By Phil Slinger – CAB Chief Executive
It has now been two years since our last physical meeting that took place at the Imperial War Museum, Salford on the 24th October 2019. We are looking forward to welcoming our members and guests to a day of networking and discussion culminating in an evening dinner. For myself, it will be a chance to meet our members for the first time since joining CAB and listen to their concerns about the Industry and how the Association can help.
To say the Industry at the moment is faced with challenges, is possibly an understatement, with many claiming that we have a ‘perfect storm’; a high demand for product, but with serious supply chain problems across all sectors. A topic we will all have a view on and, no doubt, we will all be discussing when we all meet.
We have an excellent speaker line-up for the Leeds meeting which I am sure will help add to the industry debate:
The Rt Hon Esther McVey MP. Currently MP for Tatton, Esther was Minister of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Secretary of State for Work & Pensions and Minister of State for Employment and worked with three Prime Ministers; David Cameron, Theresa May & Boris Johnson. Esther will discuss the ins and outs of the lobby / consultation process from an ex minister’s point of view. Before her political career, she was a director of her family’s Construction business and TV presenter and producer. Esther always provides an interesting and informative speech and Q&A session.
Andy Boutle, Head of BIM at Keir Construction and engagement co-lead for UK BIM Alliance. Andy will talk about digital transformation and information management across the UK built environment sector. He will explain UK BIM Alliance aims to ensure BIM becomes business as usual whilst at the same time, transforming and future proofing the way the sector work. Andy has over seventeen years’ experience in the construction industry, with a background in mechanical engineering, project management and CAD, working for both consultants and contractors.
Uday Patel, Senior Research Manager, Global Aluminium Markets at Wood Mackenzie. Uday will present an authoritative and enthusiastic talk on the short to medium-term outlook for the aluminium market. Power restrictions in China is adding to concerns over the medium term outlook for production growth, whilst in the rest of the world, the shift to greater usage of low-carbon metal is also creating tightness in availability. Is the aluminium industry heading for a supply crunch over the next ten years? Uday will assess the impact of the many factors affecting the aluminium market having over thirty years of experience in the metals and mining sector. Uday joined Wood Mackenzie in 2014 and during his career has worked on a range of projects in both the upstream and downstream aluminium sectors, including detailed market studies, cost analyses and strategic advisory work for clients.
The event is going to be well attended by members and their guests, there are still some places available so call Jesica at CAB if you are interested in joining us, and if you are not a member, you could see what you are missing! The Armouries venue also offers a welcome backdrop with its impressive collection of warcraft through the centuries.
The Association continually supports the wider industry with technical support across the aluminium fenestration supply chain and staff are on hand at the CAB offices to answer any questions. Information is regularly updated on the CAB website at www.c-a-b.org.uk and for Association Membership enquiries and should you wish to attend the members meeting as a guest of CAB, please contact Jessica Dean at the CAB offices by email jessica.dean@c-a-b.org.uk or telephone 01453 828851.
