{"id":59237,"date":"2015-07-16T11:53:09","date_gmt":"2015-07-16T11:53:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=269be477ea5bb92e0b46d95c84d425fd"},"modified":"2015-07-16T11:53:09","modified_gmt":"2015-07-16T11:53:09","slug":"press-release-government-welcomes-new-construction-leadership-council","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=59237","title":{"rendered":"Press release: Government welcomes new Construction Leadership Council"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The council was created in 2013 to work between industry and government to identify and deliver actions to improve efficiency, skills and growth in UK construction.<\/p>\n

Skills Minister Nick Boles (who co-chairs the council), said:<\/p>\n

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The construction industry recently saw its 24th month of consecutive year on year growth, and is key to our plan for increasing Britain\u2019s productivity and prosperity.<\/p>\n

We will work closely with the newly focussed Construction Leadership Council, with its top business expertise, to deliver that plan and drive growth for the sector and wider economy.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The new membership of the council sees a reduction from its previous 30 members to 12, in response to calls from the sector to make it more effective and business-focused. Members have been drawn from leading construction firms such as Laing O\u2019Rourke and Bouygues UK. <\/p>\n

The Council\u2019s industry co-chair, David Higgins, said:<\/p>\n

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I\u2019m delighted the government has responded to calls for a smaller, more business-focused Construction Leadership Council. The new Council of 12, with its business leaders from across the sector, will be best placed to drive the skills, innovation and productivity outcomes to help the industry build on its recent growth.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

New Council member, Madani Sow, Chairman & CEO<\/abbr> of Bouygues UK, said:<\/p>\n

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This is an exciting opportunity for Bouygues UK and the industry. The UK\u2019s construction sector is growing and leading the way in many fields, but productivity and skills are big issues we need to address and I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Council to achieve this.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The new Council will build on the work of the government\u2019s Chief Construction Adviser, working closely with ministers to ensure the industry\u2019s concerns and ambitions are addressed. As a result, the role of the Chief Construction Adviser will not be continued after the incumbent Peter Hansford\u2019s tenure ends in November 2015. <\/p>\n

New Council members include: Madani Sow (Bouygues UK), Anna Stewart (Laing O\u2019Rourke), Mike Putnam (Skanska) and Andrew Wolstenholme (Crossrail). They will be joined by the Chair of UKTI<\/abbr>\u2019s Construction Advisory Group, a volume housebuilder, a supply chain small\/medium business and the Council co-chairs: Skills Minister Nick Boles and Sir David Higgins, Executive Chair of High Speed 2.<\/p>\n

Notes to Editors:<\/h3>\n
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  1. The government has worked with David Higgins to move to a smaller, more business led construction council. Taking advice from the Chief Construction Adviser and industry, a small group of people has been identified whose seniority in business equips them to give leadership to the sector. The new Council represents a mix of businesses and broad range of perspectives on the construction industry.<\/li>\n
  2. Council members will lead a specific workstream to deliver improvements to working practices in the industry:\n