Bridge and engineering services specialist joins Theresa May on trade mission to promote infrastructure business growth in Africa

Leading international specialist Mabey Bridge has announced that Michael Treacy, CEO, will be accompanying Theresa May on her first official trade visit to South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya.

The visit forms part of the Department for International Trade’s (DIT) objective to help British businesses unlock further economic potential in Africa – one of the fastest-growing regions in the world.

Working with the UK Government, the visit will allow Mabey to expand relationships and opportunities with representatives from the infrastructure sector across Africa and respond to the ongoing demand for infrastructure services in the continent. From rural and emergency bridging programmes, through to infrastructure opportunities in inner cities with pedestrian bridging and flyovers, connectivity in Africa is enabling many areas of the continent to grow, especially in countries like South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya.

Mabey employs over 600 people and operates in 28 locations around the world, specialising in providing bridging solutions and engineering services to develop, improve and repair vital infrastructure in urban and rural areas. It has supplied over 500km of steel bridging to more than 142 countries globally.

As part of this international heritage, Mabey has been exporting to Africa for almost 50 years, developing critical infrastructure to connect neighbouring communities, provide safe access to local healthcare and education facilities and widen the market for perishable goods.

Mabey’s work in Africa also focuses on the employment of local people for its bridging projects, helping to transfer the technical and creative skills associated with construction. For example, after the initial development of the Tsomo Bridge in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, the local installation team used the knowledge and expertise it gained from working with Mabey to build an additional bridge in Bengu safely and efficiently in just six days. This demonstrates the ways in which these programmes can empower the local community to take a more active role in the economic development of their region.

Prime Minister Theresa May said: “Mabey’s proud history of a commitment to quality, combined with its strengths in innovation, make it a brilliant example of the world-renowned expertise which British businesses have to offer.

The global mindset which Mabey embodies is exactly what I want to see from UK businesses, and I am delighted that they are joining me on this visit.”