s Speech begins to change of cladding tested have failed – that and to set up a public inquiry. were now ‘not merely an Opposition; that, by putting fairness at the heart is 181 out of 181. ... the priority we are a Government in waiting, with of our agenda.’ So it was that the Communities now is to make those buildings safe. Secretary, Sajid Javid, came to the Where appropriate mitigating

REVIEW OF PARLIAMENT | 57 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of Parliament

measures cannot be implemented The Communities Secretary clashed quickly, landlords must provide with the Labour MP, Andy Slaughter, alternative accommodation while the who attacked the management record remedial work is carried out.’ of the local council: ‘It is an open secret in West London that the administration The Lib Dem, Jo Swinson, raised in Kensington and Chelsea could not suggestions that the fire had been run a bath. That is why the residents caused by a faulty fridge: ‘so will the of North Ken have had such a raw deal Government revisit the decision of for so long. So when will the Secretary March last year to dismiss or delay of State put country before Party and many of the recommendations of the send in the commissioners?’ Lynn Faulds Wood review into product recall, which I commissioned [as a Mr Javid retorted that Slaughter was a Coalition minister] and in particular local London MP: ‘he has an opportunity look at enforcing the regulations.’ now to put party politics aside and just Sajid Javid said the issue was do the right thing for his constituents. being addressed. His constituents are watching him.’

Last rites on the Brexit Bill

Back in March, when an election Brexit deal. That meant the Bill had seemed a distant prospect, parliament’s to return to the Commons because main focus was on the European Union both Houses of Parliament must agree (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill. This on the final wording of legislation. Bill, which would give Theresa May This is the arcane process known as the authority to begin the UK’s divorce ‘Parliamentary Ping Pong’, with each from the European Union, was forced house voting on whether to accept or on the Government after a Supreme reject changes made by the other. Court ruling that Parliamentary approval When the changes were put to MPs, was required to begin the process. the Brexit Secretary, David Davis, said Despite fears that the Bill could be they should not be accepted. On the watered down or even reshaped issue of EU citizens, he agreed that they David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting to reverse the Referendum verdict, made a vital contribution to the UK. the European Union it passed through the Commons But the issue was that the European since July 2016 unscathed. All attempts to amend, or Union would not begin talks until the add, to its 136 words were voted down. UK had begun the formal process of Predictions of a major rebellion of up leaving, so their status could not be to 50 Conservative Remainers proved confirmed. Securing their status, and unfounded, and only a handful (notably that of UK citizens living in the EU, was the arch-Europhile former Chancellor, an early priority for the forthcoming Ken Clark) defied the party whip. negotiations, he said.

But when it moved on to the House of He also rejected the second Lords, where there is no Government amendment – giving Parliament a majority and a large concentration of vote on the final Brexit deal – as pro-EU peers, the Bill was amended unnecessary, because the Government twice. One change guaranteed the had already promised a vote. And he rights of EU citizens living in the UK, was wary of a hidden agenda behind and the second promised Parliament the push for a ‘meaningful vote’, a ‘meaningful vote’ on the final warning: ‘what we cannot have...

