Arup’s Alan Belfield to head up key partnership between industry and government

Arup group chair Alan Belfield has been appointed to jointly led the Professional & Business Services Council (PBSC) which works closely with sector leaders, trade associations and professional bodies to make sure that the voice of the sector is heard by government.

Belfield takes over the role from Deloitte UK chair Nick Owen and will undertake the task together with Lord Grimstone of Boscobel Kt who is minister for investment jointly at the Department for International Trade and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.

PBSC’s remit spans accountancy, actuarial, advertising, architecture, consultancy, engineering, law, recruitment and surveying.

Belfield said: “The PBSC sector is crucial to the government’s agenda across a number of fronts – from achieving net zero emissions, through reducing regional inequalities, to boosting international exports. The PBSC has played a major role in recent years in helping forge a better understanding between businesses and the Government. I look forward to us building on this foundation, working closely together to make sure the potential of the sector is fully realised as an important part of the country’s post-Covid recovery, and helping the country move to net zero.

“I also very much look forward to working closely with the new PBSC deputy chair Sally Jones. Jones is a trade strategy partner at EY and has been leading the PBSC Secretariat for the last five years. She has extensive knowledge of the sector having worked across all of the council’s activities, and will be a key support in helping me to convene the PBSC leadership, drive collaboration on impactful initiatives and build upon the Council’s relationship with government.”

The Professional & Business Services Council’s role

The PBSC is made up of the following working groups, covering priority areas working in partnership with the government to inform thinking on the future direction of the sector and its contribution to the UK:

• Responsible Business – promoting and accelerating responsible business practices, including the Net Zero agenda
• Skills and Inclusion – engaged on access to skills and understanding future skills needs to support business growth
• Importance of Place – supporting the government levelling up agenda and promoting growth across all areas of the UK
• International Trade – focusing on exporting the UK services

Source https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/arups-alan-belfield-to-head-up-key-partnership-between-industry-and-government-15-06-2021/

Department of Civil Engineering https://www.ibu.edu.ba/department-of-civil-engineering/