President’s Column: New Year, New Fellows

In my first column of 2026, I’d like to wish all of our membership a happy New Year, which will hopefully be busier and more prosperous for all. Except for a few notable exceptions, I doubt whether many of our members will be too sorry to see the passing of 2025 and as they say, things can only get better.

The BCSA exists to promote the use of constructional steelwork in the UK and Ireland and to represent the members’ and industry’s interest to both government and the wider construction sector. The priorities of the membership are paramount and participation in the various committees helps to steer both the development of guidance for the industry as a whole and the maintenance of valuable market share.

The last 12 months have been a busy time for both the BCSA and SCCS with several internal changes occurring alongside the delivery of a full calendar of events and the delivery of numerous publications. November saw the first Future of Steel Construction conference in London which has been very well received with the voicing of many positive comments which will be taken on board for the future. I would like to thank the efforts of all involved with the organisation of this event and the work in general of the BCSA.

There was also the necessary but more mundane work undertaken to update the BCSA Articles of Association which included a review into the appointment of Fellows of the BCSA. Fellowship of the BCSA is an honour given to those individuals that have, throughout their careers, demonstrated a passion and commitment to constructional steel and furthered its cause and I’m delighted to say that the November Council meeting ratified the appointment of two new Fellows.

Mr Geoffrey Taylor started his career at Redpath Dorman Long and went on to work at Graham Wood, Watson Steel and Caunton Engineering. He has served the industry tirelessly, chairing the BCSA’s Marketing and Membership Committee, serving on Council and representing the UK on ECCS, as well as sitting on the Advisory Board of New Steel Construction. Geoffrey has been a dedicated and highly professional advocate of both the BCSA and the steel fabrication industry throughout.

Dr. David Moore has made an outstanding and continuing contribution to the structural steel industry. In a career focussed on steel construction and its technical development, he spent 23 years at the Building Research Establishment followed by more than 20 years at the BCSA latterly as both Director of Engineering and CEO. David is widely regarded as an expert on CE marking of fabricated steelwork and is the author of more than 70 peer reviewed technical papers and design guides which are used daily throughout our industry.

Both Geoffrey and David are very worthy recipients of the title Fellow of the BCSA and I would like to offer them both my congratulations. On a personal note, I first met David in 1990 when he was working at the BRE and he kindly agreed to join the steering group managing my research at Dundee University and subsequently our paths crossed again when I became involved in the BCSA P&T Committee as Northern Ireland representative. David has had a great influence on my career and has always had the time to offer friendly and expert advice.

Both Geoffrey and David demonstrate how individual effort can help drive forward both the BCSA and the overall structural steel industry. If you believe that you too could make a difference in these challenging times, I would encourage you to get involved with either your local region or one of the BCSA committees.

To paraphrase JFK, it may not be a question of what the BCSA can do for you but what you can do for the BCSA?

Chris Durand
BCSA President