58 | REVIEW OF PARLIAMENT CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING measures cannot be implemented The Communities Secretary clashed for other European countries to concede quickly, landlords must provide with the Labour MP, Andy Slaughter, those rights to our citizens.’ alternative accommodation while the who attacked the management record Sir Kier retorted that the wording asked remedial work is carried out.’ of the local council: ‘It is an open secret Ministers to bring forward proposals in West London that the administration within three months, and so did not tie The Lib Dem, Jo Swinson, raised in Kensington and Chelsea could not anybody’s hands. suggestions that the fire had been run a bath. That is why the residents caused by a faulty fridge: ‘so will the of North Ken have had such a raw deal Another Labour ex-Minister, Pat Government revisit the decision of for so long. So when will the Secretary McFadden, suggested that, in the March last year to dismiss or delay of State put country before Party and event of no deal being agreed, the many of the recommendations of the send in the commissioners?’ Government was seeking the authority Lynn Faulds Wood review into product to default to a trading relationship recall, which I commissioned [as a Mr Javid retorted that Slaughter was a with the EU, based on the World Trade Coalition minister] and in particular local London MP: ‘he has an opportunity Organization rules – without a Commons look at enforcing the regulations.’ now to put party politics aside and just vote. Keir Starmer warned that would be Sajid Javid said the issue was do the right thing for his constituents. the worst possible outcome, quoting the being addressed. His constituents are watching him.’ Confederation of British Industry’s view that ‘the cost of change is simply too high to even consider it’. Last rites on the Brexit Bill The leading Labour leave campaigner, Gisela Stuart, said the Government should make the status of EU citizens in the UK Back in March, when an election Brexit deal. That meant the Bill had a priority, but she opposed including the seemed a distant prospect, parliament’s to return to the Commons because issue in the Bill: ‘I shall vote against all the main focus was on the European Union both Houses of Parliament must agree amendments on the simple basis that this (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill. This on the final wording of legislation. Bill has one purpose and one purpose Bill, which would give Theresa May This is the arcane process known as Parliament, and the only: to give legal effect to the decision the authority to begin the UK’s divorce ‘Parliamentary Ping Pong’, with each general public, remain of the people on 23 June ... However, I from the European Union, was forced house voting on whether to accept or divided regarding the is any suggestion that the votes in look to the Secretary of State to give firm on the Government after a Supreme reject changes made by the other. relationship that the UK either House will overturn the result of should have with EU assurances that his top and first priority Court ruling that Parliamentary approval the referendum. That is the key point.’ When the changes were put to MPs, will be the rights of EU citizens.’ was required to begin the process. the Brexit Secretary, David Davis, said Mr Davis warned that the amendment One of the Conservatives’ leading they should not be accepted. On the Despite fears that the Bill could be ‘effectively, seeks to prohibit the Prime backbench Brexiteers, John Baron, said watered down or even reshaped issue of EU citizens, he agreed that they David Davis, Secretary Minister from walking away from of State for Exiting the Commons, in approving the EU to reverse the Referendum verdict, made a vital contribution to the UK. the European Union negotiations, even if she thinks the referendum in the first place, had made it passed through the Commons But the issue was that the European since July 2016 European Union is offering her a bad or ‘a contract with the British people ... unscathed. All attempts to amend, or Union would not begin talks until the very bad deal ... The Government will if there is a good deal, we will take it, add, to its 136 words were voted down. UK had begun the formal process of be undertaking these negotiations and and if there is not, the Prime Minister Predictions of a major rebellion of up leaving, so their status could not be must have the freedom to walk away has made it very clear that we will not to 50 Conservative Remainers proved confirmed. Securing their status, and from a deal that sets out to punish the accept a bad deal, so we move on, and unfounded, and only a handful (notably that of UK citizens living in the EU, was UK for a decision to leave the EU, as we move out of the EU.’ the arch-Europhile former Chancellor, an early priority for the forthcoming some in Europe have suggested.’ Ken Clark) defied the party whip. negotiations, he said. The Conservative, Anna Soubry, a strong For Labour, the Shadow Brexit Secretary, Remain campaigner, said her Party But when it moved on to the House of He also rejected the second Sir Keir Starmer, backed both Lords’ wanted to honour the vote to Leave: Lords, where there is no Government amendment – giving Parliament a amendments. He said protecting EU ‘now, however, we are talking about the majority and a large concentration of vote on the final Brexit deal – as citizens was a matter of principle – but sovereignty of this Parliament and about pro-EU peers, the Bill was amended unnecessary, because the Government he was challenged by the senior Labour what would happen in the event that twice. One change guaranteed the had already promised a vote. And he backbencher, Frank Field, who warned: our Prime Minister does not strike a good rights of EU citizens living in the UK, was wary of a hidden agenda behind ‘if we pass this amendment and give deal. I trust our Prime Minister ... but let and the second promised Parliament the push for a ‘meaningful vote’, those rights to European citizens here, us be under no illusion that if she does a ‘meaningful vote’ on the final warning: ‘what we cannot have... there will be no incentive whatsoever not do so, there will be no alternative but

REVIEW OF PARLIAMENT | 59 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of Parliament

WTO tariffs, regulations and rules, and a meaningful vote in Scotland about the people in my constituency certainly protecting our millennium-long history did not vote for that.’ as a European nation.’

