Event to take place at beginning of next month
An emergency summit on the escalating materials shortages crisis is being held at the beginning of next month for firms working in the North-east.
Regional lobbying organisation Construction Alliance North East (CAN) has organised the summit in collaboration with the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA), the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF), North East Procurement Organisation and legal specialist Bevan Brittan.
Speakers included CECA chief Alasdair Reisner and BMF chief executive John Newcombe.
CAN chair Ken Parkin said: “The summit is a cross industry event to raise awareness of this important issue and to discuss possible solutions.”
He added: “The industry has never faced this situation before so It is important that CAN understands national issues which affect us here in the North-east so we can learn from this in future and explain it to our regional membership. CAN strongly believes that planning ahead and working collaboratively with suppliers and clients is the only way to minimise the impact of this global issue on North-east contractors.”
Supply chains are being stretched by the global economy coming out of lockdown as well as manufacturing issues in China along with restricted ports capacity in the country.
Jonathan Walker, policy director at the North East England Chamber of Commerce, said: “The materials shortage crisis is one that is starting to have a widespread impact on construction firms in our region. Forecasted project costs are needing to be reconfigured as businesses weigh up the inflated materials costs, while other contractors are unable to start work on key projects because they just don’t have the physical supplies needed to fulfil contracts.
“New barriers to trade following the UK’s departure from the European Union have added additional friction to construction material supply chains.”
The online event will take place on 1 October between 9AM and 11AM.
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