Pipeline Industries Guild President: Neil Armstrong - CEO & Chairman, United Infrastructure
I am extremely proud to be the President of the Pipeline Industry Guild and continue the legacy of excellence that has defined our Guild for over 60 years. In my first year as President, one of the greatest privileges has been meeting so many Guild members. Hearing firsthand about the progress across our sector, as well as the challenges we all continue to navigate, has been inspiring. These conversations have reinforced the commitment, resilience, and innovation that define our community, and they continue to shape my priorities for the year ahead. Our members have long been the cornerstone of the UK's infrastructure, playing a pivotal role in the delivery of essential services that millions rely on every day.
The significance of infrastructure to the UK's economy is immense. It is the foundation that supports our daily lives, enabling businesses to prosper and communities to grow. With the twin challenges of upgrading aging infrastructure and supporting the transition to sustainable energy sources, we are poised to lead the way in innovation and resilience.
One of our most pressing challenges is the need to ensure our existing infrastructure is fit for the future. Many of our pipelines, which have served us well for decades, now require upgrades to meet modern demands and safety standards.
We are currently in the AMP8 regulatory period for the UK water sector, which will deliver investment of £104bn. This substantial increase from AMP7's £51bn outlay highlights the critical need for infrastructure development.
This task is monumental, but it presents us with the opportunity to integrate innovative technologies that can improve efficiency, reliability, and environmental performance.
In the gas sector, the RIIO‑3 period will deliver £17.8bn of upfront investment across Gas Transmission and Distribution, an increase of almost 50% on RIIO‑2, reflecting the growing need to modernise assets and prepare them for a low‑carbon future. This increased funding will require significant industry-wide support to ensure networks are upgraded safely and efficiently.
The UK government has announced up to £21.7 billion over the next 25 years for the development of the first two carbon capture and hydrogen clusters to support the energy transition.
These clusters will remove and store up to 8.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually as well as be a focus for the deployment of hydrogen to replace traditional fossil fuels.
Infrastructure needs to be upgraded and developed to enable the transport of low-carbon hydrogen as a replacement for natural gas as well as the transportation of CO2 from emitters to off-takers, or to be sequestered.
Our industry is uniquely positioned to facilitate this transition, leveraging our expertise to support the integration of renewable energy sources and reduce carbon emissions. This commitment to sustainability is not just about preserving the environment; it is about securing a prosperous future for generations to come.
However, with growth comes the question of how we deliver it, the huge challenge we face is the skills gap within our sector. As the industry evolves, there is an increasing demand for a workforce capable of delivering the projects necessary to maintain our critical infrastructure.
We face significant competition across infrastructure projects for resources, as well as from other sectors that are looking at the same.
We must reposition our sector as a key player in the energy transition and invest in education, training, and development programmes that attract and nurture talent. By fostering a culture of continuous learning and development, we can ensure that our workforce remains at the forefront of technological advancements.
Pipeline Industries Guild Chair: Richard Weeks - Director, Discipline Lead - Pipelines, AtkinsRéalis
Welcome to all those engaged or interested in The Pipeline Industries Guild. As Chair, it is an honour to take up this position and know that I have been elected by our members to serve in their best interest, for this year.
I was introduced to the Guild as a guest at the National Dinner circa 2015, an evening which I thoroughly enjoyed, meeting not just people that I already knew in the water industry, but many new like-minded pipeline professionals from across the wider infrastructure industry.
I was soon an active member of the Utilities Panel and undertook the role of Chair of that panel for 6 years before I took up the Deputy Chair DC1 and DC2 positions.
For the last two years, I have been preparing for my role as Chair of the Guild through DC2 and DC1, focusing on the wider activities of the Guild but keeping sight of the Guild’s technical development.
As a director working for AtkinsRéalis, I am Discipline Lead for Pipelines focused mainly on the UK water industry, national infrastructure and overseas projects.
I have always considered the Guild to be an integral part of my career journey, working with members from all sectors of the industry, developing both technical and influential leadership skills. I would encourage all members to be actively involved in our Branches and Panels as this makes membership so much more rewarding with their technical, social and networking events.
This year, in addition to our networking and social activities we will be strengthening our presence at technical events with visits to members factories, construction sites, in person technical presentations and webinars. Through our HQ staff we will be publicising each event more inclusively to increase awareness of the fantastic activities ongoing throughout the year.
Individual and corporate memberships to the Guild are increasing at an exciting pace and your Board and I will work hard to ensure that our technical, networking and charity opportunities offer significant value to all our members.