The debate was held within hours When MPs rejected both Lords’ of the announcement by Scotland’s amendments, the Bill was sent back for First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, that immediate consideration in the House she would hold a second referendum of Lords, where David Davis came to on Scottish independence. In the watch his Junior Minister, Lord Bridges, Commons, the former First Minister, call on Peers to drop their opposition. Alex Salmond, complained that the And while the Liberal Democrat, Lord Government had broken its promise not Oates, did urge Peers to continue to trigger the formal process for leaving defying the Government, support for the EU until there was an agreed ‘UK the amendment melted away, and the approach’ backed by Scotland, and had attempt to throw it back to MPs was ignored the SNP compromise proposal once more rejected, as was the attempt to allow Scotland to stay inside the to keep the ‘meaningful vote’. The EU Single Market. And he added: final form of the Bill was settled – and ‘there might not be a meaningful vote it was sent off for the Royal Assent, in this Chamber, but there shall be un-amended.

Article 50 is triggered

The passage of the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Act cleared the way for the Prime Minister to act on the Referendum verdict and formally trigger Britain’s departure talks with the EU.

She was greeted by cheering Conservative MPs when she announced, on the 29th March, that the process had begun: ‘A few minutes ago, in Brussels, the United Kingdom’s permanent representative to the EU handed a letter to the President of the European Council on my behalf confirming the Government’s decision to invoke Article 50 of the treaty on European Union. The Article 50 process is now under way Theresa May meets with European Council and, in accordance with the wishes of which we are no longer a part, just as President Donald Tusk in the British people, the United Kingdom we do in other overseas markets – we Downing Street is leaving the European Union.’ accept that. However, we approach She added that she wanted to build these talks constructively, respectfully a close partnership with the EU: ‘We and in a spirit of sincere co-operation, know that we will lose influence over for it is in the interests of both the the rules that affect the European United Kingdom and the European economy. We know that UK companies Union that we should use this process that trade with the EU will have to align to deliver our objectives in a fair and with rules agreed by institutions of orderly manner. ... We will continue to

