The National Federation of Builders (NFB) and the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) joined forces on Monday to host a landmark ‘Growth Through Construction’ parliamentary lunch in the heart of policy making, the House of Commons. The event brought together members of both federations, MPs, and industry leaders to explore how construction can lead the UK’s growth agenda.  

Wayne Connolly, President of NASC said:  

“Building 1.5 million homes, while delivering many other major infrastructure projects, will require a huge increase in skilled workers. With 1,200 weekly scaffolding vacancies and an estimated 40,000 more scaffolders required to meet the housing targets alone, the three years training for this specialised role takes us to the final year of this parliament. Without action, this will act as a barrier to the Government’s ambitions. Technology can only take us so far and therefore difficult decisions need to be taken, such as combining the use of immigration in the short term with investment in skills for the longer term, to boost growth.”

The event, hosted by Aphra Brandreth MP, focused on the critical areas that are key to achieving the Government’s growth ambitions, housing and infrastructure delivery, skills and employment, planning reform, and the green transition.

Attendees heard from Florence Eshalomi MP, Chair of the Housing, Communities, and Local Government Committee, former housing minister and housing consultant, Eddie Hughes, and Kevin Hollinrake MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. 

Mr. Hollinrake provided a succinct analysis of the direction of travel the Conservative party should be heading and, in the room bearing his name, quoted Winston Churchill who highlighted businesses as ‘the strong horse that pulls the whole cart.’ 

Florence Eshalomi MP showed great understanding of the challenges faced by residents of unsafe buildings, the complexities of operating as an SME builder, and the need for the Government and politicians to work with those building the homes and projects key to solving the UK’s challenges and growth ambitions. 

Mark Wakeford, NFB Chair, added:  

“Our sectors deliver the roads, rail and renewables. Construct buildings for jobs, homes, and public services. Maintaining our heritage will retrofit our 28million homes and employ 10% of our workforce. 
NFB and NASC have come together to support the governments growth agenda and our ‘Growth through Construction’ event does just that by bringing together captains for industry, celebrating where we excel, identify where reforms could have the most impact and most importantly, informing our decision makers how growth is sustained. 

We must thank Florence Eshalomi, chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee and Kevin Hollinrake, Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for speaking at our event, providing excellent insight and showing that our politicians are united in supporting construction to build a better Britain.”