icesnews

The Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES) has introduced a Graduates and Students (G&S;) Group into its membership structure, mirroring the practice in the major professional bodies in construction. The new G&S; Group aims to become the voice for students studying for qualifications in Civil Engineering Surveying, and for those who have recently graduated and are thinking about upgrading towards full Corporate Membership.

To download an MS Word doc News Release (52k file size) Click Here

Engineering Surveyors adopt higher profile at major national events

The Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES) has announced that it will attend as an exhibitor at two major upcoming industry events, reflecting a major drive to raise its profile as a qualifying body across a range of disciplines in geospatial engineering surveying.

To download an MS Word doc News Release (49k file size) Click Here

Institute of Marine Studies Receives ICES Accreditation

The accreditation by ICES of the BSc Hydrography course at the Institute of Marine Studies has been welcomed by Prof David Huntley, Head of IMS and by Harry Glennie, President, ICES.

For a copy of the news release Click Here

ICES Institution Dinner: Friday 6 September 2002, The House of Commons

The ICES Institution Dinner for 2002 will be held on Friday 6 September at the House of Commons. Announcing the news, ICES President Harry Glennie said:

"I am delighted that we shall be using the House of Commons as the venue for this years annual dinner. Our thanks are due to the Rt. Hon. Claire Curtis-Thomas MP FInstCES for gaining agreement that we may use the Members Room."

"I should like 2002 to be a landmark year for the Institution, and have decided that we shall publicise this years annual dinner as The Institution Dinner in preference to The Presidents Dinner. We shall be presenting the new Richard Carter Prize to the winning nomination for outstanding work in Geospatial Engineering (GE). The Survey Association have given their full support to this new award, and we and they are actively seeking the support of the GE community in promoting and supporting this years Dinner."

"We expect to have distinguished and entertaining after-dinner speakers, and I hope that both members and the engineering surveying community at large will support and make this years event a watershed in the development of the Institution."

National Construction Week 2002 Announced

The Construction Industry Council has announced dates for National Construction Week 2002 (NCW2002) and called for the Industry to support the initiative in order to build on the success of last years event. Full details of the press announcement can be viewed by clicking here and NCW2002 has been added to the ICES Events Calendar in order to help with regional event planning.

ICES at Oceanology International 2002

ICES will be exhibiting at Oceanology International 2002, which is to be held at the Excel Conference Centre, London Docklands from 5-8 March 2002. The ICES Stand Position will be 8/53.

The organisers have invited ICES to attend in recognition of the contribution members of the Institutions Hydrography Panel are making in the field of oceanology. Ed Danson, Chairman, ICES Hydrography Panel, along with other members of the Hydrography Group, will be in attendance throughout the event.

To visit the Oceanology International Web Site Click Here

New ICES Calendar of Events now online

The new ICES Calendar of Events is now available (Click 'Events' on ICES Home Page to view). The Calendar will include ICES events and other events we are notified of, both regional and national, and which members may wish to be aware of. The Calendar is also intended to help with planning of ICES events in order to reduce (if not eliminate!) problems which face every event organiser in avoiding clashes of dates, topics etc. and so will include entries for national holidays and so forth. For the technically inclined, the Calendar is generated from the ICES central event planning database and is able to 'refresh' to the ICES web site at virtually no extra staff time overhead. In addition, the static HTML files it generates should help in improving the number of times the ICES site is returned in search engine listings.

The presentation of data is subject to final development so you may experience some quirks. And of course, the Calendar can only present information it is aware of so do please let us know if there is information, Word document posters etc. you want made available for viewing by web visitors.

The ICES Web Working Group welcomes feedback and suggestions on the Calendar and there is an online form which is accessible from a link at the start of the Calendar.

