About Interact |
| Interact was conceived over a number of years but finally came to being in 1977. It was the original idea of Sean Fenner, a Structural Engineer and Alan Gaskell, a Quantity Surveyor. Ray Faulks later made up the triumvirate. |
The idea is a multi-disciplined networking organisation limited in numbers and overtly but discreetly intended to promote business for it's members all of whom worked within the Construction Industry.
The first 'Club' was created in Nottingham by the three founders inviting guests of different disciplines to their own and to each other, to lunch and proposing the idea with an invitation to join. This was repeated until a membership was achieved of twelve.
Senior people were invited as members and their guests were to be senior people who were in a position to provide commissions.
This remains the philosophy of Interact today The intention was that membership was to be by invitation only and in the event of someone leaving or changing company that members place would revert to the 'Club' Chairman, who with the members would select a suitable replacement. Therefore the club would revitalise itself and not be perceived as a clique.
There were no rules but eventually, as the original chairmen moved on, a set of 'Guidance Notes' were issued to incoming chairmen and secretaries. The idea was an immediate success in Nottingham and soon there was a waiting list of potential members, Derby and Leicester soon followed as obvious places within the East Midlands building community. Bristol and Leeds were then tested being at opposite ends of the country.
Gradually the idea spread and the founders were approached from various sources by people eager to form a 'Club'. Newcastle is typical and one of the oldest.- Glasgow was another. The idea was welcomed and as the 'Clubs' prospered, women were encouraged to join in line with their increasing numbers in the industry - but it was some years before there were women members and before there was a woman chair of a club.
London Ladies Club is a realisation of that early aspiration. However all Interact clubs are inclusive and women are seen as professional equals.
Inevitably, the number and composition has waxed and waned over the years but the overall numbers has remained more or less constant.
The current management team seek to encourage the formation of both new clubs and to attract new members and to meert these challenges the composition of Interact has now been widened to embrace funding, financial services and law related to construction which in turn has brought more women into the organisation. |
|
