Ryan George is setting the standard as CECA NextGen Southern Foundations Group chairman20th Mar 2026

Ryan George is eager to leave a “lasting legacy” as he settles into his new role as Chairman of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) NextGen Southern Foundations Group.

Stepping up from Vice Chair, the Jones Bros Project Manager is laying the foundations for the group of young professionals to ensure they continue to deliver impact beyond his year-long tenure.

Aiming to promote the civil engineering and construction industry to current and future generations, the 15-strong cohort is already benefitting from Ryan’s leadership as they prepare to attend careers fairs across the UK, including the Southampton International Boat Show.

He said: “Engaging with those in education is a priority of ours to help attract new talent, so I’m encouraging my peers to reach out to a minimum of five to ten schools in their local area and build connections where possible.

“Personally, I deliver talks to civil engineering students at Portsmouth University approximately every three months to raise awareness of my role at Havant Thicket Reservoir, a scheme that has already recruited four of its graduates.

“My goal is also to ensure our members feel supported and equipped to attend networking events by providing the appropriate resources, such as presentation slides and templated letters and forms, to be used throughout the year and in the future.

“As part of my new role, I’m keen to keep things exciting for the group too by organising our quarterly meetings at different project locations in the UK. It’s a great way to reward hard work, as we can gain insight into each other’s workplaces and go on site tours.”

Reflecting further on his current title, the 30-year-old is relishing his increased responsibilities.

He added: “As the Chair, I’m attending more of the main CECA meetings to report back on our activities and progress as a team and representing what we are doing, which is new.

“We’re all busy young professionals, so having clear direction and the time to network and promote the industry is important, and I’m making sure members have the backing from their managers to take part and get the most from their time in the group.

“I look forward to promoting the world of civil engineering even more and helping people realise there is such a wide variety of positions available.”

Established in the 1950s, Jones Bros owns one of the largest plant fleets in the UK and employs approximately 550 people.

The company is currently working on contracts in various sectors including highways, flood and marine defence, reservoirs, waste management, and renewable energy around the UK.

The company runs an award-winning apprenticeship scheme, which has produced a large percentage of its current workforce, with several of its senior managers having started out as apprentices or in a trainee role. It has recruited hundreds of apprentices over the years.