Nuttalls chooses ICES Training Suite for in-company training

The ICES Training Suite, Sale played host to 17 delegates attending an in-company training day on 10 December as part of Nuttalls commitment to investing in the skills and knowledge of its construction professionals. Training Manager Steve Hyde commented "My prime concerns are to maximise the proportion of my budget that is directed towards the training element of Nuttalls courses, and to minimise disruption to our staff on site by delivering training at an easy to reach location. The ICES HQ at Sale is well located, has good facilities and their staff are helpful. I expect to use the Training Suite whenever we have a similar in-company training need in their catchment area. Apart from having to remind people to remove muddy boots, using a construction industry venue like ICES is the nearest thing I can get to a meeting room on site!".

For an MS Word brochure (415k size) with full details of and directions to the ICES Training Suite Click Here

ICE RAMP Conference on National Investment, 6 Feb 2002 London

The ICE-ICES Commercial Management Board is keen to encourage interest in the RAMP Conference, National Investment: Opportunities and Risks, to be held in London on 6 February 2002 at The Institution of Civil Engineers, One Great George Street.

ICES Members qualify for the concessionary delegate fee of £250+VAT (full fee is £300+VAT) but must make it clear that they are booking through the ICE-ICES Commercial Management Board. A downloadable brochure and booking form are available by Clicking Here

Have YOU seen CIDD?

The Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES) has given its full support to a major new online knowledge and services exchange for the construction industry.

CIDD (the Construction Industry Daily Digest) will offer a knowledge exchange for services, products and information across all areas of construction. CIDD claims to be the first pan-construction service to be made available online and its publishers are predicting a strong interest from subscribers and advertisers alike. Registered users will be able to benefit from a wide range of services and business exchange forums. These include opportunities to advertise services, materials, plant and equipment as well as detailing business propositions such as partnerships, franchises and land for sale. They will also be able to publicise their successes in winning contract awards as well as using CIDD services to locate or advertise sub-contract tenders, look up details of current tenders, and seek out new staff or personal employment. As part of its knowledge sharing service to construction, CIDD will also offer, free to registered users, a discussion and enquiry forum, and a 'goods for sale' service for advertising anything from old theodolites to reference books.

CIDD is also being supported by SURCO, the marketing and publications company of the ICES. Kevin Blackwell, Executive Director, ICES commented 'Our membership includes many of the top commercial and surveying managers working in UK civil engineering. E-procurement is becoming increasingly important throughout the construction supply chain, and we are delighted to give our full support to a first rate and innovative service like CIDD.'
Services available to CIDD users include:

Advertising both Regionally and Nationally

Advertising materials "For Sale" or "Wanted".

Advertising main contracting services and sub-contracting services.

Advertising plant & equipment "To Buy", "Hire", "For Sale" or "Wanted".

Detailing business propositions such as partnerships, franchises, land for sale etc.

Informing the Industry of successes in winning contract awards

Locating or advertising sub-contract tenders

Looking up details of current tenders both regionally and nationally.

Seeking out new staff or seeking out personal employment

Free discussion and enquiry forum for any construction related topic

For more details of sponsorship opportunities, or to see CIDD in action, visit www.cidd.co.uk

Nomination Form for Geospatial Engineering Award now available

Nomination Forms are now available for the recently announced ICES award for Geospatial Engineering Surveyors. Forms can be obtained from Joanne Gray at ICES HQ (Tel: +44 (0)161-972-3101 direct) or downloaded as a MS Word document (162k size)t by Clicking Here

The Richard Carter Prize will be given to the candidate who, either individually or through team leadership, is judged to have made the most outstanding recent contribution to geospatial engineering. The Prize will be presented by Harry Glennie, President of the Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors at the Presidents Dinner, due to take place in early September 2002 in London. For an MS Word copy of the latest news release Click Here

Contract Journal 21 November 2001ViewPoint - ICES Comments

Contract Journal 21 November 2001 carried the first of what we hope will be occasional contributions from the Institution, with comment on the issues and challenges facing construction industry today as seen from both the engineering surveyors and the commercial managers perspective. Our first piece was written and submitted by Mike Fort for the Geospatial Engineering Practices Committee. We expect to write again for CJ for publication early in 2002, when our piece will be submitted by the Commercial Management Practices Committee.

