Who we are

CECA is the representative organisation for the UK’s civil engineering contractors. Through our nationwide network of autonomous regions, and our national office at the heart of Westminster, we provide an authoritative voice for the companies who build, maintain and upgrade the nation’s vital infrastructure networks in the key sectors of transport, energy, water, waste, and communications. With more than 300 members based across our England, Scotland and Wales, we represent firms who, together, deliver an estimated 70-80 per cent of all civil engineering activity in the UK.

We have extensive experience and expert knowledge of the UK’s infrastructure sector, and represent our members to media, clients, and governments, to ensure that our members benefit from the latest industry knowledge, government proposals, and market intelligence, to the benefit of their businesses and wider society.

CECA has national offices based in Westminster, Cardiff and Stirling, as well as local offices in six English regions. Our national office in London manages communications, public affairs and direct engagement with the UK Government, industry stakeholders, and other national organisations. CECA National’s staff members can be contacted during business hours on 020 7340 0450.

National staff contacts

Chief Executive

Alasdair Reisner

Alasdair has over ten years' experience in the UK infrastructure sector. He joined CECA as Head of External Affairs in 2008. Prior to joining CECA, he was a journalist at a leading UK construction trade journal. Alasdair sits on the Infrastructure Clients Group, Network Rail's Commercial Directors Forum, and the Strategic Forum for Construction. He has been CECA Chief Executive since 2014.

UK Rail Director

Bill Free

Bill Free has spent his career working in civil engineering contracting, working for Carillion and BAM Nuttall. Bill’s early career was largely involved in Highways activity; rising from a setting out engineer on the A34 Sutton Scotney By-Pass (in 1980) to Site Agent on road projects in West London – taking in contracts constructing the M25, M3 and A1 (M). A career move in the 1990s saw Bill moving to roles in Bid Management and Planning in the 1990s which widened his experience to include environmental, water and rail schemes. Bill then moved into Business Development working for Carillion in the Rail Sector, where he became responsible for Business Development and Marketing activities of what was eventually a £400m turnover business sector. Bill joined CECA, as Rail Director, in 2018 following the liquidation of Carillion. His current role is to represent civil engineering contractors working in the Rail sector – both large and small. This will be achieved via close liaison with client bodies, CECA membership and other trade associations.

Executive PA/Office Manager

Laura Ellis

Laura joined CECA in 2006 after working at a registered charity and a leading high street bank. She is responsible for the day-to-day running of CECA's national office in Westminster, and is first point of contact regarding CECA's publications. In addition, she works as PA to the Chief Executive.

Communications Manager

Huston Gilmore

Prior to joining CECA, Huston completed a doctorate at the University of Oxford, and lectured at the University of Liverpool. He has also worked for a number of Westminster think-tanks. Huston is first point of contact for media enquiries, maintains all of CECA's communications, runs CECA's Workload Trends Survey, and manages CECA's social media and website. He also sits on the Construction Industry Advisory Committee (CONIAC) Sharing Our Success Working Group.

Civil Engineering Director

Peter Crosland

Peter has over 35 years' experience of working in infrastructure, both in the UK and overseas. He is a chartered civil engineer and a chartered water & environmental manager, and has worked for a number of major public and private sector organisations. Prior to joining CECA, he operated at director level with WYG and Mott MacDonald, where he set up and ran their Leeds office for a number of years. Peter is responsible for managing CECA's Health & Safety, Environment, Water, and Dayworks Forums. He is also the key point of contact for CECA Forms of Sub-Contract queries. Externally, he sits on the ICE Expert Health & Safety Panel, the Health in Construction Leadership Group, and the BRE/CEEQUAL Working Group.

Director of Operations

Marie-Claude Hemming

Marie-Claude is an experienced communications and policy professional. Having started her career in public affairs consultancy, she moved to a policy role at the Federation of Small Businesses in 2009, before joining as Industry and Public Affairs Manager and undertaking a variety of roles in the business, before becoming Director of Operations in 2021. Marie-Claude is CECA’s media relations and policy lead and has complete oversight of CECA’s communications and public affairs work. She also develops and manages the corporate business plan and is responsible for other operational duties, including the establishment of CECA’s three-year plan.

Public Affairs Executive

Jake Kelly

Jake joined CECA National in March 2020 after spending over 5 years working for Members of Parliament both in the North and Westminster. In the North, Jake led successful campaigns on securing improvements to public transport. In Parliament, he helped establish the first All-Party Parliamentary Group on Transport Across the North, in partnership with Transport for the North. Jake's principal areas of public affairs work currently include developing relationships with the Opposition and Parliamentarians, supporting CECA's activities in its 3 Northern regions, rail including Beeching re-openings, and increasing project pipeline visibility.

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