Government to review the engineering construction sector

Business secretary Lord Mandelson and skills secretary John Denham have announced that their departments will conduct a review of productivity and skills in the engineering construction sector.

The review will assess the state of productivity in engineering construction in the UK and identify the key inhibitors to productivity including skills aspects. It will make recommendations on ways to improve skills and productivity in the industry - such as through government procurement requirements - and identify specific factors influencing success for UK-based companies bidding for UK and foreign engineering construction contracts.

The review will be led by Mark Gibson, who leaves his post as director general of the business and enterprise group at the end of February.

In the light of the recent “British jobs for British workers” battle at the Lindsey 2 refinery, the review aims to establish whether there is anything more government or industry can do to ensure British companies succeed in winning and delivering engineering construction contracts in an increasingly competitive sector.

Announcing the review, Lord Mandelson said: "Mark Gibson has extensive experience in working to improve the competitiveness of UK industry. His remit is to draw up clear recommendations for ensuring that British companies and workers are fully equipped for vital future jobs in industries like nuclear new build, and the other large scale engineering construction work.”