The Federation of Piling Specialists (FPS) has appointed Alasdair Henderson as its new chair.

Presently divisional director of BAM Ritchies in Kilsyth, Alasdair replaces Martin Blower who has completed his statutory two-year tenure at the helm.

In addition to the Federation’s core aims and goals, Henderson will focus on training, which is one of his big interests, as well as developing a route for pilers / geotechnical specialists to become professionally recognised as EngTechs, ideally through vocational routes recognised by the major engineering institutions.

Speaking about his role with the FPS, Alasdair said: “It is an honour to be appointed as chair of the FPS as its status and respect within the specialist contractors sector is extremely high. It is also encouraging to be a chair from outside the mainstream foundation industry, as it demonstrates the FPS’s role in championing the full range of ground engineering specialisms.”

He added: “Training is my ‘thing’ which goes hand-in-hand with my mission to see geotechnics recognised widely as a highly skilled industry.”

Alasdair’s knowledge of the piling and foundation / specialist contractor sector is vast having more than 20 years’ experience working for BAM Ritchies, the specialist ground engineering division of BAM Nuttall Ltd. He is also a divisional director of BAM Nuttall and sits on its engineering board to support technical delivery and promote research and development initiatives across the business.

Alasdair’s enthusiasm for learning and development and in promoting the professional recognition of those with non-traditional educational backgrounds is well known in the sector. He holds the appointment of Visiting Professor at Strathclyde University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and is a member of the International Advisory Group for the DISTINCTIVE consortium of universities undertaking research into nuclear decommissioning.

On a technical level Alasdair’s interests cover the geotechnics of underground infrastructure, particularly relating to injection grouting and the management of radiological waste.