Mace Construction Manifesto published ahead of election

The international construction and consultancy company Mace has, in the build up to the UK General Election, published ‘A Manifesto for Construction and the Built Environment’ which suggests just four key policy additions, centred around nine key areas, that will allow the construction industry to prosper under the next government.

Specifically, the Mace Construction Manifesto focusses primarily upon the areas of skills, immigration, exports, innovation, procurement, infrastructure, project delivery, carbon emissions, and the planning system.

However, in regard to actual policy recommendations, there are just four suggestions as opposed to nine, including: creating a Department for Growth, ensuring the UK’s future immigration system recognises the unique nature of the construction industry, reviewing the Apprenticeship Levy and increasing the number of apprenticeships, and also tackling the low-carbon skills gap to ensure we can reach Net Zero Carbon.

The Mace Chief Executive, Mark Reynolds stated: “The construction industry is a huge contributor to the UK economy, and yet we often don’t receive the attention we deserve.

“Rarely has our sector faced such an uncertain future, and so it is crucial that during this election campaign politicians from all parties recognise that our industry is vital to the long-term success of the UK economy.

“Whoever ends up running the country in December, we know that our industry will need their support. In our manifesto, we have outlined a number of clear and straight forward policy changes that would give our sector the certainty to invest and continue to grow.”

The Director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, Henri Murison added: “The importance of infrastructure to the Northern Powerhouse, playing a key part in closing the North – South divide, cannot be overstated.

“The construction sector will be critical to this and addressing the barriers to making progress need to be a question for parties at the upcoming General Election.

“From the benefits of delivering projects such as Northern Powerhouse Rail, through to capitalising on the opportunity of those growing up here today getting the highly skilled, quality jobs that will be created by building it, the size of the prize is significant.

“An incoming Government needs to address the concerns put forward here, with a Department for Growth the right partner for more powerful and empowered city region Mayors working on the ground here in the North.”

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