Press Release

Connect Plus Services today announces the appointment of Louise Haining as Managing Director with responsibility for leading its M25 operations.

A Chartered Engineer, Louise has 30 years’ experience within the construction and infrastructure industry. She joined Connect Plus Services (CPS) in 2017 and has since held several roles across the organisation, including Asset and Project Delivery Director, where she was responsible for the adoption of digital asset management and driving further innovation across the business. Most recently, Louise has held the role of Interim Managing Director at CPS focusing on further digital transformation, predictable delivery and long term maintenance decision making across the business.

Louise was instrumental in introducing the digital twin of the M25 in 2020 – a ground-breaking technology which produces highly accurate geo-referenced 2D and 3D outputs, providing over 23 billion data points in the process. The digital mapping of 120 miles of road provides Connect Plus Services with more detailed information to aid planning and decision-making, ultimately reducing the need for physical surveys to be carried out in a live highways environment; therefore improving safety too.

Prior to joining Connect Plus Services she enjoyed a successful career at Costain, the Environment Agency and National Highways, working on schemes including The Hungerford Bridge in London and the Folkestone to Cliff Edge Coastal Protection Scheme in Kent.

Today’s announcement is testament to Connect Plus Services commitment to attracting, training, and retaining its employees to harness the creativity and innovation of a diverse range of people.

Louise Haining, Managing Director of Connect Plus Services, said: “I am delighted to take the helm as Managing Director of Connect Plus Services, leading an incredibly talented team on the M25 – one the UK’s busiest motorways.

“My focus will remain on data as a strategic imperative to prioritise decision making so that we keep the M25 safe and fit for purpose, whilst also continuing to identify ways of reducing delays and improving journey time reliability for the travelling public.”

Phil Clifton, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s Highways business said: “Louise has worked with us for many years and has demonstrated time and again, the leadership qualities she possesses.

“I look forward to seeing her flourish in her new role as Managing Director and seeing her wealth of knowledge and expertise drive our asset management capability to deliver value through more predictable and safer journeys.”

Connect Plus Services brings together the collective expertise from Balfour Beatty, AtkinsRéalis and Egis, with responsibility for operating and maintaining the 250-mile M25 motorway network, including routine maintenance, winter maintenance, and managing the whole-life requirement of the network including five tunnels and 2,500 structures such as bridges, culverts, and overhead gantries.  

Connect Plus Services operates and maintains the network on behalf of Connect Plus - a consortium including Edge Orbital Holdings Ltd, Balfour Beatty and Egis Investments Partners - which has a 30-year contract with National Highways through a private finance initiative.

ENDS

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Notes to editors:

• Balfour Beatty is a leading international infrastructure group with over 26,000 employees driving the delivery of powerful new solutions, shaping thinking, creating skylines and inspiring a new generation of talent to be the change-makers of tomorrow.
• We finance, develop, build, maintain and operate the increasingly complex and critical infrastructure that supports national economies and deliver projects at the heart of local communities.
• Over the last 114 years we have created iconic buildings and infrastructure all over the world. Currently, we are working to deliver Hinkley Point C, the first UK nuclear power station in a generation; constructing the world-class arts and cultural facility, the Lyric Theatre, in Hong Kong; and designing, building, financing, operating and maintaining the Automated People Mover superstructure at the fifth busiest airport in the world, Los Angeles International Airport.

About Connect Plus and Connect Plus Services:

• In 2009, National Highways awarded Connect Plus a 30-year contract to operate and manage the M25 and its key arterial link roads. It continues to be National Highways’ flagship public finance initiative (PFI) and is the largest highways PFI project ever awarded in the UK.
• Connect Plus is a consortium that includes Edge Orbital Holdings Ltd, Balfour Beatty and Egis Investment Partners - a unique partnership with a collective strength in highways maintenance and management.
• Connect Plus Services (CPS), is Connect Plus’ specialist and strategic supply chain partner responsible for operations and maintenance, bringing together the collective strength and expertise of its parent companies, Balfour Beatty, AtkinsRéalis and Egis.
• With a workforce of 780 people, based at seven locations around the network, CPS carries out routine maintenance, and whole-life management of thousands of M25 assets. CPS manages the operation of the network 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including a severe weather season maintenance programme.
• For further information please visit: https://www.connectplusm25.co.uk/