Royal honour for British Precast Concrete Federation’s Martin Clarke

Martin Clarke, chief executive of the 1829 British Precast Concrete Federation, has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to industry.

“I am overwhelmed at this recognition and especially delighted that the citation is for services to industry. This is a great boost for an unsung but critical British manufacturing industry,” he said.

“This honour is completely down to my wife and family who have supported me unstintingly throughout my career and my long absences at home and abroad. I thank them so much for their love and patience. It is a reward for the small team in the federation and my member companies and for the 30,000 men and women across the UK concrete products sector and its supply chain who have worked so extremely hard at improving our safety record, our environmental impact and at improving our image and professionalism. The last five years of recession have been tough and challenging but we are coming through it in good heart and with great optimism.”

Clarke who lives in County Gloucestershire, south-west England, has spent over 40 years in the construction industry. He is married to Lynne with two adult children Catherine and Tom and has one grandson.

He started with ARC Concrete at in 1972 after spells at Exeter University and Hull University, andwithin the ARC Group he went on to complete 17 years in a variety of marketing and business development roles in the UK and overseas finishing in 1990 as business development director of ARC Aggregates, by then owned by 1343 Hanson since 1989. He then moved to spend 12 years as marketing director of the 4360 British Cement Association before taking over as chief executive of the city of Leicester-based British Precast Concrete Federation in 2002.

He has been a passionate advocate for the British and worldwide concrete industry throughout his career.

The president of British Precast Concrete Federation, Andy Dix of 1707 Aggregate Industries, said: “This is a great way to start our 50th anniversary year ending May 2014. Martin fully deserves this recognition. He has worked tirelessly in the advancement of the concrete industry both in Britain and Europe. In particular I would highlight his effective work with his colleagues and the Health & Safety Executive in bringing the concrete products industry closer to our zero harm objective.

“As president of this very effective trade body I am personally delighted that Martin’s endless good work and leadership has been appreciated by our country in such an appropriate way.”