Build UK has been announced as the name for the representative organisation that will be formed following the merger of the UK Contractors’ Group (UKCG) and the National Specialist Contractors Council (NSCC).
The two organisations confirmed that they plan to form a combined organisation earlier this year (http://www.construction-manager.co.uk/news/ukcg-and-nscc-turn-clock-back-merger-talks/) and following “overwhelming support from members of both NSCC and UKCG to join up the contracting supply chain”, will formally vote to effect the merger next month.
The first meeting of a new strategy board has already taken place and following the vote Build UK will become operational from 1 September 2015.
An announcement on Thursday also confirmed that the new association will be led by current NSCC chief executive, Suzannah Nichol and co-chaired by Kevin Louch, managing director of Stanford industrial Concrete flooring and the current NSCC president, alongside James Wates PPCIOB, who is currently the chairman of UKCG.
The current UKCG director, Stephen Ratcliffe, is set to step down in June.
The UKCG was created in 2008 when the Major Contractors Group (MCG) and the National Contractors Federation (NCF) left the Construction Confederation, which itself was wound up in 2009. The NSCC represents 32 specialist trade associations involved in planning, design, construction, refurbishment and maintenance of the built environment.
So acronyms are out and brand names are in. Sounds more like a trade show but I’m sure we’ll quickly get used to it. https://t.co/s4AnVuWOTL
— Francis Ho (@fkyh) May 28, 2015
According to a joint statement, the move follows from calls from government to reduce the number of special interest groups in the industry.
The statement said: “Government has consistently called for a more unified voice from the industry and over the last year NSCC and UKCG have found that they share a common position on a wide range of issues, including health and safety performance, skills shortages and the image of the industry. They have also worked together on the Construction Supply Chain Payment Charter and the industry-recognised logo for card schemes.”
The NSCC’s Louch said: "I believe that by sitting around the same table we will be able to have honest conversations about how projects can be delivered more effectively and there is the definite prospect of addressing major industry issues such as pre-qualification, skills and of course payment."
The UKCG’s Wates added: "This is a huge step forward for the supply chain and, whilst there are some undeniable anxieties about how the new organisation will function, all our discussions to date have been extremely positive."
