01 / Introduction

We may be tired of hearing about how the construction industry lags behind others in productivity, but its inefficiency and waste deserve greater attention given the impacts on cost and sustainability, particularly in an era enduring the long shadows of the global financial crisis, Brexit, the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

According to management consultant McKinsey, while the productivity of workers in manufacturing rose by 3.6% a year over the two decades up to 2017, the comparable figure for construction is just 1% a year. In light of the above, and with a chronic skills crisis and worsening labour shortages, there is no better time to focus on making our sector more effective and efficient.

Twelve months ago, the government launched its Build Back Better manifesto, a 110-page document that set out how the UK could grasp a “historic opportunity” to improve our infrastructure, skills and innovation by growing more creative businesses around the country and building on the UK’s advantages in foundational technologies such as AI, quantum computing and digital twins, including through the National Data Strategy and Digital Strategy.

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