President backs Government strategy

HVCA President Bob Shelley has thrown his weight behind the Government's proposed Construction Strategy and urged the industry to embrace it “enthusiastically and unequivocally".

He said the strategy was vital if the UK was to have any prospect of meeting the challenging carbon reduction targets to which it is committed. 

“I am delighted that this potentially revolutionary document contains many recommendations for which the specialist engineering sector has been lobbying for as long as most of us can remember," said Mr Shelley at the recent HVCA President's lunch.

Improved integration across the supply chain; standard forms of pre-qualification; the elimination of wasteful processes; and a fair payment regime for all where key elements he identified. 

He said the strategy could: "provide the blueprint for a programme of root-and-branch reform that is both sorely needed and overdue". 

However, he said that turning "vision into reality" would be the hard part and warned that too many reports containing "fine, brave words" had led to disappointment in the past.

Mr Shelley welcomed the fact that the process was to be led by a Construction Board chaired by the Government’s own chief construction adviser, Paul Morrell.

To read the full strategy document click here.