CONTENTS 25.08-01.09.11
New Civil Engineer
lst Floor,GreaterLondonHouse HampsteadRoad,LondonNWl 7EJ EDITORIALENQUIRIES Email: prefixplus @emap.com EDITOR1Antony Oliver (020) 77284541 antony.oliver DEPUTYEDITOR1MarkHansford (020)77284543 mark.hansford CHIEFSUBEDITOR1AndyBolton (020)77284537 andy.bolton NEWSEDITOR1AlexandraWynne (020) 77284540 alexandra.wynne ONLINEEDITOR1JoStimpson (020) 77284544 jo.stimpson REPORTER1DeclanLynch (020) 77284546 declan.lynch
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25.08-01.09.11 NEWCIVILENGINEER:3 TM
next edition of NCE will be published on 8 September1/1-"
) 8'5'S'
14
(OVERSTOR' Plant
Massive breakers in action on a Woolwich demolition site
SUPPLEMENT
Contradors File'
Rankings and listing for civil engineeringcontractors
20
SPOTUGHT
Movement monitoring
Work on a new extension for the British Museum
Alsointhis issue
05 News
Codes under scrutiny as temporary structures collapse
06 News
Riots dallage round up
08 Digest
A snapshot of the civil engineering week
10 Analysis
Contractors hang on to staff despite downturn
12 Letters
Mudslides, High Speed 2, Aid for Africa
18 ItlENews
8SG demolition, President's apprentices
Comment
'Antony Oliver
www.infmtructure-showcom
1
Il
the1nfrastructureshow
17-19 Odoter 2011. ,~EC 8irminqham
"5uch public
wondermentaround
.
infrastrudure 5sfantastic for civil engineering"
Confidence depends on investment in qualil, infrastructure
This week l enjoyed the silver lining from my botched effort to buy tickets for the 2012 Olympie Games during the May lottery and subsequent nrst corne nrst sel'ved scramble.
Having suffered Iwo months of ridicule at home for buying tickets for an Olympie event in the wrong year, it is fair to say that, having attended the London Prepares trial basket- ball event, the Oliver family is now not only hooked on this sport but vert excited about the real thing hitting London next year.
Key to rescuing success from the jaws of disasterwas the trip to the Olympie Park.
Certainly it is not yet nnished and that me ans that the user experience of emerging into an Olympic sportingwonderland is tempered by the need to catch a couple of rather ordinary shuttle buses. But, even during a visit to the comparatively ordinary basketball arena, the infrastructure is the star.
Normally my commentary on visible construction activities is ignored during
family journeys. Suddenly it was greeted by
"oooo"s, "wow"s and "look at that"s as each new venue rolled in to view. Up and clownthe bus itwas a similar story as people craned ta catch a first glimpse of the Park.
Such public wonderment around infra- structure is fantastic for civil engineering and fortunately is not limited to the Olympics, as l was reminded during a recent visit to the new King's Cross Western Ticket Hall.
This spectacular piece of work will soon j oin the growing ranks of truly world class, jaw- droppingly good design and construction now appearing across the UK.
The shortlist for this year's British Construction Industry Awards demonstrates that despite the pressures on the public puIse we are still capable of investing in quality.
Qùality that turns heads, boosts confidence and ultimately underpins economic growth.
Government must remain focused on poli- cies and actions that support the development
of this infrastructure but that also, perhaps more i111portantly,create the conndence private investors need to get involved.
As this year's NCE ContractaIsFile points out, the UK remains a tough market for civil engineering. However, as it also demon- strates, contractors remain confident that there are Fronts and growth to be made froID quality products and services.
Confident enough to continue to invest in and secure the skills needed for the future.
My recent trips ta the Olympie Park and King's Cross, plus half a dozen BCIA judging visits around the UK reminded me that we unquestionably have the skills and determi- nation to lead the world in infrastructure.
Yet as the latest A-Ievel students secure their university places, we must ensure that engineering and the creation of stunning infrastructure remains a credible career option down the hile.
!III!IAntony Oliver is NCE's Editor
