New construction role should be made in government, group says

The government must create a new position of chief construction officer, according to a select group of MPs.

The government must create a new position of chief construction officer, according to a select group of MPs.

Following consultations, the Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform select committee has come up with the idea as a means of making the government a better construction client.

The government was attacked for not being consistent in its dealings with the construction industry, and was criticised for not instilling more confidence in the industry during a critical and trying period.

Construction Matters, the name of the report deals with many issues facing the industry but it is hoped by many groups that a better dialogue between the government and the construction industry would lead to more recruitment stability, more knowledgeable MPs and a better-informed industry.

The government is being called on to provide sponsorship of far more apprenticeships, to fill in the recruitment gap from the bottom up.

Often, construction industry executives are criticised for not making the industry look attractive enough to graduates, but more investment in creating skilled workers is called for from the government.

It is expected that a response from the government will be made in October, once MPs return from their summer vacation.