The Engineering Construction Industry is critical to the success of the UK economy.   The stakeholders in this industry construct and maintain vital projects such as power stations, oil and process plants and deliver other large scale infrastructure investments. The means of managing labour relationships to ensure completions to time and budget has rested with the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry since 1981.  At that time this agreement was ground breaking, and throughout the period since it has enjoyed considerable success.

The NAECI was subject to a significant review which took effect in 2007.  Notwithstanding that, it remains dynamic and the Signatories to it have once more recognised the need to increase its range and flexibility to meet today's challenges. At this time we are working together to manage a dip in Engineering Construction , as we progress, there is no doubt that we will be entering a busy and challenging period as the UK builds its way out of a projected and serious energy gap.

The confidence of our clients has been shaken by the events of 2009 but the NAECI is a solid and supportive Agreement that brings benefits to all its stakeholders and I am confident that it will remain the agreement of choice for engineering construction provided we deliver what it promises.

The challenge to us all is to demonstrate that we can work effectively within NAECI, that we can work together to ensure our projects are productive and free from damaging unprocedural action.  That we will complete on time and within budget. That is the recipe for success for both the Engineering Construction Industry and our collective Agreement - the NAECI.