Government to unveil industrial strategy

The government’s new industrial strategy for construction will be unveiled next week, Building can confirm.

The industrial strategy, which the development of which has been overseen by chief construction adviser Peter Hansford, will be announced at the Government Construction Summit on Tuesday (2 July)

Writing exclusively for Building this week, Hansford suggested the industrial strategy would look at ways to bring together aspects of the reform agenda across the industry.

Hansford cited the example of linking the government’s BIM strategy with industrial strategy, as well as the low carbon agenda.

To read Peter Hansford’s comment click here

He said: “What about the potential of BIM to help us achieve our ambitions in low carbon construction? We have been pursuing the cost and efficiency agenda alongside the low carbon agenda, but how do we these initiatives fit together?” He said the industrial strategy “displays real ambition”, before adding, “now we must go out and make it happen”.

It is understood that the industrial strategy will also outline plans for a council of industry leaders to be set-up to oversee its implementation.

It is expected to have a similar membership to the Construction Industrial Strategy Advisory Council, which currently includes Ray O’Rourke, executive chairman oLaing O’Rourke; Mark Clare, chief executive of Barratt Developments and Mike Putnam, chief executive of Skanska UK.