CONSTRUCT forms new alliance with MPA

Trade body for the concrete structures sector affiliates with the Mineral Products Association

BRITAIN’s structural concrete contractors have formed a new alliance with concrete producers, strengthening the industry’s voice on key issues such as safety, standards, and sustainability.

CONSTRUCT, the trade association for the concrete structures sector, has affiliated with the Mineral Products Association (MPA), which counts among its 500 members the vast majority of UK’s ready-mixed and precast concrete producers, plus all cement manufacturers and most aggregates suppliers.

Representing nearly 80% of UK concrete frame contractors, CONSTRUCT is dedicated to improving the safety and efficiency of building in-situ concrete structures, from high-rise homes and offices to the infrastructure that supports transport, energy, and water systems.

Concrete is the only structural material whose raw ingredients are sourced almost entirely from within the UK and – over the whole life of a building – concrete outperforms the alternatives economically and environmentally.

The new affiliation, which comes just three weeks after the MPA’s merger with British Precast, means that CONSTRUCT will work closely with MPA sub-groups The Concrete Centre and BRMCA on continuous improvement and standard-setting in areas such as specification, innovation, and sustainable construction.

Also, in partnership with CITB, CONSTRUCT will also continue to deliver best-practice training in health, safety, and well-being, as well as the technical knowledge and skills needed for structural concrete installation.

Heading up CONSTRUCT is newly appointed general manager Ian Burnett, who has more than 40 years’ experience in the sector. After starting out as a labourer, formworker, and concreter, Mr Burnett developed his career as a steelfixer, working on multiple sites including the Dartford Bridge, Stansted Airport, Limehouse Link, and HS1. He then worked as a health and safety manager for key contractors on projects such as The Shard, Leadenhall Building, 120 Fenchurch Street (‘Walkie Talkie’) and Heathrow Terminal 2. Prior to starting with CONSTRUCT he was lead trainer and health and safety manager for a private training provider.

The new partnership means CONSTRUCT will move to a new base at the MPA’s headquarters in Victoria, London, and will share support services such as finance, IT, and human resources.

Neil Marney, chairman of CONSTRUCT, said: ‘We’ve been working alongside MPA The Concrete Centre for several years, but this new closer affiliation will give our members in the structural concrete sector access to a wealth of product knowledge, experience, and resources.

‘Joining forces also supports stronger synergy and alignment between concrete producers and specialist contractors so we can continue to raise the bar when it comes to improving safety, standards, and sustainability, as well as awareness of the tremendous benefits of building structures with concrete.’

Nigel Jackson, chief executive officer of the Mineral Products Association, said: ‘We’re delighted that CONSTRUCT has affiliated with the MPA. Concrete is essential to the delivery of our current and future social and economic infrastructure. The UK concrete industry is already a global leader in areas such as safety, innovation, decarbonization, recycling, and biodiversity gain. In striving to further improve performance and productivity, we recognize the need to look beyond production and work with our supply chain.

‘Our new partnership with CONSTRUCT represents another important step in bringing together different parts of our industry in our common goal to develop and maintain the highest standards of productivity and project delivery across the construction sector and promote the essential role this amazing and under-appreciated material plays in our economy and our quality of life.’

Through its advocacy vehicle UK Concrete, the MPA is the leading voice for the concrete industry, which plays a vital role in sustainable construction and addressing the challenges of climate change.

The UK concrete and cement industry has already reduced absolute carbon emissions by 53% since 1990 – faster than any other sector of the economy – and the merger will unite the sector behind its ambitious ‘Roadmap to Beyond Net Zero’ by 2050.