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President's Column April 2026
13 Apr 2026
The regional meetings of the BCSA always contain an agenda item on the state of trade, which often prompts a lively discussion. It’s fair to say that for a long period of time now members have been fairly downbeat regarding future prospects, facing reduced workload and projects just not progressing. However, since the start of this year there have been encouraging signs that the construction market has finally turned a corner and at last, I like many others, was able to report some increased optimism for the coming six months. However, between filling in the report and attending the Irish regional meeting at the start of March, the USA and Israel attacked Iran and everything changed overnight.
President's Column March 2026
16 Mar 2026
The BCSA has recently sent out a request for volunteers to help establish a Quality Group as it has been acknowledged that a lack of focus on this key discipline represents a gap in support for members. Within the wider construction industry, we are witnessing an enhanced focus on supply chain competence and the hope is that this specialist group will provide benefit to all our members.
MP visit puts spotlight on digital innovation in steelwork construction sector
26 Feb 2026
Catherine Atkinson MP visited global construction software specialist STRUMIS Ltd at its offices in Derby to meet industry representatives and discuss skills, training and the future of UK steelwork construction.
President's Column February 2026
16 Feb 2026
At the end of my last column I asked readers to think about what they could do to help both the BCSA and the wider UK structural steelwork industry. As is often the case, an opportunity has arisen straight away with the decision to procure Chinese fabricated steel for the Net Zero Teesside (NZT) project. The BCSA has requested that every member contacts their local MP to raise awareness of this threat to our industry which employs over 100,000 people in the UK and quite simply the more letters sent to MPs the better.
MP highlights Welsh manufacturing strength during visit to Shufflebottom
06 Feb 2026
Dame Nia Griffith, MP for Llanelli, has praised the contribution and potential of Wales’ constructional steelwork sector after visiting leading steelwork fabricator Shufflebottom at its headquarters in Llanelli.
President's Column January 2026
05 Jan 2026
In my first column of 2026, I’d like to wish all of our membership a happy New Year, which will hopefully be busier and more prosperous for all. Except for a few notable exceptions, I doubt whether many of our members will be too sorry to see the passing of 2025 and as they say, things can only get better.
MP puts spotlight on West Midlands steelwork during Angle Ring visit
04 Dec 2025
Antonia Bance, MP for Tipton and Wednesbury, has praised the strength and potential of the UK’s constructional steelwork sector following a visit to specialist steelwork fabricator, Angle Ring in Tipton.
President's Column November/December 2025
11 Nov 2025
I live in Northern Ireland (NI) with a home a mere 5 miles from the UK’s only international land border which, post Brexit, is now also a border with the EU. The presence of this land border has little impact on the day-to-day movement of people, but eff orts to maintain the movement of trade across the whole of Ireland caused some unique problems for consumers in NI.
President's Column October 2025
16 Oct 2025
Before the summer break, BCSA members were reporting improved optimism for the future, but unfortunately, the latest round of Regional Meetings have featured a widespread dip in confidence. Members are reporting a quiet summer, difficult trading conditions and little sign of growth in the immediate future.
MP Sir Alec Shelbrooke champions innovation in British engineering during visit to Stage One
08 Oct 2025
Sir Alec Shelbrooke, MP for Wetherby and Easingwold, has praised the role of Yorkshire manufacturing after visiting Tockwith-based, Stage One Creative Services.