Support sustainable development and help the construction and housebuilding sectors to recover from COVID-19 – that is the message from nearly 200 industry representatives.
Construction and house-building companies joined local authorities, colleges, bankers, subcontractors, engineers, architects, planners and quantity surveyors for a virtual seminar to talk about the reality of the sector’s recovery, support for local businesses and sustainable growth.
Chaired by New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership’s Building Growth Chair, Saul Humphrey, the virtual session was joined by 189 industry representatives.
He said: “We were delighted with such a large number of ‘attendees’ – it shows the feeling across the sector and the region that we all need to work together to share solutions and drive our recovery.
“This pandemic threatens to derail our hard work to avert a housing crisis, a carbon crisis and a skills crisis. The onus is now open those that are able to support the sector to step up, and this event was a step in the right direction.
“We need to protect as many jobs as possible, particularly the large numbers of apprentices and trainees. We need to accelerate and simplify the planning process to support sustainable development, avoid disputes and accelerate payments to avoid insolvencies.”
The event’s speakers including Richard Bacon, MP for South Norfolk; Paul Kitson, Director at Homes England; Russell Williams, Chief Executive of Ipswich Borough Council and economist Tim Pike.
The attendees also heard about the local support and funding available for businesses through New Anglia LEP and the New Anglia Growth Hub. For free, impartial business support, contact the New Anglia Growth Hub on 0300 333 6536 or email [email protected]
Find out more about Building Growth here and watch the full webinar here
