CITB-ConstructionSkills takes industry Summit to 11 Downing Street

CITB-ConstructionSkills is set to present Skills Minister Matt Hancock with an action plan designed to remove barriers to construction growth in the UK.

Joined by a 25-strong industry delegation, Chief Executive Mark Farrar, Chairman James Wates and Deputy Chairman Judy Lowe will enter 11 Downing Street on 17 January for the summit, which has been secured as part of the Construction4Growth campaign – an industry campaign led by CITB-ConstructionSkills, backed by more than 1,400 SMEs and 19 partner organisations, including the BWF.

The Construction4Growth has been running for six months and works to position construction as a critical component to the wellbeing of the UK economy, calling on government to invest in construction as the best route out of recession and back to growth.

The summit will be the fourth of a series of parliamentary events, which have been held under the Construction4Growth banner. The first three events, which were held earlier this year, covered investment, skills and green issues.

Ministerial Patron and MP for Wirral West, Esther McVey has attend all of the events, giving industry leaders an opportunity to debate some of the issues that they believe have precluded the sector from getting back on its feet. And, resulting in a harder than expected 2012, which saw the economy plunge into a triple dip recession and construction output fall to its lowest levels recorded since the peak of recession in 2009.
 
Mark Farrar said:

“Getting into Downing Street is a tremendous step forward for the Construction4Growth campaign and for CITB-ConstructionSkills. It will give us the opportunity to present our views on how we can positively impact the UK economy.”

“As the leadership Industry Training Board for the sector, it is our job to bring together industry and government to broker relationships that will improve skills, training and employment opportunities for the future.”

“The Summit will give us the opportunity to share our concerns with the Minister and provide solutions, which, if included into policy, could take construction and the UK economy from a decade of debt and decline to a future of delivery and growth.”

Esther McVey said:

“Construction4Growth is a fantastic campaign. As someone who is heavily involved in the sector, I know the potential construction has to form a key part of the growth agenda and it's encouraging to see the industry working with Government in this way. There is a realisation that a lack of skills in the industry can hinder growth.”

The Summit will be held on 17 January – and will use the latest publication of the Construction Skills Network (CSN) findings to support its claim with government.