In 2021, the Scottish construction industry moved from crisis to recovery and rebuilding. The Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum look at their 2022 construction wish-list with a positive frame of mind
When asked about their construction wish-list for the coming year, its leading members expressed a strong desire for the continuation of the remarkable cooperation and collaboration which has been the organisation’s hallmark since its creation in March 2020.
While supply chain, training and future skills issues were aired, the collective’s wish-list was predominantly focused on how it can consolidate and build on its successes while making the necessary transformations to continue its momentum.
‘The representative voice of the trade and professional bodies who operate in Scotland’
Alan Wilson, CICV Forum chair and managing director of electrical trade association SELECT, said: “The next 12 months will represent a new chapter and a new identity for the CICV Forum – more of which will be revealed in January.
“Initially set up less than two years ago to deal with the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak, the Forum has quickly established itself as the representative voice of the trade and professional bodies who operate in Scotland and developed its work to deal with other issues, including the low carbon agenda, material shortages and skills.
“It’s great that everyone connected with the Forum wants to see it continue and flourish and my hope for 2022 is that it will go from strength to strength, representing the views of the thousands of businesses, large and small which make up the construction sector.”
‘Reflect, reimagine, and readjust priorities’
Fiona Hodgson, CEO of SNIPEF, also commented: “I am hopeful that 2022 will continue to see the CICV Forum collaborate and share constructive and meaningful conversations to further embrace the opportunities that the past two challenging years have brought to the construction sector.
“With longer-term strategic thinking and planning, rebuilding the way we work to be both creative and smarter will see us collectively benefit and provide the very best for our stakeholders and customers.
“Crisis events such as the pandemic can, and should, shape economic thinking and represent a rare but narrow window of opportunity to reflect, reimagine, and readjust priorities.”
‘Material prices to stabilise quickly’
Asked for his hopes for the future, Gordon Nelson, Scotland director of the Federation of Master Builders, stated: “Top of my wish-list is for buoyant workloads for the backbone of our construction industry – SMEs.
“I would like material prices to stabilise quickly and I would like to see the back of the elongated lead times for the likes of timber, bagged cement, and insulation, which have been the bane of builders’ lives for much of 2021.
“These moves would boost confidence and allow the industry to continue to attract and train the apprentices needed to grow the workforce. For the Forum itself, I wish for a highly successful Green Home Festival in August that will build on the achievements of COP26.”
‘The importance of the RMI market’
Brett Amphlett, policy & public affairs at the Builders Merchants’ Federation, said: “The past 18 months has cast light on the importance of the property repair, maintenance, and improvement (RMI) market.
“With offices empty and many people working from home, a greater number of leaders can now see the extent of, and need to, repair, adapt and improve homes. My wish for 2022 is that this reaffirmation of the value of the RMI market offers businesses encouragement for future employment, productivity, and prosperity in Scotland.
“The work of the CICV Forum has been instrumental in bringing trade and professional bodies together and I’m glad that collaborative effort will be continuing for the benefit of all. BMF members are up to the challenge in 2022 and we can all look forward to better days ahead.”
