Government can, and must, lead the way out of the economic crisis brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
2 min read
By providing jobs for an existing skilled workforce, and offering prospects for new entrants into the sector, construction can avoid the impact on skills and productivity experienced in previous periods of economic downturn.
Blane Judd, Chair of the IET’s Built Environment Thought Leadership Panel, said: “We welcome Boris Johnson’s speech and the proposal within it, as it addresses the key causes of the challenges of the past, through investment in infrastructure and the built environment for the future.
“As the largest customer of the construction industry, Government can, and must, lead the way out of the economic crisis brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic. By providing jobs for an existing skilled workforce, and offering prospects for new entrants into the sector, construction can avoid the impact on skills and productivity experienced in previous periods of economic downturn. The retention of talent is key to constructions success and programmes such as the Coronavirus job retention scheme have gone a long way to contributing to that.
“This time, compared to past recessions, there is a greater emphasis on building a way out of the recession and investing for the future.
“Key to the success of these proposals will be a greater focus on the whole life cost of assets, a reduction in the overall time from inception to completion and a greater emphasis on a workforce that is skilled, competent and ethical, thereby reducing the need for excessive supervision and hence increased productivity.”
