Currie & Brown’s Post

Interesting read for anyone wondering what the new government brings for the UK Construction Industry. I think we all know by now a serious issue in the sector is the shortage of skilled labor / workers, interesting to see what plans are put in place to get more youngsters into construction. As someone who went to Uni and arguably did a "pointless degree" that I certainly don't use, I am an advocate for young people getting a trade and taking a pathway into the industry as I think it can bring a lot of stability and sensibility to themselves and the workforce, but how will they go about promoting this? I happen to think it can be misunderstood by the younger generation how good a career can be in construction, how well at times it can pay and feel it can get a bad rep, with some seeing it as an unambitious career. (which is a load of *****) #ukconstruction #costructioncareers

Top construction chiefs call for more foreign workers A dozen construction chiefs have set out a blueprint for the next Government to deliver infrastructure growth and boost the wider economy. The hit list of reforms calls for a more flexible immigration system to allow firms to fill immediate skills gaps and help transfer specific skills to the UK workforce. Construction chiefs behind Blueprint for Growth report Leo Quinn, #BalfourBeatty Ray O’Rourke, #LaingORourke Richard Offord, #VolkerWessels John Wilkinson, #BAM Mark Reynolds, #Mace Richard Robinson, #AtkinsRealis Alex Vaughan, #Costain John Morgan, #MorganSindall James Harris, #MottMacDonald Bill Hocking, #GallifordTry Scott Wardrop, #Vinci Mark Naysmith, #WSP The firms argue increasing private investment will be essential, but warn obstacles such as policy instability and the planning system have created uncertainty for investors, despite the UK’s sophisticated finance models and attractiveness to pension funds. Blueprint for Growth – A plan to ensure stability, continuity, certainty, and a steady flow of investment Depoliticise infrastructure A appoint new Cabinet Minister for infrastructure with cross-department oversight and clout Increase private investment in public infrastructure by tackling obstacles such as policy stability and uncertainties in the planning system Timely, holistic decision-making on key areas such as new nuclear, Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), and offshore wind Improve budget setting to ensure accurate estimations of costs, benefits, and completion times for major projects, avoiding over-optimistic projections Efficient risk allocation during project procurement to avoid prolonged negotiations and ensure fair distribution of risk ownership. Investment continuity by avoiding delays on projects such as HS2 and Lower Thames Crossing which just raises costs and uncertainty Simplify the judicial review process to refuse automatically Judicial Reviews where detailed examination already carried out in the Development Consent Order consultation and scrutiny Mandate consideration of the national interest to force local authorities to consider the overall economic well-being of UK in decisions Self-certification system to accelerate delivery by allowing post-consent non-material changes in Nationally Significant Infrastructure projects Transform the Apprenticeship Levy to create a more flexible ‘Skills Levy’ to allow employers to allocate funds efficiently to bridge skill gaps, prioritising upskilling and shorter technical courses. A flexible immigration system giving firms freedom to bring in experts from other countries to transfer specific skills to UK workforce. Simplify bureaucratic processes for bringing in short-term workers https://lnkd.in/ejvJtzfF

As we recover from last nights landslide win for Labour, lets take a look at what they have promised in the built environment........ At-a-glance: the key measures for the built environment in the Labour manifesto - Build 1.5 million new homes over the next parliament -Re-instate mandatory housing targets, strengthen presumptions in favour of sustainable development and fund additional planning officers, paid for by increasing the rate of the stamp duty surcharge paid by non-UK residents -Prioritise the release of supposedly lower quality “grey belt” land -Build a new generation of new towns and to reform compulsory purchase compensation rules relating to hope value -New planning powers and housing grant funding flexibilities for combined authorities -Make changes to the Affordable Homes Programme “to ensure that it delivers more homes from existing funding” -Establish an Industrial Strategy Council -A £7.3bn National Wealth Fund to be tasked with supporting Labour’s growth and clean energy missions -Develop a 10-year infrastructure strategy, to give the private sector “certainty about project pipeline” -Improving rail connectivity across the north of England. -Create a new National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority, bringing together existing bodies, to set strategic infrastructure priorities and oversee the design, scope, and delivery of projects -Update national planning policy to make it easier to build laboratories, digital infrastructure and gigafactories -Invest an extra £6.6bn as part of its Warm Homes Plan to upgrade five million homes -Secure a mutual recognition agreement for professional qualifications to help open up markets for UK service exporters

