Speculation is growing over who will be appointed to the role of Chief Construction Adviser, a role the Government has announced it wants in place by November 2009.
It has been reported this week that a number of individuals have registered their interest in the role. These include Rudi Klein, best known as the chief executive of the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ (SEC) Group and a keen advocate of sub-contractor rights. (Readers may remember the amendments the SEC repeatedly proposed to the LDEDC Bill 2008 as it made its way through Parliament. They may also recall that those amendments were repeatedly rejected.)
Vaughan Burnand, chairman of Constructing Excellence, has also registered his interest in the role. Other names being mentioned include BRE chief executive, Peter Bonfield and former OGC head, Sir Peter Gershon.
It has been suggested that the appointee may not need construction industry experience. With this in mind, PLC Construction proposes Prince Charles as the ideal candidate. His Royal Highness is well known for his views on modern architecture and inner city development. He is also a keen promoter of environmental issues, with the development of his eco-friendly village at Poundbury, Dorset.
The construction industry is responsible for a large part of the country’s GDP and, as such, is an important part of the economy. No matter who is appointed to the role, they face the unenviable task of securing value for money from government procurement of construction, while promoting innovation and sustainability in the industry. Presumably, they will also be required to work with the current construction minister. As that role changes regularly, that may prove to be one of the new Chief Construciton Adviser’s hardest tasks.
Let us know what you think of the candidates, or if you have any suggestions of your own.
Construction News has reported that Graham Watts, the chief executive of the Construction Industry Council (CIC), wants to see the role of Chief Construction Adviser filled by a relatively young director of an industry firm, rather than a representative from a trade body:
“This person has got to be impartial – but we have all got baggage, we have all got members. It should not be somebody running a trade association or an umbrella body. In fact, I think we should be ineligible. It should be a non-executive director from a big construction firm, project management company, consultancy or civils group.”
Construction News has reported that Graham Watts, the chief executive of the Construction Industry Council (CIC), wants to see the role of Chief Construction Adviser filled by a relatively young director of an industry firm, rather than a representative from a trade body:
“This person has got to be impartial – but we have all got baggage, we have all got members. It should not be somebody running a trade association or an umbrella body. In fact, I think we should be ineligible. It should be a non-executive director from a big construction firm, project management company, consultancy or civils group.”
Building has reported that more names have been put forward for the role of Chief Construction Adviser. Among them, Sir John Egan, author of Rethinking Construction, and Lord Browne, the former chief executive of BP.
Building has reported that more names have been put forward for the role of Chief Construction Adviser. Among them, Sir John Egan, author of Rethinking Construction, and Lord Browne, the former chief executive of BP.
…and then there were two, or so it has been reported in Building.
…and then there were two, or so it has been reported in Building.
Paul Morrell OBE, former senior partner of Davis Langdon and deputy chair of CABE, has been appointed as the Chief Construction Adviser (CCA).
Construction Minister, Ian Lucas said:
Paul Morrell OBE, former senior partner of Davis Langdon and deputy chair of CABE, has been appointed as the Chief Construction Adviser (CCA).
Construction Minister, Ian Lucas said:
Paul Morrell has been interviewed by Construction News and Building about his new role. One of his priorities is to focus on the Low Carbon Construction Review, announced by Lord Mandelson.
Paul Morrell has been interviewed by Construction News and Building about his new role. One of his priorities is to focus on the Low Carbon Construction Review, announced by Lord Mandelson.