Construction is crucial to the success of our economic revival – and this is particularly true in the South East, where we are coming out of recession slower than many other regions.
As an industry, construction is one of the most efficient for public sector investment, with every £1 spent generating £2.84 in wider economic benefit.
However, the recession has changed the industry, which now needs direct Government support to recover and deliver broader economic growth.
Obviously, the new Government’s priority is to tackle the public deficit, but it is also a key task of Government to ensure there is public sector investment in key construction based projects, until the private sector picks up.
It is only by maintaining capital investment levels that we will prevent significant skills and job losses in the sector.
A sector which, in Kent alone, equates to more than 9,000 construction SMEs (small to medium enterprises) employing 34,000 staff – not to mention the thousands employed through larger building firms and the self-employed.
As the Sector Skills Council and Industry Training Board, we’re working hard to help businesses to increase productivity, so that we can create more jobs for local people and bring a welcome boost to the economy in the South East.
Only by keeping those opportunities local to our region can we ensure that we help a generation of young people who are not employed or in education and training to find work on their doorstep.
On a positive note, the recent announcement of £150 million to fund 50,000 more apprenticeship places for SMEs - which goes beyond the 20,000 previously announced - is a welcome boost for the region’s small and medium-sized firms.
Importantly for the South East, this funding will not only support young apprentices but many local adults also seeking work.
Apprenticeships are the lifeblood of our industry and we must ensure we are creating enough opportunities for young people and that businesses are willing and able to invest in them.
Here at ConstructionSkills, we’re committed to change - and we’re committed to our industry.
We’re also looking forward to working alongside new MPs and Ministers: in particular we will be looking to put forward the views of employers, and discuss how we can work together to the benefit of our industry, the people who work in it and the wider economy.
• Hilary Davies is South East regional strategy advisor for CITB-ConstructionSkills - the Industry Training Board and Sector Skills Council