So today we got the Labour Party Manifesto. But whats in it for EV? 🔔 Labour will create a new Regulatory Innovation Office, bringing together existing functions across government. This office will help regulators update regulation, speed up approval timelines, and co-ordinate issues that span existing boundaries. 🔔 £1.5 billion to new gigafactories. 🔔 Committed to accelerating the roll out of charge points. 🔔 Restoring the phase-out date of 2030 for new cars with internal combustion engines. 🔔 Supporting buyers of second hand electric cars by standardising the information supplied on the condition of batteries. 🔔 Will give mayors the power to create unified and integrated transport systems. 🔔 Will also develop a long-term strategy for transport, ensuring transport infrastructure can be delivered efficiently and on time. 🔔 Labour said they will work with the private sector to double onshore wind, triple solar power, and quadruple offshore wind by 2030. More renewable energy, cheaper bills. 🔔 Recognises that with grid connection dates not being offered until the late 2030s, important business and infrastructure investment is being stalled or lost overseas. They commit to work with industry to upgrade our national transmission infrastructure and rewire Britain and work at a local level to take pressure off the transmission network. What about the skills we need to get this all done? 🔔 Labour have said they will transform Further Education colleges into specialist Technical Excellence Colleges. These colleges will work with businesses, trade unions, and local government to provide young people with better job opportunities and the highly trained workforce that local economies need. 🔔 Labour have said they will guarantee training, an apprenticeship, or help to find work for all 18- to 21-year-olds. 🔔 Labour have said they will reform the apprenticeship levy and create a flexible Growth and Skills Levy, with Skills England consulting on eligible courses to ensure qualifications offer value for money. So that's our 2023 manifesto ask and first 100 days ask to restore the ZEV mandate. ✅ Our skills report ask for skills reform to improve net zero skills. ✅ Our long standing ask to get renewables in the ground as quickly as possible. ✅ Now of course, alot of this was in Labours Plan for the Automotive Sector, that members had a full analysis of 5 mins after it was published in October last year. So if you'd like to stay ahead of the game and be a part of making real change, maybe the REA is right for you? DM me for details. https://lnkd.in/e5v9rBs2 Paddy Craven Mark Constable Alec Peachey Claire Miller Martin Hale Matt Croucher Drew Huddart Miles J R Gillespie Loyd Davies Mat Ilic Lindsay Warren ⚡️🔋🌍Russell Fowler Bill Esterson thanks for the reminder about your plan for the automotive sector from your useful post yesterday

Dear Members,   Another year has passed, and with it, a time for reflection of what has been achieved, and anticipation for the year to come. As the Chair of CLRA, I’m pleased to share our progress in 2023 and highlight what our members can look forward to in 2024.   Our proudest achievement in 2023 is undoubtedly the finalization of outstanding Collective Agreements with all BTA trade divisions, with a term date of April 30, 2025. Our success has resulted in Alberta offering some of the nation’s most competitive wages and labour jobs, which will ensure our industry’s health.  However, these agreements are due for renewal in April 2025 which means CLRA must begin now to prepare for bargaining to officially begin  in a little more than a year. We will share more information with our members on these plans as they become available in the months ahead.   To that end, CLRA will continue to lobby government officials on key policy areas to support our work on behalf of employers in the construction sector. This includes protecting and enhancing Alberta’s construction registration bargaining system, addressing double-breasting, and streamlining the Common Employer Application process.   To say that the province is growing is an understatement – Dow’s announcement for a CAD 9 billion invest to build  the world’s first net-zero ethylene facility in Fort Saskatchewan is exciting news for the construction sector. Together, the Dow facility is among six planned projects from companies, including Inter Pipeline, Keyera, NOVA Chemicals, Nutrien and Pembina Pipeline that will create 20,250 construction jobs between 2023 and 2030.   With this economic growth, Alberta requires the expertise that our members bring to build and maintain the infrastructure we rely on. The CLRA is committed to renewing our efforts to attract and train the workers needed to meet this demand in the construction sector. Last year, we successfully launched the Build Your Future social media campaign to attract skilled tradespeople from across Canada to Alberta. In 2024, we will shift gears to be more education-focused, targeting high-school students, as well as adults exploring careers in the trades. A redesign of our campaign website is already underway to reflect this new focus. In closing, thank you for your ongoing support in solidifying CLRA’s standing as the most recognizable and influential voice of Alberta’s construction employers. As we break new ground, we look forward to working with our members on to ensure your interests are represented with our skilled trades, government and stakeholders.   Sincerely,   Bonnie Smith CLRA Board Chair

Now that Labour are in power, will they seek to reduce the cost of compulsory purchase orders by reforming landowner compensation rules in order to get major infrastructure and housebuilding moving. There is clearly an appetite to demonstrate more is being done than the Conservative LURA changes. Do have a read of my colleagues great article on this.

