NFB: New industrial strategy must allow construction to flourish
National Federation of Builders
A smarter procurement process will not just benefit small and medium businesses, but will also ensure the taxpayer receives value for money says NFB
On 23 January, the prime minister announced the publication of a new green paper on an industrial strategy for the UK.
Mrs May had launched a cabinet committee in August 2016 to deliver “a proper industrial strategy that focuses on improving productivity”.
The green paper outlines the Government’s approach to driving economic growth, as the UK prepares to leave the EU. The industrial strategy will be underpinned by ten pillars.
The National Federation of Builders (NFB) sees the publication of the Industrial Strategy Green Paper as a step in the right direction for the construction industry. Three out of ten pillars in the Government’s industrial strategy focus on developing a skilled workforce, upgrade our infrastructure, and streamlining the procurement process.
The NFB has campaigned for years to streamline procurement, which is still a big barrier to growth for construction SMEs – many of which are NFB members. Procurement is still a very wasteful process, with 12% of NFB members spending more than £30,000 annually on pre-qualification and 40% spending more than 31 days every year on preparing bids.
A smarter procurement process will not just benefit small and medium businesses, but will also ensure the taxpayer receives value for money.
Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “We are glad to see the Government is listening to us. Tackling the skills crisis, speeding up procurement and improving our national infrastructure are fundamental steps in driving economic growth.
“It’s still unclear where the money to implement this strategy will come from. Focusing on industries and processes that will become more efficient can make us more competitive and provide value for taxpayers’ money.”
