It is genuinely one of my favourite ‘tasks’ of the year, to sign off on the final edit, and I hope you will enjoy perusing the pages as much as I have. Until next year.
It's becoming a year of stability and optimism
09 Oct 24
And breathe. When reflecting on the events that have unfolded over the past year it can sometimes feel like the deliberately provocative running order of a political podcast. Both home and away, macro political and economic events have shaped our working landscape. So when it came to writing the introduction to the Iceni Yearbook it was good to pause and take stock.
In spite (and not because) of everything that has played out, something strange has been quietly emerging, and it’s been bubbling under the surface for some time. For no good reason, without due explanation, and with all good reverence, the o-word is back – and we hope it will stick around for a while. Yes, I’m talking about optimism! Lower case for now rather than upper, but it’s there nonetheless. Iceni has seen sustained growth over the past 12 months, across the breadth of our different teams and regions. We have never worked on such rich and varied projects, and we have equally never had such stimulating and impressive clients – both in the public and private sector. As Iceni gets ready to turn 20, we are genuinely looking forward to our next chapter.
What’s causing this uptick in sentiment? There’s nothing like a general election to drive change, but I wonder whether there are other factors at play. Yes, we are in the midst of many crises, be that housing, climate or economic, but those same sticks are equally carrots for growth. Both before and subsequent to the change of government we have been struck by an increasing focus on collaboration: local authorities seeking to engage with business; developers exploring innovative ways of funding models; a shared focus on expediting decisions without sacrificing quality or community engagement. If the old adage is true that necessity is the mother of invention, renewed productivity is also much more likely to deliver growth, be that in housing, green energy, or economic development.
Our Yearbook is of course an insight into the activities of Iceni, but it is also a reflection of our clients and associates, and I never fail to marvel at the variety of things we have collectively achieved and undertaken. It is genuinely one of my favourite ‘tasks’ of the year, to sign off on the final edit, and I hope you will enjoy perusing the pages as much as I have. Until next year.
Ian Anderson
Chief Executive,Planning