Construction leaders have met Skills Minister Matt Hancock and the Government's construction adviser Peter Hansford at 11 Downing Street to discuss a new ten point plan to reinvigorate the construction industry.
Developed under the sector's 'Construction4Growth' (C4G) campaign, the plan, which aims to secure close collaboration between the construction industry and Government would: help lead the UK out of recession and back into growth; provide young people with a lifelong skill and a bright future and; help the environment whilst generating thousands of jobs.
Providing solutions to deliver changes that will have the biggest and most positive impact on the UK economy is central to the plan. These include:
- Investing quickly in shovel-ready projects such as the repair and maintenance of roads, housing, schools and hospitals. To boost the economy now, 'shovel-ready' construction projects would create employment and improve skills. Unemployment benefits and lost tax revenue for the 150,000 construction workers that are claiming Job Seekers Allowance equates to £2.1bn. Spending £100m on repairs and maintenance could generates 3200 jobs, and boost local economies.
- Empower local authorities to drive growth through construction by lifting borrowing caps on their Housing Revenue Accounts. By removing HRA borrowing caps, there are huge opportunities to empower local authorities to drive growth through construction across the UK. This measure could free-up an additional £7bn of funding for construction projects in local communities.
- Help to unlock future construction talent by requiring teacher- training courses to include an awareness raising programme for teachers on vocational careers and training opportunities for young people.
- Maintain construction apprenticeships as the "Gold Standard" by introducing flexible apprenticeship contracts that allow those aged 19 or over to progress to higher qualification levels without losing funding.
James Wates, Chairman of CITB-ConstructionSkills said: "The plan that the industry has developed and discussed with Government this morning builds on existing commitments and puts forward new, realistic ideas that we believe will have a significant impact on the economy.
"The Construction Skills Network figures published yesterday show that, in partnership with government, we need to grasp the moment and make a concerted and co-ordinated effort to ensure that the industry is in a position to help itself to help the UK economy."