Other contributors to the ViewPoint column include the Institution of Civil Engineers, the House Builders Federation, the Chartered Institute of Building, and the Association of Consulting Engineers.

To view the text of the 21 November Viewpoint column Click Here. If you have thoughts or views on issues we should be commenting on, please email suggestions to Mike O'Neill at [email protected]

New and Upgrading Members Survey Highlights Reasons for Joining ICES

The new ET&M; questionnaire included with notification letters to new and upgrading members is helping to highlight what services and activities members would most like to see from ICES. In response to the questions below, respondants rated each in importance from 1 (least important) to 5 (most important). The aggregate points are given to the left of each question. Response rate to the questionnaire has been excellent.

The results give an insight into the 'core values' of the ICES membership, which clearly regards fringe benefits as considerably less relevant than profile and professional standards issues. The top priority ratings given to ICES professional reputation and the desire for ICES to adopt a higher profile suggest that ICES should work harder to promote awareness of the benefits of membership at a time when UK construction is casting a worldwide net in the search for professional skills, and applicants for work may need to demonstrate that their competence levels are being properly monitored. As previously, ICES web site services are listed as important. The contrast with the rating for events reflects the needs of a specialist professional body with a widely scattered, mobile, membership with heavy work commitments. Interest in mentoring schemes and in the growing number of companies with approved training schemes are comfortably together in mid-field, but with the number of employers applying to have in-company schemes approved, these are beginning to assume greater importance.

The summary of results is as follows. A selection of members comments on the value of ICES membership can be viewed by clicking here:

Points scored Last update: 17 Jan. 2002

110 ICES is recognised as a professional body with good regulatory procedures applied to its membership

108 ICES should adopt a high public profile in the interest of its members

105 I should like an ICES web site with valuable members services and information, that I can confidently refer clients and colleagues to

102 ICES should introduce a mentoring scheme for younger members

102 A growing number of companies are adopting ICES training schemes

92 I prefer a small, well focused Institution

84 I Iike to attend regional events, conferences, social events etc.

65 ICES should improve fringe benefits such as special professional insurance rates, discounted travel etc.

Reference Manual for Construction Plant - 7th Edition now available

The new edition of the Reference Manual for Construction Plant is now available. The manual incorporates The Surveyor's Guide to Civil Engineering Plant, widely regarded as the definitive guide on plant and prices for anyone who buys, hires, uses or undertakes valuations, including:

Plant Managers and Users
Site Agents
Resident Engineers
Planning Engineers
Quantity Surveyors
Designers and Planning Supervisors
Estimators
Commercial Managers

The Manual is an essential source of reference for all construction professionals, whether using, hiring, buying or studying the classification of plant - with its CECA dayworks schedule reference numbers printed alongside each machine for quick identification and classification! Thoroughly revised, this edition has details of over 50 different types of construction plant. Key reference data for determining dimensions, weight, power and performance are listed on over 10,000 current and recently obsolete models.

For details of all Surco publications Click Here

ICE Carol Service - Wednesday 19 December 2001

As in previous years, the Institution of Civil Engineers will be holding a Carol Service in St Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey (click here for location and map). This year the service is being held on Wednesday 19 December starting at 5.00pm. Members and staff of the Institution together with their families and friends will be attending.

Mark Whitby, ICE President-elect, has extended a cordial invitation to ICES members, staff and their families who may be in London on the day to join them at St Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey for the service, which starts at 5.00pm. After the service, mince pies and mulled wine will be served nearby in the Smeaton Room at ICE, One Great George Street, and service go-ers are most welcome to come along.

Those planning to attend are asked to notify Patrick Griffin, Council Office Manager, ICE on +44 (0)20-7665-2077.

