One of the lading industry business organisation, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), is set to reveal cautious optimism in the sector when it publishes its annual State of Business report in September. Findings from the 32-page report, compiling answers from an extensive sample of members surveyed over five main sections, indicate that while the current economic climate is challenging, there are still opportunities for growth in the consultancy and engineering sector.

One of the leading business organisations, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), has called for urgent talks with banks on prioritising affordable credit for small businesses. Historically low interest rates are not being passed on to businesses, and over half of ACE members have reported that credit has become more difficult to obtain than in 2008. Unrealistically expensive credit is having serious repercussions on the consultancy and engineering sector, particularly due to private sector projects being delayed or abandoned because of lack of finance.

The Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) welcomes the Government’s intention to create 10,000 new, fully-funded higher education places – but sounds a note of caution on the reduction of the student loan repayment holiday. ACE has long argued that it is crucial for UK plc to have the sufficient skills to ensure Britain can rebuild a sustainable future. As part of this strategy ACE proposed funded places in higher education for engineering at the 2008 party conferences.

One of the leading construction industry business associations, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering, has called for a common sense of purpose in the fight against climate change. Following the recent publication of the Government’s Low Carbon Transition Plan, ACE – which represents the engineering consultancies that will be driving the delivery of low carbon developments – has expressed its disappointment at the continued fundamental disagreements over the way forward.

Leading construction industry business association, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), has encouraged members to take part in its annual State of Business Report once more this year. Any member firm that has not yet participated should complete the questionnaire before 30 June to ensure they have their say in the midst of the current economic turbulence.

One of the leading construction industry business association, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), has welcomed the recent commitment from Transport for London (TfL) not to include fitness for purpose requirements in their current framework for professional services. Responding to concerns raised by ACE, it has agreed to use the “reasonable skill and care” standards common to many professional service contracts.

New standard appointment agreements for consultants and engineers, the ACE Agreements 2009 editions, are selling like hot cakes following their launch this week, leading construction industry business association, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering, (ACE) said today. The new range of ACE Agreements, packaged in a new easy-to-use tear-off form format and sold in packs of five, have been developed following extensive discussions and collaboration with legal experts and users of the existing agreements, which have been the industry standard for decades.

Consultancy and engineering firms are biting their collective nails for the next three weeks following the announcement today by the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) of the shortlist for the annual ACE Engineering Excellence Awards. Public projects are prominent in almost every category, reinforcing ACE's oft-projected view that continued investment by the government is essential in the current economic climate.

Leading construction industry business association, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) has given a cautious welcome to today’s Budget statement but says the government must give much clearer details of its spending plans if it is to tackle the serious challenges facing a construction sector reeling from the current recession.

Leading construction industry business association, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), has described a recent judgement in the Scottish courts as a significant step in tackling unfair liability on consultants in construction contracts. Lord Glennie, issuing his decision in the case of Langstane Housing Association Ltd v Riverside Construction (Aberdeen) Ltd and others, gave the green light to include net contribution clauses in duty of care agreements, according to ACE.

Leading construction industry business association, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) has called on chancellor Alaistair Darling to keep his promises to continue investment in the built environment by announcing a programme of strategic investment in the construction sector when he announces his latest Budget on 23 April 2009.

Leading construction industry business association, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), today asked whether Tesco was boosting its record profits by forcing its construction suppliers, including consultancy and engineering firms, to accept draconian cuts in fees for their services.

Leading construction industry business association, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), has urged the Scottish Government to take decisive action to stave off a potential meltdown in the Scottish construction sector this summer. Following reports this week highlighting the apparent reluctance of the Scottish Government to accelerate progress on the Scottish Futures Trust, which aims to provide an alternative to current arrangements for the funding of public infrastructure projects, ACE Scotland chairman Jim Tod echoed the views of the Scottish Building Federation in emphasising a number of major projects which are due to end over the next six months.

Leading construction industry business association, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), has urged its member firms to use the power of the pen and write to their local MPs in a bid to prompt the government into supporting the construction industry with increased investment in infrastructure projects and the built and natural environment.

Leading construction industry business association, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) has expressed its concerns to the Bank of England that the promised fiscal stimulus is not taking effect. In a meeting on 30 March 2009 with Pauline Finlay, Bank of England deputy agent for the West Midlands and Oxfordshire, ACE said that urgent action was required by the Bank of England and the banking sector in general to break the logjam that is having serious repercussions for Britain’s construction industry.

Four ACE member firms were amongst the winners of the NCE/ACE Consultants of the Year Awards held at Claridge’s in London on 20 March 2009. The event, which recognises exceptional work in the consultancy and engineering sector which goes above and beyond the norm, also saw BDP’s Laura Bayliss claim the title of Young Consultant of the Year and Lynden Cable of WGP walk away with the gong for Outstanding Achievement.

....and urge banks to step up lending. Leading industry business association, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), has welcomed the latest round of government support for the UK economy announced by business secretary, Lord Mandelson but urged banks to do more to improve credit provision to firms.

Scott Wilson chairman Geoff French is the new chairman of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), following his election by ACE’s board of directors. French is the 93rd chairman of ACE and will hold the position for one year. He said: “I am looking forward to building on the significant achievements over several years at ACE, which has seen the organisation establish itself as an association of choice for most of the leading players in our sector, and to facing up to the challenges that 2009 will bring.

Leading construction industry business association, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) has reacted to chancellor Alistair Darling’s pre-budget report by welcoming government measures to alleviate pressures caused by the economic crisis while emphasising that plenty more can still be done to safeguard the future of consultancy and engineering firms.

Consultancy and engineering firms have called on the Northern Ireland Executive to take rapid and decisive action to break the log jam that is delaying millions of pounds of construction work. "Money needs to be spent now to boost spending to support our embattled economy and to safeguard thousands of construction jobs that are essential to Northern Ireland's continued prosperity," said Nelson Ogunshakin, chief Executive of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE).

Hugh Edwards presents the inaugural ACE Engineering Excellence Awards. The winners of the inaugural ACE Engineering Excellence Awards were announced before a packed industry gala dinner event at the Renaissance Chancery Court Hotel, London on Wednesday 25 June 2008. ACE established the awards to give consultancy and engineering firms a platform to raise their profile and promote their work to a wide audience.

UK consultancy and engineering firms have welcomed the appointment of Graham Dalton (pictured right) as the next chief executive of the Highways Agency, in a statement issued today by leading industry business group, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE).

Consultancy and engineering firms are on tenterhooks for the next three weeks following the announcement today by the Association for Consultancy and Engineering of the shortlist for the inaugural ACE Engineering Excellence Awards. With over 140 entries across nine categories, the judges had a difficult task in shortlisting entries. However, following a mammoth judging session at ACE's offices, they have decided on a shortlist of five in every project category.

Leading business association, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) has announced its dismay at government proposals to give agency workers equal rights to permanent staff after 12 weeks in a job. ACE chief executive Nelson Ogunshakin said, “In times of economic uncertainty this country needs a flexible workforce that can be quickly matched to changing economic conditions. This proposal will tie the hands of British consultancy and engineering firms when they least need it.”

Leading business association the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) has called for stronger commitments from government on training and skills for the engineering sector, while welcoming moves to strengthen construction contracts and reform immigration laws. Responding today to the government’s draft legislative programme for 2008/09, ACE chief executive Nelson Ogunshakin said, “The consultancy and engineering industry welcomes the government’s plan for reforms to the Construction Act."

Leading construction industry business association, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), today warmly welcomed prime minister Gordon Brown’s go-ahead for the £16 billion Crossrail scheme to build a new railway through the centre of London.