THE Construction Alliance North East (CAN) has continued its expansion.

Tony Kay, the president of the Northern Counties Builders Federation (NCBF), has become the latest addition to the board as the regional alliance targets procurement opportunities for North-East contractors in 2021.

Mr Kay brings a wealth of experience.

As commercial director at Classic Masonry and Bespoke Concrete Products, he has more than 35 years of experience in the industry.

Starting out as a quantity surveyor, he has also worked with English Heritage, William Anelay Ltd and Northumbria University.

Mr Kay said: “CAN has a crucial role to play in championing regional companies.

"We have the united voice of the SME contractor to lobby and influence organisations not to exclude us from tender opportunities and we can lend weight to the campaign by highlighting real examples of good and poor experiences of procurement.”

CAN, formed in 2015, consists of a collection of construction and civil engineering contractor bodies which has a combined turnover of £3bn.

It was founded when Government policy and procurement processes were deemed to isolate regional SME contracting businesses from particularly public sector procurement.

Representing the NCBF, Mr Kay’s knowledge of the industry will complement the input to CAN from its other board members.

Representation also comes from the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA), The Federation of Master Builders (FMB), and National Federation of Builders (NFB).