A cross-sector group of construction and built environment leaders have written jointly to the Government’s Procurement and Construction Ministers calling for procurement reforms to be implemented at pace, and co-designed with industry, to improve project outcomes, productivity and long-term value for communities.
In a letter to Chris McDonald MP the Minister for Construction at the Department for Business and Trade, and to Chris Ward MP, Minister for Procurement at the Cabinet Office, the signatories welcome the Government’s commitment to ensuring public investment delivers lasting value. The letter also highlights the opportunity to embed stronger social value outcomes through procurement, particularly around skills and workforce development.
The group warns that current procurement and planning models can inadvertently undermine the sector’s ability to invest in skills at the scale required, and that persistent shortages are increasing costs and constraining delivery capacity — risking progress on infrastructure, housing and net zero ambitions.
The letter sets out three practical priorities for reform:
- Embed skills-led social value across public procurement and align requirements with Section 106 employment and training obligations, using outcome-based measures that evidence delivery.
- Promote competence, quality and workforce standards by consistently applying sector competence frameworks and recognised certification routes to improve safety, performance and productivity across supply chains.
- Strengthen collaboration between Government and industry, drawing on proven models such as national collective agreements to support delivery certainty, productivity and local economic benefit.
The signatories have also offered to convene a joint discussion with Ministers and officials, bringing together senior leaders from across the built environment to support effective implementation and help align the wider sector.
