The Spring 2021 Budget set out the government’s commitment of continued support and its path to economic recovery, with infrastructure investment and efficient project delivery at the centre of their Covid-19 recovery efforts, with the announcement of:
- The publication of Build Back Better: our plan for growth, published by the Treasury which sets out the government’s plans to support economic growth through significant investment in infrastructure, skills and innovation.
- The UK’s first infrastructure bank in Leeds, funding £40bn worth of public and private projects to financially support private sector and local authority infrastructure projects across the UK and helping the government to meet climate change goals and boost regional economic growth.
What can we do to help?
Our annual Delivering Infrastructure Projects to Boost Economic Growth Conference provides support for local councils on how to utilise funding and improve their infrastructure project delivery.
Below we take a look at the key learning outcomes from our 2021 conference, designed in partnership with local councils and local enterprise partnerships after extensive research.
Practical guidance on how to embed high-quality design into your infrastructure strategies
How can local authorities utilise infrastructure projects to create jobs, upgrade skills and help to fuel a green economic recovery? David Waterhouse, Head of Local Economies and Infrastructure at MHCLG, explored the practical support available to help local councils with their infrastructure planning and design and how to meet standards when developing local infrastructure projects.
Virtual discussion with the APPG on Infrastructure
What has been the impact of Covid-19 and how have local services been responding to overcome the challenges it has presented? The APPG on Infrastructure and the Institute of Civil Engineers assessed what they had learnt throughout the Covid-19 crisis, and how the new National Infrastructure Bank will interact with local government to support them with their local infrastructure plans and delivery needs.
Best practice on how to embed local people and skills across the infrastructure supply chain
As we look at the recovery from the pandemic and how to prevent any future skills gaps, Sedgemoor District Council offered their top tips on how local authorities can embed local people into major construction projects, through developing strong relationships with contractors and ensuring they are at ease with collaborative working.
Advice on how to utilise infrastructure funding to drive local economic growth
UK unemployment has risen to 5% for the first time since 2016, representing more than 1.7 million people. Jonathan Sharrock shared how Coast to Capital’s new Skills Strategy has been implemented to build back stronger, smarter and greener, offering top tips on what others can learn from this to help deliver a prosperous and vibrant economic recovery.
The role of green infrastructure in 'building back better'
Our interactive panel discussion was themed on the importance of green infrastructure in boosting local growth in the effort to ‘build back better’ and meet the government’s net zero target. The panel also shared practical guidance on how to embed sustainable principles into local infrastructure projects to create jobs and promote local resilience.
Register your interest in the 2022 conference here
What have our previous delegates had to say?
We reached out to delegates from the conference, to get some feedback from them and to hear how we helped with their infrastructure delivery and design. Here is what they had to say:
The day was well planned, a good venue with fantastic speakers and delegates. It provided a great networking opportunity and was an overall successful day for our business.
Business Development Director, Volkerfitzpatrick Limited
Useful to find out what the blue sky thinkers are doing with regards to infrastructure investment.
Strategic Director, East Dorset District Council
A great background insight on seeing how various projects work, very informative and very interesting.
Systems Administrator, High Speed 2 Ltd
A great way to "Join up the Dots". Sharing information and Partnership working is the way forward!
Executive Member for Environment and Transport, Hampshire County Council
Predicting the future of infrastructure could seem impossible. Being able to listen to some of the leading thinkers, innovators and policy-makers in this field makes the impossible feel that little bit more possible, and the future a little less opaque.
PCS Union Chair, Highways England
Interesting variety of speakers with good knowledge and insight into the industry.
Director of Highways and Transport, West Sussex County Council
