Promoting the expertise of building engineering contractors to local authorities; consulting engineers; architects and key end user groups will be a central part of the strategy pursued by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) this year.

The association has appointed former Travis Perkins senior executive Kevin Kingaby to the new position of key accounts manager – specifiers to spearhead a programme aimed at creating stronger links between specifiers and BESA members, to help ensure projects meet clients’ expectations and commercial objectives.

Building on BESA’s 112 years of industry leadership, Kevin will promote membership of the association as a ‘badge of quality’ for specifiers looking to appoint top quality contractors. He will remind them that BESA is one of few trade associations in the UK to insist prospective and existing members are subjected to an independent; third party accredited Competence Assessment Scheme (CAS) to verify both their technical expertise and financial stability.

Members will be invited to tell him where tenders do not include BESA membership as part of the pre-qualification criteria so he can approach the specifiers and remind them of the value and benefit of using suitably accredited contractors.

Mr Kingaby has more than 35 years’ experience in plumbing and engineering products; having risen to become managing director at Saint-Gobain owned Walker & Staff before spending 13 years in senior management positions, including as regional manager for London and the South East, at the plumbing merchant BSS, which was acquired by Travis Perkins.

He will now use that experience on a major market development role for BESA with a focus on promoting the high professional standards and technical expertise of its members.