THE BOUNCE FORWARD BULLETIN: An optimists guide to the most positive, British Bounce Forward, construction news…
“It sounds positively Rooseveltian. It sounds like a New Deal. All I can say is that if so, then that is how it is meant to sound and to be, because that is what the times demand…If we deliver this plan together, then we will together build our way back to health…We will not just bounce back, we will bounce forward – stronger and better and more united than ever before.” Boris Johnson. June 29, 2020.
17 AUGUST:
Construction Enquirer’s latest article brings more positive news for the construction industry – “Output has increased for two months in a row and momentum is increasing. June’s 23.5% surge was triple the 7.6% growth seen in May.” “The recovery is still young and fragile, but so far it is taking the hoped-for V-shape.” Read more here
30 JULY:
Good news for construction consultancy services as UK.GOV begins market engagement for the £1.5bn framework in advance of their 20 January deadline. Read more at building.co.uk
27 JULY: A further £6bn HS2 work announced. 18 railway system and construction contracts on the way over the next two years.
21 JULY:
Scape announce a new £13bn construction framework – ranking it as one of the biggest covering the UK. BUT, more importantly, suppliers have to be Level 2 BIM compliant! It’s the new normal for contractors says Chris Clarke, Scape’s Performance and Improvement Director
30 JUNE:
Ahead of Boris’ speech, more detail c/o the BBC on plans to boost UK economic recovery. In a bid to boost the country’s financial outlook, Mr Johnson will pledge to put jobs and infrastructure at the centre of the government’s economic growth with a commitment to “build, build, build”. Read more
29 JUNE:
More good news on the way as No.10 announce plans to fast track £250bn investment into modernising schools, hospitals, road and rail infrastructure. Read more
25 JUNE:
Here’s an inspiring article, reinforcing our research back in March. Here, in this week’s Building magazine, Ann Bentley talks about why, “…as an industry we are in an enviable position where the impact of our activity can cause a massive economic ripple across the seas of uncertainty…”
Ann Bentley is a global board director of Rider Levett Bucknall, a member of the government’s Construction Leadership Council and also a member of the CBI’s construction council
Plus, the first glimmers of optimism in Architectural commissions in this article from Nicholas Thompson at Aukett.
23 JUNE:
More re-assuring news on boosting the construction industry recovery. This time from housing secretary Robert Jenrick: “Building the homes the country needs is central to the mission of this government and is an important part of our plans to recover from the impact of the coronavirus….” Read more
17 JUNE:
Despite the negative news this week there is more important, positive, momentum coming from by No.10. The downturn in the industry is retrospective news, obviously the market is slowing down, what is significant though is UK PLC minimising the damage by fastracking projects. This week they have announced 260 projects to help the construction industry recover…
Nick Smallwood, chief executive, Infrastructure and Projects Authority: “In publishing projections of short term procurement, we aim to boost market confidence and help the sector with business planning during this challenging period.” Read more
15 JUNE:
As we reported previously, more public sector work is crucial to recovery. Following up on phase 2 of the Roadmap to Recovery (see 1st JUNE below), we will soon have ‘clarity and visibility’ about the government’s plans to accelerate public sector contract awards.
“The aim….is to give the industry confidence that over the medium to long term there is going to be a supply of work. It’s vital to give people clarity and visibility about the pipeline and accelerate the award of contracts at all stages of projects. That’s something we need to do as quickly as possible.”
Fergus Harradence, deputy construction director at the department for business, energy and industrial strategy. Read more
1 JUNE:
After weeks of nothing useful and positive to report, the Construction Leadership Council, co-chaired by Alok Sharma, the business secretary, sets out a Roadmap to Recovery. In summary, over the next 12 months we will see a boost in demand across infrastructure, housing, repair and maintenance. There is an executive summary of the report courtesy of BuildUK.
20 APRIL:
1: The talk about the economic and societal benefits of investment in construction continue.
14 APRIL:
1: Positive signs of construction sites re-opening with HS2 starting to mobilise again.
2: Gleeson gear up for recovery optimism and business acumen combine with this dynamic housebuilder.
3: More new projects in the pipeline note the focus on health, community & amenity, education, and social housing projects.
4: It starts with a quick bounce back in manufacturing there’s no point going back to work if we haven’t got any materials to build with!
5: ‘Doom to Boom’ An article from way back in week 1 of lockdown.