Bringing train operators into public ownership One of the new Labour government’s more radical ideas, the Passenger Railway Services Bill, will see train operators brought into public ownership over the next few years. The government makes clear that this is an “early step” towards broader reforms, so we won’t see them buying all the rail companies just yet. Rather, the process will see train operations transfer to the public sector as existing contracts expire, or operators fail to meet their commitments. The bill will also amend the law so that appointing a publicly owned rail operator is the default. Labour says the plan will save millions in taxpayer money that is currently paid in fees to private rail operators, as well as allowing them to lower emissions. It comes alongside the Railways Bill – which aims to create a “unified and simplified” rail system – and the confirmation of a pledge to improve rail links in the north of England. Great British Energy Bill A flagship Labour policy, and the one the party has committed the most spending to, this bill gets Great British Energy off the ground. It will be a publicly owned energy production company that owns, manages and operates clean power projects across the UK. The bill will allow the company to begin investments and allow energy secretary Ed Miliband to begin securing private-sector partnerships. Labour says the plan will give the UK energy independence, create new jobs, save money for households and tackle climate change. https://lnkd.in/gw9gepSF

Over the last year, Canada’s Building Trades Unions has strongly advocated for the federal government to follow through on its commitment to implement the Investment Tax Credits (ITCs) that were promised in the 2022 Fall Economic Statement and the 2023 Federal Budget. For employers to receive the tax credits - which are available for clean hydrogen, clean electricity, and carbon capture - they would need to offer prevailing wage to their unionized and non-unionized workers and adhere to apprenticeship requirements. This would benefit workers, employers, and Canada’s economy. Next week, the government is expected to release the 2023 Fall Economic Statement. CBTU hopes to see legislation on the Investment Tax Credits introduced in the house the same day, and we look forward to working with the government to see this legislation through. Learn more about CBTU’s advocacy campaign on the Investment Tax Credits: https://lnkd.in/g5ytH4V7. Chrystia Freeland Ministry of Finance

With the new administration settling in, here are some key points from the Labour party manifesto that are likely to have a direct impact on economy, environment, and communities: -Strategic State Action 📒: Labour promises a more dynamic and inclusive approach to government. This means working collaboratively with businesses, unions, local leaders, and devolved governments for a more effective and prosperous UK. -Empowering Local Authorities 🏫: A national wealth fund (£1.5bn) will be set up to support job creation. Labour will devolve more power to local authorities, potentially unlocking economic opportunities across the country. - Energy Security & Lower Bills ❄ (£1.7bn) : A publicly owned energy company, Great British Energy will be set up to invest in renewable energy, bringing down bills and boosting energy independence. The Government will fund this by taxing oil & gas giants. -British Jobs Bonus 🏗 (~£500m a year) : The manifesto talks about a five-year "British Jobs Bonus" fund which will incentivize investment in green jobs and supply chains within Britain's industrial and coastal areas. Existing renewable energy subsidies (such as Contract for Difference) will also be tied to good wages and working conditions. -Warm Homes Plan 🏡 (extra £6.6bn) : Keeping families warm and energy bills low is a priority. Labour will invest an extra £6.6 billion to upgrade 5 million homes, offering grants and low-interest loans for insulation, solar panels, and more. The Government is facing looming deadlines already, they have confirmed that some "job guarantees" will form part of the negotiations with steel giant Tata about the rescue deal (~£500m) of its Port Talbot site which is currently employing thousands of jobs.

UK Election - Labour win - Robbie Blackhurst Founder and Director of Black Capital Group “The UK wakes up to a new government today after 14 years of Conservative rule. For the built environment, Labour’s return will be met with wary anticipation. While its manifesto pledges made a good read for a sector that has experienced ongoing skills shortages, rising costs and lacklustre growth, delivering on them will be another matter. Just think back to the success of the Conservatives “New Deal” promise to “Build, Build, Build”… “Labour’s vowed rollout of a 10-year infrastructure strategy to “end the chaos” of the UK’s “crumbling infrastructure” has some interesting, though not necessarily revolutionary, ideas. Delivering 1.5 million new homes in England sounds impressive, but there is already a backlog of 4.3 million homes. Regardless, it is a good starting point if Labour can overcome the challenges faced by previous governments.  “Housebuilding has long been stifled by planning policy, However Labour’s promise to slash red tape and give combined authorities much needed new powers are to be welcomed, though have yet to be tested by locals and environmentalists, furious about green belt land being redesignated for development. “To meet its housing target, Labour must help the construction industry get back on its feet. Its first step will be addressing the ongoing skills crisis. The Apprenticeship Levy, for example, has not been fit for purpose for some time. Apprenticeship starts have severely declined and completion rates have plummeted. https://lnkd.in/eEUSa9n3