The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has welcomed publication of the ‘Roadmap to Recovery’ plan by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC).
The plan outlines a series of proposals aimed at safeguarding construction businesses and calls for the construction industry to reinvent itself and work in more collaborative ways as it rebuilds.
The CLC, which works between industry and government to identify and deliver actions supporting UK construction in building greater efficiency, has published its plan in three phases: Restart, Reset, Reinvent. The CLC’s ‘COVID-19 Taskforce’ has created the two-year plan to boost productivity and ensure a steady future workload for all parts of the sector. The CLC is currently engaging with government on how to enact these plans.
CIOB works closely with the Council, and many of the other organisations behind the plan, and this new roadmap includes many of the steps recommended by the Institute over the course of the current pandemic.
Eddie Tuttle, Director of Policy at CIOB, said: “This is an important time for the industry, and a key focus currently is job retention and creation. We are pleased to see this response includes many of our calls made in recent months, including input from our written submission to the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee inquiry on the impact of coronavirus, and look forward to working with the Construction Leadership Council on making these steps a reality.”
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said his organisation was determined that the industry should build back better with small, local builders at the heart of the recovery, following the unprecedented shock of the coronavirus.
“I celebrate the fact that the UK construction industry is speaking with one voice, and that voice is calling for a sustainable future for construction, with a mandate to develop initiatives on energy retrofit to fix our leaky homes,” he continued.
“If we are to reach the net zero carbon target, tackle fuel poverty, and improve health we need a national retrofit strategy, and local builders are the ones to deliver this. The domestic RMI market collapsed overnight as lockdown measures were introduced. I want to see it reopened in every community, helping to level up as we bounce back from the pandemic.
“As we tackle our ongoing housing crisis, small builders must also be central to delivering more, better quality homes for all those who need them, including our keyworkers.”
The CBI welcomes the Roadmap to Recovery strategy and its Chief UK Policy Director Matthew Fell said: “A major programme of investment in infrastructure and housing is needed to help the UK economy build back better from the coronavirus pandemic and accelerate action on our long-term challenges of climate change and regional growth.
“But to deliver this, it will be essential that the construction industry is in good financial health, ready to mobilise as one. Investing in long-term project pipelines, improving procurement in the public and private sectors, and committing to collaborate rather than litigate, can all help the sector step up at this time of need.
“This strategy sets out clear workstreams that government and industry should commit to, ensuring the stability and confidence of the industry, and putting construction on a path to drive the recovery of the UK economy.”
A key element of the plan is the emphasis on skills and people. The CITB welcomed the plan and said it will continue to work as part of the CLC and with construction employers to ensure we support the skills needs we have now and throughout the recovery stages.
Sarah Beale, CITB Chief Executive, said: “The Roadmap To Recovery has been developed by numerous industry representatives and is a comprehensive, collaborative responsive to the current crisis; it is crucial to ensure that construction bounces back safely as the cornerstone of the UK economy, while improving productivity.
"CITB are determined to do all we can to support employers in retaining the talent and skills they and the wider industry require right now, as well as support the future requirements of construction."