60 | REVIEW OF PARLIAMENT CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

WTO tariffs, regulations and rules, and a meaningful vote in Scotland about high-tech, high-wage future ... Labour the people in my constituency certainly protecting our millennium-long history will not give this Government a free did not vote for that.’ as a European nation.’ hand to use Brexit to attack rights and protections and to cut services, or to The debate was held within hours When MPs rejected both Lords’ create a tax dodger’s paradise.’ of the announcement by Scotland’s amendments, the Bill was sent back for First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, that immediate consideration in the House The SNP’s then Westminster Leader, she would hold a second referendum of Lords, where David Davis came to Angus Robertson, accused the Prime on Scottish independence. In the watch his Junior Minister, Lord Bridges, Minister of breaking her promise that Commons, the former First Minister, call on Peers to drop their opposition. Article 50 would not be triggered Alex Salmond, complained that the And while the Liberal Democrat, Lord without the agreement of the devolved Government had broken its promise not Oates, did urge Peers to continue administrations. He noted that Scotland to trigger the formal process for leaving defying the Government, support for had voted to remain in the EU: ‘On this the EU until there was an agreed ‘UK the amendment melted away, and the issue, it is not a United Kingdom, and approach’ backed by Scotland, and had attempt to throw it back to MPs was the Prime Minster needs to respect – ignored the SNP compromise proposal once more rejected, as was the attempt respect – the differences across the to allow Scotland to stay inside the to keep the ‘meaningful vote’. The nations of the United Kingdom. If she EU Single Market. And he added: final form of the Bill was settled – and Negotiations on leaving does not – if she remains intransigent ‘there might not be a meaningful vote it was sent off for the Royal Assent, the EU are expected to and if she denies Scotland a choice in this Chamber, but there shall be un-amended. take several years to be reliable partners, willing allies and on our future – she will make Scottish complete close friends. We want to continue independence inevitable.’ to buy goods and services from the EU, and sell it ours ... Indeed, in an The then Lib Dem Leader, Tim Farron, Article 50 is triggered increasingly unstable world, we must called for a second referendum on the terms of the final deal: ‘Today the continue to forge the closest possible The passage of the European Union Prime Minister is not enacting the will security co-operation to keep our (Notification of Withdrawal) Act of the people; she is at best interpreting people safe. We face the same global cleared the way for the Prime Minister that will, and choosing a hard Brexit threats from terrorism and extremism.’ to act on the Referendum verdict and outside the single market that was formally trigger Britain’s departure Jeremy Corbyn warned against leaving never on the ballot paper. This day of talks with the EU. without a trade agreement: ‘the Prime all days, the Liberal Democrats will not Minister says that no deal is better than roll over, as the official Opposition have She was greeted by cheering a bad deal, but the reality is that no done ... I am determined to be able to Conservative MPs when she announced, deal is a bad deal. Less than a year ago, look my children in the eye and say that on the 29th March, that the process had the Treasury estimated that leaving I did everything to prevent this calamity begun: ‘A few minutes ago, in Brussels, the European Union on World Trade that the Prime Minister has today the United Kingdom’s permanent Organization terms would lead to a chosen ... Surely the Prime Minister will representative to the EU handed a 7.5% fall in our GDP and a £45 billion agree with me that the people should letter to the President of the European loss in tax receipts ... It would be a have the final say.’ Council on my behalf confirming the national failure of historic proportions The Westminster Leader of the Government’s decision to invoke Article if the Prime Minister came back from Northern Ireland DUP, Nigel Dodds, 50 of the treaty on European Union. Brussels without having secured congratulated Theresa May on The Article 50 process is now under way Theresa May meets protection for jobs and living standards, with European Council delivering on the will of the people: and, in accordance with the wishes of which we are no longer a part, just as President Donald Tusk in so we will use every parliamentary ‘Is not the fundamental point that this the British people, the United Kingdom opportunity to ensure the Government we do in other overseas markets – we Downing Street United Kingdom – this Union – is far is leaving the European Union.’ are held to account at every stage of accept that. However, we approach more important for the political and the negotiations.’ economic prosperity of all our people She added that she wanted to build these talks constructively, respectfully than the European Union?’ a close partnership with the EU: ‘We and in a spirit of sincere co-operation, He said the debate had now moved know that we will lose influence over for it is in the interests of both the on to what a post-Brexit Britain would The veteran Conservative eurosceptic, the rules that affect the European United Kingdom and the European be like: ‘There are Conservatives who Sir Bill Cash, hailed what he called an economy. We know that UK companies Union that we should use this process want to use Brexit to turn this country historic day: ‘At the very heart of this that trade with the EU will have to align to deliver our objectives in a fair and into a low-wage tax haven. Labour is letter lies the democratic decision of the with rules agreed by institutions of orderly manner. ... We will continue to determined to invest in a high-skill, referendum of UK voters given to them

