Neil Brackenridge elected BESA President

Neil Brackenridge has been elected President of the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) for 2020/21.

He was confirmed in his role at today’s annual general meeting and takes over from John Norfolk of Imtech Engineering Services.

The MEP Regional Director Midlands & North at Wates Group was chair of the BESA North West region from 2017 to 2019 and has been BESA National Education Committee and Skills Partnership chair since 2017.

He has also worked for Imtech, CHt, SES and Rosser & Russell after commencing his career as a Craft Apprentice with Crown House Engineering. He was privileged to be recognised and chosen as the Principle Winner of the HVCA Alfred Manly Award in 2002.

In his inaugural speech, the new President said it was vital that the industry did not go back to “business as usual” following the current Covid-19 crisis and called for contractors to harness the “unity of purpose” displayed during the pandemic to create a better future.

“We saw a new model for co-operative working on the NHS Nightingale emergency hospital projects,” he told the AGM. “Let’s harness that unity of purpose to create a new collaborative model for all projects from now on.”

He said that spirit of co-operation and mutual support could also be used to inspire a whole new generation of engineers.

“Young people will be more inclined towards careers in building engineering if they see us making a difference in this way and working together for the greater good.” 

He also praised BESA for showing great “support and leadership” for the building services sector during the coronavirus outbreak, “not least with its daily webinar updates each accompanied by a wealth of information to help us all deal with this most challenging of times and provide hugely valuable clarity and guidance”.