UK
Construction Week opens tomorrow and will bring together a wide spectrum of the
construction trade together over three days at the NEC Birmingham (10-12
October).
Ahead
of the event, UK Construction Week conducted a Brexit survey from over 2,500
industry leaders. The survey canvassed architects, contractors, SME builders,
surveyors, engineers, local authorities and many more.
The
survey clearly shows that the UK Construction industry wants to discuss the
positive impacts of BREXIT, with the majority of respondents believing it will
force us to solve the skills shortage once and for all by investing in younger
generations and encouraging them into the sector. This places extra emphasis on
making sure the CITB is fit for purpose, and also supports the Farmer Report,
Modernise or Die. Mark Farmer will present his view on what needs to be done
following on from the report at UK Construction Week tomorrow.
It
also points to resurgence in British building materials, as contractors and
house builders protect themselves from any tariffs in future, but also to
taking advantage of a blossoming UK manufacturing base. This week’s UK
Construction Week is a perfect demonstration of this with major British firms
taking centre stage, such as Easy-Trim (Roofing and sealants), Forterra (Bricks
and Building Materials), Tufeco (Modular Housing), Potterton (Heating),
Portakabin (Modular Buildings) and HG Matthews (Bricks).
Offsite
and Modular construction are also cited as a solution to build quicker in post
BREXIT Britain. Event Director, Nathan Garnett said “Offsite and Modular
Construction is a major theme of UK Construction week in 2017 with over 100
manufacturers and suppliers in the sector exhibiting, an increase of 65% on
last year. This is a reflection of how Offsite construction has now become
accepted as a mainstream method of construction, increasing speed and
productivity in the sector.”
The
best possible example of home grown manufacturing and skills can be exemplified
by the stunning world premiere of a two-story modular house at the show. Jon
Gunn, CEO of Tufeco and a partner at ATELIO, said: “We see tremendous
opportunity in the next few years for us as British manufacturers of world
class modular buildings. We have worked in collaboration with Grimshaw, so our
project is a real testament to UK skills and knowledge, and are confident our
product can be a real advantage in the challenge to build the homes we need in
the next decade.”
One
of UK Construction Week and Timber Expo’s partners, Dougal Driver, CEO of Grown
in Britain, said: "It is great to hear the UK Construction Week survey
indicates support for British made materials. British-grown timber returns
social and economic value back to communities here in the UK, supporting rural
jobs and local economies."
Key
survey findings:
- 64%
believe BREXIT will force us to solve the skills crisis and invest in younger
generations
- Over
50% said it will make us buy British Building Materials
- 43%
believe building material costs will stabilise and 10% think materials prices
may actually go down
- 53%
said we will embrace offsite manufacturing as a solution to the challenges
ahead
Whilst
leaving the EU poses challenges, the construction industry is already looking
ahead to the positives outcomes BREXIT could bring. The UKCW survey however has
laid down a very clear mandate for the UK Government to invest more in
apprenticeships and support British manufacturing.
All
of these topics will be discussed at UK Construction Week in the Development
and Regeneration Hub and the UKCW stage, from 10-12 October at the NEC
Birmingham.