Robert Huxford, the resident choirmaster has already started working with the singers. Choristers, professional or amateur within the ICES membership who would be prepared to join him should contact him direct on +44 (0)20 7665 2210.

Note to ICES Members: If there is an appropriate carol service in your regional that you would like notified to members on the ICES web site, please email details to [email protected]

Bingham Scores Success at Mancunian Lecture 2001

The Mancunian Lecture, held at Stretton near Warrington on 6 November, has been declared an outstanding success by Mike Conway, Chairman, ICES North West Region. Around 50 delegates, many of them visiting an ICES event for the first time, attended the event and Mike reports that there have been enquiries for ICES membership in response to the promotion of the event as well as from the event itself. Tony Bingham has been asked if he would consider presenting his talk in other ICES regions subject to his work commitments. If you would like to receive notification of any future ICES talks by Tony Bingham, please complete onscreen, print out and faxback the event enquiry form available by clicking here. Don't forget to enter 'Tony Bingham Talks' in the 'Event Title' box.

Mike Conway has announced North West Regions intention to mount another profile event in March 2002. The Mancunian Lecture will continue as an annual event held each November. In the meantime, here are one or two memorable quotes from delegates:

Very enjoyable, and refreshing to know that as a sub-contractor we are doing it right. Recorded records, records and more records....! Anon

Excellent. I really enjoyed listening to Tony, who could make accountancy sound interesting. Yes he's that good. Peter Fynn, Commercial Manager

Data Protection Act - do we have the right membership details for you?

A new form for members to use to keep us up to date on their contact details is now available online. Having the correct details on file for you is now more important than ever in view of the requirements of the Data Protection Directive. In addition to your name and address details, we need to know your preferences with regard to communications from ICES (typically email or post), and we need to make sure we have the correct email addresses on file for those wanting us to keep in touch by that method.

The form currently available can be filled in on screen but should be printed and signed before faxing or posting it to us. It is hoped to introduce a fully electronice version once we have explored the legal position with regard to electronic. The new form can be accessed by Clicking Here, and will be available shortly in the Membership section of the website.

ICES President will address ICES East Midlands Christmas Lecture 2001

ICES President Harry Glennie and Robin Jones, newly elected ET&M; Committee Chairman, will be in Nottingham on 3 December to meet with senior figures involved in the provision of further education and training relating to the civil engineering surveying disciplines. The meeting comes in the wake of news that construction workers enjoyed the highest average pay rises in industry last year at 4.5% average (source: IRS figures reported in NCE online ), 19 November 2001, and increasing awareness that the demand for construction skills is holding up well when contrasted with recent redundancies in, for example, the City.

Harry and Robin will also attend the ICES Eastern Nineteenth Annual Christmas Lecture, to be held at Nottingham Trent University on 3 December. The Lecture will be given by Professor Alan Dodson, Dean of Engineering and Director of IESSG at the University of Nottingham and well known as an entertaining and articulate speaker on geospatial engineering. Full details of the meeting can be found on the Eastern Region page within the Regions section of the ICES website.

Harry Glennie has stated his intention to visit all ICES Regions during his year in office, and he is expected to address the meeting to outline his vision for ICES future. The full wording of The Presidents Manifesto can be viewed by Clicking Here

ICES to Address the 37^th Meeting of Teachers In surveying

Paul Brown, Education & Training Officer, ICES is to speak at the 37^th Meeting of Teachers in Surveying, to be held at Newcastle University from 17-19 December 2001. The profession regards the Meeting, which is held each year at a different academic centre, as the premier event for exchange of ideas between senior lecturers and Heads of Schools of Surveying in the UK. Commenting on ICES decision to accept an invitation to address the Meeting, Paul Brown said: "Despite the economic backdrop and concern within schools of surveying over falling demand for places, I believe there is every reason to adopt a positive approach to the future of engineering surveying.

