
On 16 June 2025, over 200 industry professionals gathered at the historic One Great George Street in London for the NEC annual conference.
Under the theme, ‘Shaping the Future: Striving for Excellence, Innovation and Collaboration,’ the one-day event provided valuable insights and practical discussions on the challenges and opportunities facing the construction and infrastructure sectors.
Practical insights and discussions
Moderated by Matthew Garratt from Dalkia Engineering, the conference featured insightful sessions and lively panel discussions covering crucial topics such as sustainability, effective project management, and navigating regulatory and economic changes.
Key speakers, including Fanny Dastugue of the Confederation of International Contractors’ Associations, Peter Higgins of the NEC4 Contract Board and Chris Slocombe of Clayton Utz, provided real-world perspectives that resonated with delegates from all areas of the built environment industry.
Breakout sessions offered attendees hands-on advice on managing NEC contracts effectively, avoiding disputes and ensuring climate resilience in projects. These interactive discussions were aimed at helping delegates apply best practices directly to their own projects.
FAC-1 and TAC-1 join NEC
A significant development announced at the conference was the acquisition of the Framework Alliance Contract (FAC-1) and Term Alliance Contract (TAC-1) by NEC publisher Thomas Telford Ltd. The addition of these contracts reinforces NEC’s commitment to fostering collaborative approaches in the industry.
The event concluded with the prestigious Martin Barnes Awards, which highlighted outstanding achievements in NEC contract management.