New alliance to replace SEC Group

The Specialist Engineering Contractors’ (SEC) Group will come to a close early in 2021, however, a new engineering services sector alliance will be launched. The new initiative will encompass a wider scope of activity, including key industry themes such as zero net carbon, skills, and building safety.

The new UK engineering services sector alliance, which will launch in early 2021, is being created by engineering services member bodies of SEC Group. The new alliance, which will include contracting businesses and professionals from across the engineering services sector, will aim to work closely with industry bodies and initiatives across all four nations of the UK.

Throughout its history, SEC Group has been the only body exclusively representing the interests of specialist engineering contractors across the UK and has campaigned to improve the construction industry supply chain trading environment, not least for SMEs which contribute most value to industry projects.

SEC Group’s influence has been acknowledged as being a significant driver for achieving change throughout the construction industry. A key and crucial role in the 1996 Construction Act and subsequent legislation to help eliminate industry bad practices and support the supply chain by improving payment security; championing project bank accounts; promoting new models of procurement that facilitate true collaboration through focus on quality and value while minimizing waste; and a continuous campaign to end the outdated practice of retentions and protect payment to supply chains.

Speaking on behalf of SEC Group members, Steve Bratt, CEO of engineering services body ECA said: “We would like to express our gratitude to the highly effective SEC Group team for their remarkable contribution to our sector and to the wider industry. Initiatives driven by SEC Group and industry partners over many years have significantly improved the commercial landscape for the construction supply chain.”