With co-ordinated input, we can effect a turnaround in the level of interest currently shown in taking up careers in the surveying disciplines. For this to happen however, it is vital that we recognise a need to improve knowledge sharing, and to co-ordinate our efforts at promoting the excellent career prospects for those prepared to train in the engineering surveying disciplines. This is the message I expect to take to Newcastle and I look forward to meeting as many members of the teaching profession as are able to join us at the Meeting."

If you plan to attend, or simply want to find out more about the 37^th Meeting of Teachers in Surveying, please email Dr Jon Mills, Dept of Geomatics at [email protected] or visit their web site at www.newcastle.ac.uk.

ICES makes Corporate Logo available to Members

ICES has decided to offer free use of the ICES Corporate Logo to members, at no charge, as an extension of membership benefits. Members wishing to use the logo, for example on headed stationery or on web site material, are asked to complete the application form (Click Here to download a MS Word document) and post or fax it back to ICES at the address shown on the form. A license to use the logo will be granted subject to the terms and conditions stated on the form. The use of the logo on corporate literature is a valuable endorsement to the accredited status of an organisation, as it reflects the high professional standards and commitment to professional development reflected in membership of ICES.

Harry Glennie is new ICES President

Harry Glennie takes office as the new President of ICES from October. Peter Heathershaw is elected Senior Vice President and John Wilding assumes the office of Junior Vice President.

Balfour Beatty Rail, Fitzpatrick sign up to ICES Approved Training Schemes

Balfour Beatty Rail and Fitpatrick Contractors have become the latest organisations to receive ICES approval for their in-company training schemes for civil engineering quantity surveyors. Both approvals have been granted in the last month and reflect the growing interest in ICES as a focused, well-regulated professional body at a time when there is growing pressure to demonstrate the competence and professional standards of commercial managers in construction. To find out more about ICES approved in-company schemes, please email Paul Brown at [email protected]

ICES Pledges Full Support for Government Health & Safety Initiatives

ICES has welcomed the Governments announcement, expressed through CIC (Provide link to CIC Health & Safety page here), that professional institutions are to play a key part in the drive to improve the poor safety record within the construction industry. Malcolm Wright, ICES Health and Safety Officer: "One of the worst years on record for accidents in construction is now drawing to a close. A clear message must be sent to everyone in the industry that health and safety should henceforth be an integral part of construction risk management, and not just an afterthought. ICES has a particularly important role to play, as many of its members operate at senior level in the commercial management of civil engineering projects, occupying key positions in relation to health and safety risk management strategies. This 'knowledge base', operating within a proactive and specialist professional body, could be especially valuable in the development of feedback mechanisms and effective strategies." For more information, email [email protected]

ICES to join the list of Contract Journal ViewPoint Contributors

Regular readers of Contract Journal will soon be able to enjoy the ICES perspective on construction issues, when the Institution joins the list of leading organisations contributing to CJ's successful new ViewPoint columns. Other contributors include the Institution of Civil Engineers, the House Builders Federation, and the Chartered Institute of Building. ICES will add a fresh look to the series, with contributions covering both the geospatial surveying and the commercial management outlook on the current state of construction.

And finally…Watch this WebSite

ICES has ambitious plans to improve the quality and currency of information available on its web site. In particular, the importance of the Web Site as an 'extranet' for members is expected to improve considerably over performance to date. Kevin Blackwell, Executive Director, ICES commented on the move: "The challenge for a specialist body like ours is to harvest, with limited resources, the very high quality of knowledge, experience and skills contained within our membership. Looking ahead, we need to make it available for transfer both within the membership and within construction at large, in order to serve the interest of our members, the construction industry, and the service we deliver to society. In doing that, the Internet has a major role to play. It is not necessary that we employ excessively expensive technology in pursuit of that goal, but that we use our resources in an imaginative and effective manner."

If you would like to give us feedback on the web site, or if you have any questions, please email them to [email protected]

To send us your Views and Suggestions on the Design and Content of the ICES Web Site
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