An ambitious new
partnership between the government and the construction industry has been
announced by the Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark, in a speech to the
Northern Powerhouse Summit in Newcastle.
With almost half of
the economy reliant on the built environment and the services it enables, the
government is bringing together the construction, manufacturing, energy and
digital sectors to deliver innovative approaches that improve productivity in
construction and accelerate a shift to building safer, healthier and more
affordable places to live and learn that use less energy.
Business and Energy
Secretary Greg Clark said: "The construction industry is fundamental to
growing our economy as we build to invest in our future. Major infrastructure
projects like HS2 and the commitment to deliver 1.5 million homes by 2022 mean that
we need a construction sector that can drive innovation, delivering homes and
infrastructure quicker.
"As buildings
account for around 30% of total emissions, we also want to ensure that we are
at the global forefront in designing and building smart, energy efficient and
affordable homes and buildings through the Clean Growth Grand Challenge, saving
families money on their bills.
"This Sector
Deal is supported by the biggest government investment in construction for at
least a decade and will drive economic growth and create well-paid
highly-skilled jobs in every part of the UK."
Andrew Wolstenholme,
Co-Chair of the Construction Leadership Council said: "Securing this deal
sends out a statement about the vital contribution our sector makes to the
country. Our industry builds the schools to educate the young, the hospitals to
care for the sick, the police stations to keep us safe, the roads and railways
that get us to work, the power stations that keep us warm and the homes we
return to each day.
"We are an
industry that must be at the forefront of the UK’s drive for future growth and
prosperity – and I’m confident that this deal will help to achieve that."
International Trade
Secretary Dr Liam Fox said: "British firms are at the forefront of
innovation in the construction and infrastructure sector and the government’s
new Sector Deal will ensure that even more of our businesses have the
confidence to do business in overseas countries.
"With the
global infrastructure market estimated to be worth $57 trillion by 2030, the
opportunities are clearly there for our companies. That is why DIT, through our
network of HM Trade Commissioners, Officials and GREAT.gov.uk, will work to
identify these opportunities and provide advice to overseas businesses who may
want to invest in the UK."
The Construction
Sector Deal will deliver:
- £420 million investment in
‘bytes and mortar smart construction’ - investment will transform
construction through use of digital building design, new manufacturing
technologies and offsite manufacturing helping cut the time taken to
deliver new build by 50%
- cheaper energy bills for
families and businesses – support Industrial Strategy mission to halve the
energy use of new builds by 2030
- 25,000 construction
apprenticeship starts and 1,000 Construction T Level placements by 2020 to
help give young people the skills that industry needs – with £34m to scale
up innovative training models across the country
- $2.5 trillion of global
exports – a globally-competitive sector targeting the growing
international infrastructure market that is set to grow by 70% in the
years ahead
