Opinion

ACE – the value of membership

John Turzynski

Being at the heart of industry is fundamental to the association says outgoing chairman John Turzynski

My year as ACE Chair is coming to a close, so it is the right time to reflect on the important issues facing our organisation. My thoughts are based on our meetings and conferences, and discussions with members and regional teams throughout the year.

ACE has over 100 years of experience and knowledge of what makes engineering and consultancy work for the UK and beyond. As a representative body for our members we reach out to all levels of government, our collaborators, our clients and our customers. And I have certainly been witness to that over my term of office.

In a world where work is based on relationships, our role continues to be to help you, our members, maintain and create those relationships. 

“ACE needs to continue to address the needs of both the small and medium sized consultants, and the larger consultants. Our broad range of activities will provide all members with value, both tangible and intangible.”

You may rightfully ask how ACE does this.

ACE works at a number of levels to gather knowledge of the future market and the pipeline of work to help our members position themselves to win good work. Additionally we hear from clients, both public and private, on their needs and what they seek from consultants so that we may respond appropriately.

ACE provides direct access to knowledgeable resources on business matters including legal, human resources, the business environment and legislative changes. By keeping abreast of the latest legislation, and up-to-date practise, we are able to advise our members on the range of issues affecting business, employment and compliance. This is no easy task given the pace of change, but it remains a core part of the association’s day-to-day activities.

ACE provides a focal point for discussions with other bodies where there are issues that affect our members. 

For instance the procurement of our services has become more complex, time-consuming and costly. ACE has collected information and published a report on the current landscape. This will be followed up with discussions with a range of organisations involved in procurement. It has become more evident that the costs are effectively disengaging some members from opportunities, which limits the market, the potential for widening the supplier base, the means to seek innovative organisations, and, ultimately, the route to growth.

Another area is the increasing levels of limits of liability and PII required, particularly in the public sector. These increases are adding cost, disenfranchising many firms for no benefit to clients or users. ACE is campaigning to remove these hurdles to running businesses, and the combined voice of ACE can prove to be a stronger way of influencing the recent change in attitudes.

ACE also represents members in cooperation with other organisations in the industry in front of government bodies. By combining our weight with organisations such as the ICE, CECA, RIBA, CPA etc. we collectively represent the majority of people designing and constructing the UK’s future. Through these alliances we have shown that we can influence government at all levels through NIPSEF and other bodies. This remains a prime focus for ACE in the future.

"ACE continues to make a major contribution, whether through business, technology, diversity and inclusion, or the next generation of engineers and consultants."

ACE-organised conferences are hugely successful and the list of presenters, panel members and attendees has grown form strength to strength. The subject matter is designed to suit members depending on the nature of the conference, whether national, international or for European CEO’s. They certainly pick up on issues that look forward and that will affect all of our businesses in the coming years. The conferences also provide platforms to make our collective voice heard. And, not insignificantly, they also inform the direction of ACE activities with respect to member’s needs.

ACE has pursued a strategy of broadening our business model, and has successfully launched Infrastructure Intelligence over the last two years. This has undoubtedly made a big impact on the world of infrastructure in terms of the technology of communication, which has increased awareness at all levels of all organisations involved in infrastructure. The ACE looks forward to continuing to develop Infrastructure Intelligence and ensure it remains a major contributor in the sharing of knowledge and being the forum for debate.

Over the recent years it has become clear that our membership has changed, with significant mergers and acquisitions, and continued consolidation in the market. ACE needs to continue to address the needs of both the small and medium sized consultants, and the larger consultants. Our broad range of activities will provide all members with value, both tangible and intangible. 

ACE continues to make a major contribution, whether through business, technology, diversity and inclusion, or the next generation of engineers and consultants. I am confident that the new Chair and Deputy Chairs, with the Board, will continue to make ACE fully relevant to our members in 2016 and beyond.

My thanks to the ACE Board, the ACE staff and past Chairs who have all shown their continuing dedication and support. Thank you.