The Construction Employers Federation (CEF) recently joined with the Institute of Water to mark 80 years of collaboration between the construction and water sectors at an event in Parliament Buildings, Stormont.

The gathering brought together contractors, clients, suppliers and elected representatives to highlight the crucial role construction plays in maintaining and upgrading water and wastewater infrastructure.

Northern Ireland Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins MLA addressed attendees, stressing the importance of a long-term, reliable investment pipeline to increase capacity and enable the delivery of new homes and economic growth. The Minister spoke directly with contractors and industry members about the challenges faced in keeping projects on track without certainty of funding.

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The event also heard from CEF President Bryan Vaughan and Institute of Water Area President Ronan Larkin, who emphasised the strong record of delivery achieved by the industry and the need for continued collaboration to meet future demand.

The programme blended two complementary sessions 'Looking Back' and 'Looking Ahead' pairing lessons from delivery to date with a forward focus on digital tools, modern methods and the skills that will matter most in the decade ahead. Apprentices and early-career professionals also joined a lively panel discussion to share on-site perspectives and their vision for a sustainable industry.

Discussing the event, CEF Chief Executive Mark Spence, said: "We were delighted to partner with the Institute of Water to spotlight 80 years of partnership and the people, especially our apprentices and early-career professionals, who are shaping what comes next. It was a pleasure to welcome Minister Liz Kimmins and to continue a constructive dialogue on the dependable, multi-year pipeline needed to unlock capacity.

"We look forward to building on this engagement as we work with partners to turn commitment into capacity and further enable vital homebuilding and investment."