REVIEW OF PARLIAMENT | 61 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of Parliament

by a sovereign Act of Parliament by The former Labour Minister, Pat six to one in this House, enabling the McFadden, was less optimistic: ‘There British people to regain their birthright are two kinds of future stemming from to govern themselves for which people the process triggered today. The first fought and died over generations? ... is that we spend two years desperately Trade and co-operation, yes; European trying to secure the exact same benefits government, no.’ as we have, while gaining control of immigration, which, as Ministers have Another Conservative, Jacob Rees- suggested, may make little difference Mogg, quoted the Elizabethan hero to the numbers. In which case, people Sir Francis Drake: ‘’There must be a will ask, “What is the point?” Or there begynnyng of any great matter, but the is another future where we crash contenewing unto the end untyll it be without an agreement, defaulting to thoroughly ffynyshed yeldes the trew WTO rules with all that would mean glory’ ... I wish my Right Hon. Friend for industry, agriculture and services. In good luck and good fortune in her which case, people will ask, “What is negotiations until she comes to true the price?” So which future does she glory and is welcomed back to this think is the more likely: “what is the House as a 21st century Gloriana.’ point” or “what is the price”?’

A terrorist attack on Parliament

On the afternoon of March 22nd, as MPs were engaged in a routine vote of the Pensions Bill, a man drove his car into pedestrians just outside, killing two people and injuring dozens more, before stabbing to death a police officer who was guarding the gates to the Houses of Parliament, and he was then shot dead himself.

The sitting of the Commons was suspended and MPs were held in their Chamber for several hours, before being escorted away. When they returned the next day, they began with a minute of silence. Then the Speaker opened proceedings by expressing ‘our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the victims The attack on of this outrage. A police officer, PC Westminster was one of Keith Palmer, was killed defending us, several terrorist attacks in before us and as future generations the UK during the year defending Parliament and defending will continue to do, to deliver a simple parliamentary democracy.’ message: we are not afraid, and our The Prime Minister was heard in silence resolve will never waver in the face of as she updated MPs: ‘Yesterday, an terrorism. We meet here, in the oldest act of terrorism tried to silence our of all Parliaments, because we know democracy, but today we meet as that democracy, and the values that it normal, as generations have done entails, will always prevail.’

62 | REVIEW OF PARLIAMENT CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING by a sovereign Act of Parliament by The former Labour Minister, Pat price; a response that says to the men six to one in this House, enabling the McFadden, was less optimistic: ‘There and women who propagate this hate British people to regain their birthright are two kinds of future stemming from and evil, “You will not defeat us.” to govern themselves for which people the process triggered today. The first Mr Speaker, let this be the message fought and died over generations? ... is that we spend two years desperately from this House and this nation today: Trade and co-operation, yes; European trying to secure the exact same benefits our values will prevail.’ government, no.’ as we have, while gaining control of immigration, which, as Ministers have The Labour Leader, Jeremy Corbyn, Another Conservative, Jacob Rees- suggested, may make little difference said people should not allow the Mogg, quoted the Elizabethan hero to the numbers. In which case, people voices of hatred to divide or cower Sir Francis Drake: ‘’There must be a will ask, “What is the point?” Or there them – adding that PC Keith Palmer begynnyng of any great matter, but the is another future where we crash had given his life defending the public contenewing unto the end untyll it be without an agreement, defaulting to and democracy. thoroughly ffynyshed yeldes the trew WTO rules with all that would mean Watching impassively in the crowd of glory’ ... I wish my Right Hon. Friend for industry, agriculture and services. In MPs standing at the Bar of the House, good luck and good fortune in her which case, people will ask, “What is in the area across the Chamber facing negotiations until she comes to true the price?” So which future does she the Speaker’s Chair, was the Foreign glory and is welcomed back to this think is the more likely: “what is the Office Minister, Tobias Ellwood. He had House as a 21st century Gloriana.’ point” or “what is the price”?’ tried to save PC Palmer’s life by giving PC Keith Palmer, who died trying to stop the him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. attacker, was given a full She gave an account of the previous Many MPs took a moment to exchange police service funeral, day’s events and ended by declaring a word with him as they passed or pat A terrorist attack on Parliament and praised for his him on the arm. And many of those heroism that the best response to terrorism who spoke over the next hour praised On the afternoon of March 22nd, as was to act normally: ‘As I speak, his actions. MPs were engaged in a routine vote millions will be boarding trains and aeroplanes to travel to London and of the Pensions Bill, a man drove his Tributes and thanks came from all the to see for themselves the greatest car into pedestrians just outside, killing Party Leaders – the SNP’s Westminster city on Earth. It is in these actions – two people and injuring dozens more, Leader, Angus Robertson, the Liberal millions of acts of normality – that we before stabbing to death a police Democrats, Tim Farron, and the DUP’s, find the best response to terrorism: officer who was guarding the gates to Nigel Dodds. the Houses of Parliament, and he was a response that denies our enemies then shot dead himself. their victory, that refuses to let them The Conservative MP, James Cleverly, win, that shows we will never give had served with PC Palmer in the army The sitting of the Commons was in; a response driven by that same spoke movingly and implored the Prime suspended and MPs were held in their spirit that drove a husband and father Minister to ‘posthumously recognise Chamber for several hours, before to put himself between us and our his gallantry and sacrifice formally.’ being escorted away. When they attacker, and to pay the ultimate Theresa May promised that she would. returned the next day, they began with a minute of silence. Then the Speaker opened proceedings by expressing ‘our heartfelt condolences to the President Trump families and friends of the victims The attack on of this outrage. A police officer, PC Westminster was one of This year more than most, US came to delivering the most surprising Keith Palmer, was killed defending us, several terrorist attacks in before us and as future generations the UK during the year politics had a bearing on our own. democratic decision of 2016. defending Parliament and defending will continue to do, to deliver a simple Not only were many MPs looking parliamentary democracy.’ message: we are not afraid, and our across the Atlantic for a trade deal As recently as January 2016, a small The Prime Minister was heard in silence resolve will never waver in the face of and an enhancement of the ‘special number of MPs had gathered in as she updated MPs: ‘Yesterday, an terrorism. We meet here, in the oldest relationship’, following the decision Westminster Hall to debate whether or act of terrorism tried to silence our of all Parliaments, because we know to leave the EU. But the American not Donald Trump should be banned democracy, but today we meet as that democracy, and the values that it people themselves had managed to from entering the UK altogether. normal, as generations have done entails, will always prevail.’ outdo the British electorate when it His comments about Muslims, among

