British Constructional Steelwork Association

History

The association arose from a series of mergers involving regional and sector specific associations.

Five steelwork contractors in Manchester began to collaborate in 1906, and then formally established the Steelwork Society in 1908. The Rules were only finalised in 1911. Steel producers had benefited from trade associations as a forum to collude on pricing, and steelwork contractors sought the same advantages.

Similar groups established themselves around the country, and joint meetings were held. In the early 1930s the British Steelwork Association operated from London as a national, federated association funded by, and representing, the local associations.

The British Constructional Steelwork Association was formed, in 1936, to succeed the British Steelwork Association. In return for recognition from the steel manufacturers in raw material negotiations, their fabrication subsidiaries were permitted to join the new association. Membership immediately jumped from 92 to 159.

In 1966 The British Constructional Steelwork Association Ltd incorporated to take over all the activities of the British Constructional Steelwork Association, Bridge and Constructional Ironwork Association, London Constructional Engineers Association, Midland Structural Association, Scottish Structural Steel Association, Steelwork Society, Northern Ireland Steelwork Association, and Structural Export Association.

The name changed to BCSA Ltd in 1990 though it commonly operates under the name of a subsidiary called the British Constructional Steelwork Association Ltd, incorporated at that time.

Membership of the association was initially limited to structural steel contractors until in 1987, other companies that shared the association's objects began to be admitted as associates. The rules of the association were amended accordingly in 1994.

The British Constructional Steelwork Association Ltd purchased a 99 year lease on its Whitehall Court headquarters in 1989 for £610,000. It previously operated from nearby premises at 35 Old Queen Street.

Price fixing

Collusion on pricing had been an important part of early trade associations in the iron and steel industries. Trade associations of structural steel contractors were no different, and even then this was controversial. The British Constructional Steelwork Association identify instances of members of their predecessor organisations, cautious about the legality of these schemes, hiding behind code names and numbers.

Association practice was to share tender lists for contracts, and where that consisted wholly of members, to add % to the tender price of the chosen contractor, to be shared amongst the other members on the tender list. During the 1920s, economic pressures encouraged almost all structural steel contractors to join the associations. Tenders were routinely member only, significantly curtailing competition. Some contractors were alleged to have joined tender lists with no intention of bidding, merely to claim their share of the %.

Government imposed prohibitive tariffs on imported fabricated steel in 1932. Real competition to the structural steel contractors came only from domestic steel manufacturers with their own, in house, fabrication capability, and emerging construction techniques with reinforced concrete. The 1936 arrangement to admit fabrication subsidiaries of steel manufacturers to the association drew them also into the cartel.

During the Second World War the Ministry of Supply enforced control on maximum structural steel prices through an Iron and Steel Control department.

Post war, it was common for structural steel contractors to submit identical bids in response to tenders. Government became more concerned with anti-competitive behaviour, and the structural steel industry's highly developed, overt bid rigging received particular attention. The Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission launched an investigation and the industry was required to register its practices under the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1956. Registration provided for further scrutiny.

The Registrar promptly challenged restrictions on trade, and price fixing, imposed by the British Constructional Steelwork Association upon its members, under the new Restrictive Practices Court Act 1958. Judgement rejected arguments the measures offered useful protections and held them to be void. The association undertook thenceforth to engage only in co-operation between its members, rather than price fixing and collusion.

In 1995, the association launched their Register of Qualified Steelwork Contractors with a stated aim to readily enable identification of appropriate steelwork contractors, and thereby ensure competition takes place.

Structural Steel Design Awards

In 1969 the association set up its Structural Steel Design Awards. Recent recipients include:

Coat of arms

The association was granted a coat of arms in 1987. The shield is a helmet on a background of red lines representing a framework of girders, and the crest is a red lion symbolising the strength of steel, and also British nationality. The lion is dotted with gold bezants representing fair dealing in commerce; the yellow, blazing torch, held aloft by the lion, represents the association's enlightening message that structures should be of steel not concrete, and the crest, atop a red and gold torse, is set within a circle of steel ingots.

The motto depicted on the arms is Strength and Stability, intended as reference to both the association and structural steel.

The crest is used in the association's logo.

Membership

Full members

Full members are contractors that pay a levy to the association based on their sales of relevant steelwork in the prior year.

Present full members include:

• Severfield
• William Hare Group

Past full members include:

• Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Company
• Rowecord Engineering
• Dorman Long (Bridge and Engineering)
• William Baird & Co (Structural)
• Butterley Engineering Co
• Redpath Brown & Co}}

Associate members

Associate members are suppliers to structural steel contractors, and others with an interest in the industry's operation.

Recent associate members include:

• Metsec
• Rainham Steel
• ArcelorMittal
• Klöckner
• Skanska Cementation
• National Highways
• International Paint
• Sherwin-Williams
• Tekla
• Lincoln Electric
• Air Products
• British Steel
• Tata Steel
• Autodesk
• Kingspan

References

References

1. "H. Young Structures - Associations".
2. (2020). "BCSA Ltd 2020 Accounts". BCSA.
3. (2021). "BCSA Ltd Group Accounts 2021". British Constructional Steelwork Association.
4. "Papers relating to BCSA Ltd". BCSA.
5. "Our Team » BCSA".
6. "Braced for strong demand".
7. "Annual Report 2021".
8. (November 2016). "Trade Associations – Build UK".
9. "Member Benefits".
10. "SCI Members List - Steel Construction Institute members".
11. "UK Metals Council Membership".
12. "Contact us » BCSA".
13. "BCSA Group of Companies » BCSA".
14. "About us » BCSA".
15. "SCCS Database".
16. "Steel Construction Certification Scheme Limited".
17. "SCCS UKAS Certification".
18. "About".
19. (June 2006). "A Century of Steel Construction, 1906-2006". Box of Tricks.
20. "BCSA LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK".
21. "THE BRITISH CONSTRUCTIONAL STEELWORK ASSOCIATION LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK".
22. Eichengreen, Barry J. (September 1981). "Sterling and the Tariff, 1929-1932". Princeton Studies in International Finance.
23. (1959). "Restrictive Practices Court Act". British Affairs.
24. (1967). "Hansard, House of Lords, Vol 280, 28 February 1967, Iron And Steel Bill".
25. (2000). "Competition and Innovation in 1950s Britain".
26. "Structural steel design awards".
27. "Unilever House".
28. "The O2 Arena".
29. "Cabot Circus, Bristol".
30. "Xstrata Walkway".
31. (2010-07-09). "Structural Steel Design Awards Winners Announced".
32. "Infinity Footbridge". Steelconstruction.info.
33. (2008-11-24). "Firm looks to Infinity and beyond".
34. "Legacy Roof".
35. "Prologis Park".
36. "AMEX Stadium".
37. (2021-02-04). "Glasgow Queen Street Station Redevelopment - J & D Pierce - Rail".
38. "Lord's Cricket Ground Compton and Edrich Stands Redevelopment".
39. "Bombardier Maintenance Hangar Biggin Hill".
40. "Battersea Power Station, London".
41. "Stockingfield Bridge, Glasgow".
42. "8 Bishopsgate, London".
43. "Co-op Live Arena, Manchester".
44. "Heraldry Symbols and What They Mean".
45. Moore, David. (2022-10-13). "BCSA Membership Subscriptions for Turnover Year Ended 30 September 2022 – Reminder".
46. (2022-10-01). "New Steel Construction".