黑洞社区

Suzannah Nichol, chief executive of new contracting trade association Build UK, has set out her agenda for the body, which will launch in September.

Build UK will be formed by merging the UK Contractors鈥� Group (UKCG) and National Specialist Contractors Council (NSCC), and was rubber stamped by the members of each respective organisation last week.

The joint body will represent 28 of the industry鈥檚 largest main contractors and former members of UKCG, and 40 trade associations and former members of NSCC, representing over 11,500 specialist contractors.

Nichol told 黑洞社区 that Build UK will focus on the issues of fair payment, health and safety, pre-qualification and training and skills, as well as looking at the industry鈥檚 image and how it can change to attract new people to it.

Nichol said: 鈥淭his isn鈥檛 just another trade association. This is actually quite a substantial step forward from the contractor supply chain to recognise that it is better together.鈥�

Nichol added that she was determined to make sure it is 鈥渆ffective鈥� and does not duplicate work done by other organisations: 鈥淲e are looking to collaborate where there is somebody else operating in a certain space, and create a shared target rather than everybody doing everything鈥�.

She added: 鈥淭here are active working groups in a whole range of issues across construction and one of the things we want to do is try and link these up effectively so everybody is doing the right things rather than lots of people doing the same things.鈥�

Skills minister Nick Boles welcomed the launch of Build UK: 鈥淔or businesses and government an investment in construction is an investment in improving UK productivity. The creation of Build UK is a very welcome development and places them in an influential position to continue improving performance across the sector.鈥�

Joint chairmen of Build UK, Kevin Louch and James Wates, said in a joint statement: 鈥淥ur discussions in the run up to the merger have clearly shown that we share a common position on the majority of issues such as image, skills, health and safety, and procurement.

鈥淏oth government and our clients have been waiting for a joined up approach from the industry and, as a single organisation for the contracting supply chain, we will pack a powerful punch and have a real chance to make some big changes.鈥