Uma Shanker – December Overview
I am delighted to be able to address the industry and its people that drive East and West midlands forward, particularly at a time like this.
Let me first acknowledge the brilliant set of entries we have had this year and also thank our judges. My warmest congratulations to our winners.
May I also thank our sponsors for their support during these challenging times.
This time last year was different…was it not? Here we are a year later and what a different world we live in. A global pandemic, BREXT, the challenge of our generation to get to Net Zero Carbon to save our planet and deep and meaningful questions about racial and other inequalities following the events in the US.
Despite these challenges, we’ve kept sites going and reimagined the way we work…whether it’s embracing zoom and teams for communications, redesigning operations to make our sites Corvid safe and deploying COVID cops, rewiring supply chains to make them more resilient, deeply questioning old habits like driving and flying everywhere and throwing up Nightingale hospitals.
As a region, we are well placed.
Firstly, there is huge investment going in with major infrastructure programmes such as HS2, Roads, Rail, Utilities and Green Recovery…and on the back of that will follow the investment into the built environment…add to that Coventry City of Culture and 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Secondly, we have a tremendous talent pool operating out of some world class organisations be they in manufacturing, client, consultancy, construction or academic institutions.
I hope as a collective we will be determined and driven, and look to leave a positive legacy on this period of lockdown…our challenge is to seize the moment and change our sector and region forever. Indeed, as the government would put it, to build back better.
CE Midlands will continue to play a vital role in supporting our members, driving the right debates and enabling growth, innovation and productivity in our region through our hubs, clubs and leadership dinners and celebrating and recognising our fantastic projects and people.
Thank you all for your continued support, good luck and wish you all a prosperous and safe new year ahead.
Uma Shanker, Chair CE Midlands
