The IHBC has supported the recent response by the The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) to the threats of recession as each argue that government should ‘target maintenance and repair’ to avoid recession and drive growth.
Speaking about the latest Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures Judy Lowe, Deputy Chairman of CITB, said: ‘The news that Britain has narrowly avoided a triple dip recession is scant comfort to the construction industry… we now need immediate investment in repair and maintenance projects… every £100m invested in repair and maintenance takes 3,200 unemployed construction workers off Job Seekers Allowance’.
IHBC Director Seán O’Reilly said: ‘Its great to hear CITB and ourselves pushing the same message to government, and with the statistics now available to show how maintenance is a viable growth strategy, it’s an iron-clad case. Maintenance is a ‘shovel-ready’ growth programme!’
‘Given the traditional construction used in many of the buildings that might be targeted, if we can all just get the right skills balance between industry and building stock, then we’d save money on the Green Deal too!’
CITB writes:
‘The industry is in a glacial depression. With our Construction Skills Network data showing 60,000 jobs lost in 2012 and a 8 per cent drop in output, it is essential that this key driver of economic growth gets the immediate boost it needs to kick start activity.
‘The Government has responded positively to our industry-led Construction4Growth campaign. The pre-budget announcements on housing are welcome but we now need immediate investment in repair and maintenance projects.’
‘The figures speak for themselves: every £100m invested in repair and maintenance takes 3,200 unemployed construction workers off Job Seekers Allowance. Plus it boosts local and national economies. Our message to Government is ‘back construction now and reap the rewards of economic growth’.
CITB News: LINK
