Name: Steve Thorpe
When did you join Council?
It was a number of years back – 2017 from memory. This was after two terms as Chair for the London and South East Region and three terms as Secretary for the Region. I became the Regional Representative during my second term as Regional Chair. I became Honorary Treasurer before becoming President Designate and then President.
Why did you become a member of the Society and why would you recommend it?
I joined the Society way back in the 1980s as I felt that membership would be an ideal way of increasing my knowledge of the concrete industry, the materials used, material developments, etc., as well as expanding my network of contacts – peers within the industry as well as suppliers. Many have become good friends over the years. Being a member has definitely proved beneficial in my career.
I would thoroughly recommend becoming a member of the Society to any person or organisation that has dealings with any part of the concrete industry – the Society offers excellent support to the industry via a number of ways – Concrete magazine, Technical Reports (authoritative in their own right, and often referred to in correspondence), Advice Notes, Advisory Engineers, to name a few. There are also the Regional events held throughout the year, from Technical subjects to Training Days to Social functions – Regional lunches are very popular and well supported. The networking at these events is second to none. Being a member qualifies you for additional benefits within the Society as well.
Other becoming President – which didn’t even enter my mind when I became a member – I was honoured in 2024 in becoming a Fellow of the Society.
Why did you first decide to volunteer for the Society?
I was asked if I wanted to become a Committee Member for the London and South East Region after attending numerous events since the 1980s both in London and the South East as well as other (as in the old format of the Society) Clubs and Regions. I welcomed the chance, and I was voted on in the early 2000s and things have developed from there. I became instrumental in resurrecting the Regional Training Days as well as instigating the now popular Spring Lunch. I hope I’ve made a positive contribution to the London and South East Region!
What have you most enjoyed about being a volunteer and part of the Council?
As a volunteer and being involved in things such as Training Days, it gives me a sense of pride that the knowledge gained not only by myself but by others involved in such can be passed on to newcomers to the industry, hopefully setting them on a good footing in their careers. Seeing friends, acquaintances, and organisations generously giving to Regional charities at the Lunches is distinctly a feel-good factor in volunteering.
Being part of the Council has been a good way to meet and communicate with the other Regional Chairs and Representatives, also to be actively involved in the running and direction of the Society and I hope that my input and support has been of value. Being on Council lets you see the ‘bigger picture’ of the Society’s workings.
How has volunteering/being part of the Council helped you in building your professional network?
Volunteering for a Regional Committee opened up a number of networking opportunities not only with those sitting on the Committee but also those who attended events – once people know you are on Committee, they regularly ask about forthcoming events or even suggest topics! Being on Council promotes this as my network has expanded to cover the whole UK by way of both traditional means and (nowadays) Social Media.
What are your aims for your two-year term as President?
We have exciting times ahead for the Society – the rebrand to start with and the 60th Anniversary, so there’s work to do there! I’m looking forward to continuing to enable the Council and Claire our CEO to develop, improve, and move the Society forward so that it continues to offer the first-class industry support it is renowned for and at the same time to increase the membership.
I’ll aim to visit as many of the Regions as I can – either at Lunches or at Technical Events – not forgetting my ‘home’ Region of course, where I’m still on Committee.
I follow in the footsteps of some very honourable and well-known past Presidents, and as such I’m very proud to fill the Office myself.
Find out more about how the Concrete Society is governed.
