Come on, Colin

His conviction that doom, gloom and recession will strike within six months of the coming election is not shared by the Construction Confederation, and is out of step with the Construction Products Association’s latest three-year forecast.

Construction does not operate in a vacuum and consolidation and globalisation are facts of life. We should be proud of our major players and encourage them to use their combined strength to influence legislators for the good of our industry. Nor do we operate in isolation. The Construction Confederation works closely with many players inside and outside the construction sector to further its lobbying goals. We are also active members of the strategic forum.

Colin Harding’s unsubstantiated criticism of the Construction Confederation and the Major Contractors Group is confused and confusing. The MCG is thriving and although its, and the confederation’s, successful record in lobbying and representation is too extensive to list, it is worth mentioning a sample: the culture change brought about by the Qualifying the Workforce initiative; achieving a wholesale review of the Construction Industry Scheme; ensuring greater flexibility in the European Union’s Public Procurement Directive; securing successive three-year pay and conditions deals under the Construction Industry Joint Council Working Rule Agreement and widespread improvements in health and safety.

Colin Harding says construction needs “an integrated organisation whose sole interest is to help its members”. Well, the industry already has this in the Construction Confederation. Finally, he feels “disenfranchised” and yet the solution is in his own hands – he is welcome to join as a member and enjoy the support and effective representation of the Construction Confederation.

Roy Wakeman, chairman, Construction Confederation