Carney takes top NCBF role

Trade association Northern Counties Builders Federation has confirmed Angela Carney as its new president.

Managing director at Carney Consultancy, Carney has worked in the construction industry for more than 30 years.

She sits on several industry boards and as ojutlnied by the Federation, is “highly respected for her commitment to bridging the skills gap and helping females enter the sector”.

Carney takes on the role from Tony Kay, who has been chair since 2020. Supporting her in the new role is Matthew McCarrick, managing director at McCarrick Construction, who becomes senior vice president.

Chris Morris, company secretary at Compass Developments, is appointed junior vice president.

NCBF is a long-established trade association bringing together construction companies and contractors operating in the North East.

As a membership organisation, it aims to proactively raise the profile of its regional members, support training and apprenticeships and help to future-proof the North East construction industry.

Carney said: “I would very much like to take this opportunity to thank Tony for his astute leadership of the NCBF. During his term he has ensured we punch well above our weight and that we continue to play a crucial role within a number of industry-led committees.

“Tony has helped to achieve a range of highly successful outcomes when it comes to the areas where we look to achieve maximum impact, such as the skills gap, tackling the image of our sector and working closely with the region’s educational providers.

“As a collective, our role is to help facilitate the development and maintenance of a sustainable North East construction industry. We want to continue to provide a voice to SMEs in the region, offer careers advice, support the upskill of employees and trade apprenticeships and to highlight that the construction sector offers long term careers.”

Carney added that the body will work alongside other organisations including Construction Alliance Northeast and Constructing Excellence North East, with the uniting aim of improving the industry’s image with attracting recruits front of mind.

Over the last year, NCBF, supported by Constructing Excellence North East, has worked on a number of education projects, including the relaunch of the North East Schools Wonder Challenge. The NCBF also launched its Building Your Future campaign.

Kay said: “I feel we have made great strides during that last four years and I am very confident for the future of our sector.”