REVIEW OF PARLIAMENT | 63 others, had led to an online petition for him to be considered a ‘hate preacher’ and therefore banned from British soil. Even those who supported the motion knew there was little chance of such a ban being implemented. But few would have suspected that, just 13 months later, Parliament would be discussing the appropriateness of a state visit from President Donald Trump.

One of the first acts of the new US President was to order a blanket ban on people from a list of Middle Eastern countries travelling to the US. In the Commons, the former Labour Leader, Ed Miliband, and the Conservative, Nadhim Zahawi, joined forces to ask the Speaker for an emergency debate – and it was held that day.

Mr Zahawi, born in Iraq to Kurdish parents, arrived in the UK as a nine- year-old refugee from Saddam Nadhim Zahawi MP strongly criticised the Hussein’s regime. He is now a British was ‘deeply worried’ that the Trump administration’s citizen, but because he was born in Government had already invited travel ban on certain Iraq, he believed he came under the Muslim countries the new President to make a state Trump ban. visit to Britain: ‘It will look like an He told MPs his place of birth already endorsement of a ban that is so meant he had been required to morally wrong and that we should be go through an interview at the US standing against.’ embassy, to secure the right to travel The Conservative, Sir Simon Burns, to America, under rules imposed disagreed: ‘I think it is absolutely right by President Obama. But the new that the British Government continue restrictions were much tougher. the work of the Prime Minister to The US Government has since clarified build bridges with President Trump so that people with British passports that we can, through engagement, will not be affected by the ban, seek to persuade him and to minimise whatever the country of their birth, or reduce the danger of his more but Mr Zahawi still thought the ban outrageous policies ... I believe that was ‘wholly counterproductive’. He very little would be achieved by described how it was already being cancelling a state visit to which the used by pro-Islamic State social media invitation has already been extended accounts as ‘clear evidence that the and accepted.’ USA is seeking to destroy Islam. They The emergency debate was on a formal have even called it the “blessed ban”’. motion that MPs had ‘considered’ Labour’s Yvette Cooper, who chairs Donald Trump’s travel ban, so no call the Home Affairs Select Committee, for a policy change was voted on. others, had led to an online petition for him to be considered a ‘hate Acknowledgements preacher’ and therefore banned Images in this publication have been reproduced courtesy of the from British soil. Even those who following individuals/organisations: supported the motion knew there Laser | Flickr | European Space Agency was little chance of such a ban being BT Tower | Flickr | Paul Hudson Brexit | Flickr | Ed Everett implemented. But few would have Workshop | Flickr | Matt Harasymczuk suspected that, just 13 months later, Graduates | Flickr | Aaron Hawkins Parliament would be discussing the Young person | Flickr | IET appropriateness of a state visit from HS2 | Will Stirling Crossrail | Will Stirling President Donald Trump. Andrea Leadsom | Flickr | Department of Energy and Climate Change Wind farm | Flickr | Ian Dick One of the first acts of the new US Air quality measurer | Flickr | Shirokazan President was to order a blanket ban Pollution | Flickr | David Holt on people from a list of Middle Eastern Airbus | Flickr | Clemens Vasters Engineers | Flickr | QEClassCarriers countries travelling to the US. In the Bioprinting | Flickr | Army Medicine Commons, the former Labour Leader, Self-driving car | Flickr | smoothgroover22 Ed Miliband, and the Conservative, Nadhim Zahawi, joined forces to ask Westminster Publications is grateful to Mark D’Arcy and Will Stirling for their contributions to this publication. the Speaker for an emergency debate – and it was held that day.

Mr Zahawi, born in Iraq to Kurdish parents, arrived in the UK as a nine- year-old refugee from Saddam Nadhim Zahawi MP strongly criticised the Hussein’s regime. He is now a British was ‘deeply worried’ that the Trump administration’s citizen, but because he was born in Government had already invited travel ban on certain Iraq, he believed he came under the Muslim countries the new President to make a state Trump ban. visit to Britain: ‘It will look like an He told MPs his place of birth already endorsement of a ban that is so meant he had been required to morally wrong and that we should be go through an interview at the US standing against.’ embassy, to secure the right to travel The Conservative, Sir Simon Burns, to America, under rules imposed disagreed: ‘I think it is absolutely right by President Obama. But the new that the British Government continue restrictions were much tougher. the work of the Prime Minister to The US Government has since clarified build bridges with President Trump so that people with British passports that we can, through engagement, will not be affected by the ban, seek to persuade him and to minimise whatever the country of their birth, or reduce the danger of his more but Mr Zahawi still thought the ban outrageous policies ... I believe that was ‘wholly counterproductive’. He very little would be achieved by described how it was already being cancelling a state visit to which the used by pro-Islamic State social media invitation has already been extended accounts as ‘clear evidence that the and accepted.’ COPYRIGHT © WESTMINSTER PUBLICATIONS 2017 USA is seeking to destroy Islam. They The emergency debate was on a formal All rights reserved by Westminster Publications. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means have even called it the “blessed ban”’. without prior written permission from Westminster Publications. Westminster Publications warrants that reasonable skill and care has been used motion that MPs had ‘considered’ in preparing this publication. Notwithstanding this warranty Westminster Publications shall not be under liability for any loss of profit, business, Labour’s Yvette Cooper, who chairs Donald Trump’s travel ban, so no call revenues or any special indirect or consequential damage of any nature whatsoever or loss of anticipated saving or for any increased costs sustained the Home Affairs Select Committee, for a policy change was voted on. by the client or his or her servants or agents arising in any way whether directly or indirectly as a result of reliance on this publication or of any error or defect in this publication. Westminster Publications shall not in any circumstances be under any liability whatsoever to any other person for any loss or damage arising in any way as a result of reliance on this publication.