Scotland’s construction industry is aiming to increase productivity by 10% by 2016

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Scotland’s construction industry is aiming to increase productivity by 10% by 2016.

The target is one of several ambitious goals set out in a new strategy document launched in Glasgow today at the Construction Scotland and BRE Scotland joint annual conference.

The strategy - Building for the Future - will be implemented by Balfour Beatty Scottish managing director Tim Clarke, the chairman of the new Construction Scotland Industry Leadership Group.

It aims to develop a “safer, successful and forward looking construction industry which places innovation, productivity and collaboration at the heart of everything it does” and establish a single voice for the industry.

Clarke said: “Today marks the start of a new era for the construction industry. We’re an industry which was hit particularly hard by the economic downturn, but working together to increase our innovation, productivity and competitiveness to deliver a more sustainable, low carbon economy will help us meet our growth ambitions.

“In particular, we want to engage closer with the public sector on planning and procurement issues, and continue to develop our leadership and management teams to ensure the industry remains attractive to our young people.

“The new Leadership Group will build on the work already undertaken by the Industry Advisory Group to maintain and build our reputation world-wide for delivering high quality products and services and really drive forward the industry’s growth plans.”

The strategy also seeks to:

- increase GVA by 10% to reach £9.62 billion

- increase innovation activity by 5%

- increase productivity by 10%

- increase efficiency through recycling 42% of industry waste

- increase exports by 10%

- continue to deliver the levels of modern apprenticeship activity

- increase leadership and management development activity

Scottish minister for energy, enterprise and tourism, Fergus Ewing, said: “The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the construction sector with our programme of infrastructure investment and we will continue to work with the industry as it moves forward with these ambitious new targets.”

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