Category: Contractor Industry News

Calls by the Association of Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) for the creation of a National Construction Research Institute have been welcomed by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC).

The ACE said the centre would support the civil engineering sector and help reduce costs, suggesting issues such as the standards of project management, procurement process, workforce capacity, the regulatory framework and the speed and quality of decision making in government, are addressed.

Now, the REC has lent its support to the proposal, saying a new research institute would highlight greater efficiencies that can be made by engineering contractors and other construction workers.

It should look at the full construction process and particularly consider flexible labour supply, commented Simon Noakes, chair of REC Construction.

"But the issue is not just about cost; we need to ensure that skills are developed across our sector to build the workforce of tomorrow," he added.

This would ensure efficiency in the long-run, Mr Noakes concluded.

Posted by John Crawley