Mace launches productivity report

Mace has launched a new report that makes the case for infrastructure investment as part of a robust industrial strategy. The report, The UK’s productivity problem and how to solve it, sets out the productivity problems facing the industry and proposes some potential solutions for the government, the construction sector and private developers to consider.

“The UK and the construction industry faces a productivity crisis,” said Jason Millett, Mace’s chief operating officer for major programmes and infrastructure. “Lagging behind international benchmarks means that British workers have to work more than their German, French and Italian counterparts. Investment in new infrastructure and transport links as part of the upcoming industrial strategy, should help to improve regional growth and productivity for the UK as a whole. We estimate that by shaving a minute off journey times to key services outside of London could lead to an economic boost of £3.4bn to the economy, plus the associated productivity benefits,” Millett said.

With the delivery and construction of major schemes so important to the productivity of many Western countries, the report says that it is vital that the industry charged with delivering them addresses its own productivity problems so that the benefits can be felt quicker, more efficiently and of more value to the public and clients.

The report accepts that the UK and the construction industry has a particular productivity problem and says that to tackle this will require a concerted effort from the industry and government. The combination of a different project relationship structure, the embrace of emerging technology, the full use of the Apprenticeship Levy and allowing schemes to incentivise local residents could have a significant impact on the speed, quality and cost of delivering major infrastructure and construction schemes in the UK and the world.

Click here to download the full report.