CBI calls for greater government and industry collaboration
Confederation of British Industry says stronger relationship needed to reach net-zero and levelling-up targets.
A new paper published by the CBI calls for greater collaboration between the UK Government and industry if net-zero and levelling-up ambitions are to be met.
The paper, New Foundations, acknowledges the affect of COVID-19 on the construction sector which it says has been “drastically and permanently altered”, with difficulties exacerbated by increased costs and labour shortages.
It urges reform to the 2020 Construction Playbook to help accelerate the role of the construction sector in ‘building back better’.
Among the 17 recommendations is a call for enhancing the Cabinet Office ability to identify and act on businesses’ reports of poor procurement practice and a call to use the upcoming Comprehensive Spending Review to ensure swift deployment of public sector training materials and delivery.
Commenting on the findings, Gregor Craig, chair of the CBI Construction Council and President & CEO of Skanska UK, urged reform. ‘The construction industry’s make-or-break role in building the foundations of a net-zero economy by 2050 means we must accelerate our response to the climate imperative. The impacts of the pandemic, new political priorities, and policy developments have created a period of disruption, and this change is the catalyst for permanent transformation in the industry’s business model – but we cannot do it alone.’
