David Cameron has welcomed the campaign to kick-start the industry as new orders faced their steepest decline since 2009.

Campaign backers at CITB ConstructionSkills fear another 82,000 construction jobs could be lost in the next five years unless the Government acts.

The campaign will have three key targets:

Investment for Growth;
Skills for Growth and;
Green for Growth.

Judy Lowe, Deputy Chairman of CITB-ConstructionSkills said:  “The Construction for Growth Campaign will unite every sector of our industry in a drive to kick-start activity, work our way out of recession and remind everybody that our industry is a major contributor to economic growth.

“The Government’s recent announcements have the potential to deliver a boost to the industry and create tens of thousands of jobs in the long term. But if construction and the wider economy are to reap the maximum benefit, it is essential that we make the case for immediate investment that delivers immediate results.

“There are currently 26 million UK homes in need of upgrade and repair to make them energy-efficient decent places to live in.  For every job created in 5-10 years’ time on an infrastructure project, repair and maintenance creates 2. – And it creates them tomorrow! “

“That’s why the Construction4 Growth campaign will be supporting  Government  in delivering its promises  and lobbying for investment in repair and maintenance now  to support the economy.

“But it’s no use doing that if we don’t have the right people.  A skilled workforce is central to sustained growth in construction.  Through the C4G campaign we will build on the success of the 19,000 apprentices we support each year, to develop and signpost initiatives that improve productivity, have a positive impact on growth and deliver a workforce eager and competent to exploit new opportunities.

“Perhaps the biggest opportunities – particularly for small and medium sized businesses – will come through this Autumn’s Green Deal.  The Government estimates that the number of people employed in the insulation sector alone could soar from 27,000 to 100,000 by 2015 reaching a peak of 250,000 by 2022.   Through Construction4Growth we will be working to ensure that the industry is ready to meet that demand.

“It is no surprise that a massive 10 per cent fall in construction output in the first part of 2012 coincided with the economy’s return to recession.  The Construction4Growth campaign is our recognition that there is nothing to be gained by accepting decline and stagnation as the norm.  The construction solutions are out there and we are going to make sure that we grab every opportunity available”.