Government Playbook Launched to Step Up Construction Productivity and Innovation

A NEW government construction playbook to make sure public sector works are delivered faster, better and greener, has been launched today.

Government contracts paid for by the taxpayer are the construction industry’s biggest customer. In 2018, public sector works contributed some £117 billion to the UK economy, as well as supporting over two million jobs.

The Construction Playbook, launched today, outlines what government expects from these works, from new roads and railway lines to schools, hospitals and prisons.

Government Playbook Launched

The Playbook outlines the key role the construction sector will play in both the UK’s recovery from the pandemic and work to bring greenhouse gas emissions down to net zero by 2050.

Green initiatives in the Playbook include promoting the use of carbon assessments to understand and minimise the greenhouse emissions of projects.

Other measures include:

• Providing greater certainty to industry through long term plans for key programmes. This will include longer term contracting across a range of areas which will give industry the certainty required to invest in new technologies, delivering improved productivity and efficiency savings
• Incentivising industry to innovate by focusing on the output of what government wants a project to achieve, rather than micromanaging how it is done
• Modernising construction by standardising designs and parts, as well as embedding digital technologies including the UK Building Information Management Framework
• Greater focus on building positive relationships with robust contract management between project leads and industry
• Investing more in training and apprenticeships, driving forward innovation in construction, boost productivity and focus on value for money in public sector developments

Safety First

Learning lessons from the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the Construction Playbook also makes it clear that the construction sector must put safety at the heart of everything it does.

Cabinet Office Minister Lord Agnew, said: “As the largest construction sector customer, government is in an ideal position to ensure that the industry is productive, professional and delivers value for money for taxpayers.

“By adopting the new Construction Playbook, developed with industry partners, we will help ensure that the sector becomes greener and more innovative.”

Andy Mitchell, CLC Co-Chair

Andy Mitchell, the CEO of Tideway and Co-Chair of Construction Leadership Council, added: “The Government can influence the whole direction that our sector takes with the way it buys new public buildings and infrastructure.

“The Construction Leadership Council is delighted that Government is showing real leadership in this regard. The Construction Playbook commits us all to drive positive change with better, long-term relationships and more efficient ways of working. The CLC will give its support to engage the industry to play its part in embedding the Playbook recommendations across our sector.”

Industry Backing

The Construction Playbook has been created following months of detailed talks between the government and the construction sector. The measures launched today have been backed by construction firms and business associations from across the industry.

The document also outlines how the Government will strengthen the financial assessment of all the suppliers it works with to make sure projects are delivered on time and to budget.

INDUSTRY RESPONSE

Roll Out Quickly

Josh Hardies, CBI Deputy Director-General, said: “The Construction Playbook addresses many of the contracting challenges that CBI members and industry have long known lead to problems when it comes to delivering projects on time and on budget.

“The government is construction’s biggest client, meaning a sea-change in the way it buys from the construction industry is critical to spreading better practices across the sector and through the supply chain.”

Fantastic Opportunity

Greg Craig, Chair of the CBI Construction Council and President and CEO of Skanska UK, commented: “This is a fantastic opportunity to transform our industry. We know the new policies and approach will help to deliver safer, faster and lower cost outcomes for customers, with lower carbon impact.

“The way to make this work is for every tier of the supply chain to adopt and apply the key principles within their own sourcing activities.”

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