The ‘Roadmap to Recovery’ has been published by the Construction Leadership Council’s Covid-19 Task Force to drive the recovery of construction after the Covid-19 crisis
The Roadmap to Recovery aims to drive the recovery of construction and built environment, and through them the wider UK economy.
The construction industry is uniquely placed to drive the national economic recovery. It employs 3.1 million workers and exports billions of pounds of products and services.
The Roadmap to Recovery plans to increase the level of activity across the construction ecosystem, accelerate the process of industry adjustment to the new normal, and build capacity in the industry to deliver strategic priorities.
These strategic priorities include:
- Increasing prosperity across the UK
- Decarbonisation
- Modernisation through digital and manufacturing technologies
- Delivering better, safer buildings.
There are 3 phases to the Roadmap to Recovery, to be delivered over two years:
- Restart: increase output, maximise employment and minimise disruption (0-3 months)
- Reset: drive demand, increase productivity, strengthen capability in the supply chain (3-12 months)
- Reinvent: transform the industry, deliver better value, collaboration and partnership (12-24 months).
The plan states: “The outcomes will be a more capable, professional, productive and profitable sector, which delivers better value to clients, better performing infrastructure and buildings, and competes successfully in global markets.
“Failure to act will miss an opportunity to deliver this, and risks the industry lapsing into a longer term recession, which erodes capability and skills, and leaves a smaller, weaker sector as a legacy.”
The task force is now engaging with Government to test how the plans proposals might be delivered.
Industry reaction
Responding to the announcement, CBI chief UK policy director Matthew Fell, said: “The CBI welcomes the Roadmap to Recovery strategy for the UK construction industry published by the Construction Leadership Council today [1 June].
“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. CITB will continue to work as part of the CLC and with construction employers.
Sarah Beale, CITB chief executive, added: “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.”
The roadmap to recovery plan can be downloaded here.
