CECA NW selects new chairman

Adrian Taylor, senior director at Eric Wright Civil Engineering, was elected chairman of the Civil Engineering Contractors' Association North West at the association's AGM this week.

After serving as vice chairman for two years, Taylor succeeded Joe Fitzgibbon of Manchester-based Centum. His new vice chairman is William Pye of Longridge-based William Pye Ltd, who was also elected at the AGM.

CECA North West member companies turn over £2.2bn between them and employ approximately 19,200 people in the region.

Taylor has worked for 25 years in the industry and has experience of highways, utilities and bridges construction projects. He worked for Kier and Henry Boot Construction before joining Eric Wright Civil Engineering in 1998. He was promoted to Director in 2005 and Senior Director in 2013.

Taylor said his focus for the year ahead will be on skills and training, and the need to attract more young people into the industry, to combat growing skills shortages.

He said: "CECA's role is all about addressing the needs of its members, and ensuring contractors that build and maintain the UK's infrastructure are supported effectively in order to meet their clients' aspirations. It is an honour to be elected chairman, and I look forward to playing an integral role in the organisation's activities, particularly focusing on the future of civil engineering, and how we attract young people into the sector."

Guy Lawson, director of CECA NW, said: "With his extensive knowledge and experience of the civil engineering sector, Adrian will play a vital role in ensuring that the region's civil engineering businesses maintain and continue to develop a strong voice in the North West and beyond. His contribution to the work of CECA NW has been invaluable, and I look forward to working with him as the industry climbs out of recession and starts to address the capacity issues that are so important to ensuring projects are delivered safely and effectively for its many clients."