Judging by the mixed weather the summer is definitely over, but that means the real work is just beginning in our industry. So, it is worth pointing out that despite some rather mixed messages in the news things might not be as bad they first appear.

In this edition of our newsletter there is news that Balfour Beatty’s joint venture with Jones Bros Ruthin (Civil Engineering) is now hoping for an autumn 2017 start on its A487 Caernarfon to Bontnewydd Bypass project in North Wales. Then there is the prequalification for the construction of the £700m South Wales Metro transport to improve public transport across Cardiff and the surrounding areas. Together these point to a positive direction for Wales in terms of our country’s infrastructure and rebuilding for future economic growth.

It also points to opportunities for Welsh construction – north and south – that wider elements of our industry can all benefit from. What’s more we are good at this kind of thing. Just a brief glimpse at our CEW Award winners form this year – see the video and please watch the interviews  – and past winners from the last ten years prove this.

Despite worries about losing EU funding for key projects because of Brexit, we can still build Wales a brighter future. CEW is pushing hard for improvements, innovations and the sharing of knowledge to take our industry and the country forward. Ideas from our waste app through to new projects within the Exemplar Programme will all serve to help build a Wales for our future generations.